Things You'll Need:
- A degree in Chiropractic Medicine
- An office
- Patients
- Staff
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Step 1
One way to go into practice is to buy one from a retiring chiropractor. If you have the money, it can be a good way to "hit the ground running," although there are disadvantages. These sorts of practices aren't readily available. The patients are usually very loyal to the departing owner and not very trusting of the younger chiropractor who may do things differently, leading to a difficult transition. This can be hard on someone fresh out of training. As far as cost goes, usually it is based on yearly gross income. Be sure and go over the books. Payment can be arranged so that it is spread out over several years after the owner leaves making it easier on the buyer. If you use this option, it's best to arrange to have the owner stay and practice with you for a few months in order to help the patients get used to you. It will also help the office staff get used to you, and that's very, very important. If you like how things are run, keep things as they are. If not, change them once the owner leaves, but make you sure you change things slowly. You don't want to incite a riot.
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Step 2
Another option is joining a group or a solo practitioner who is already in practice. If you do this, you are entering a situation where the practice is already set up and there is very little for you to worry about. You have an office space and your patients will be provided. In fact, you get so much that you will probably be asked to take a salary and work just as hard as all of your partners who are making much more money. That will go on for a year or two until you become a partner. Don't worry. You'll make money off of the next new person.
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Step 3
There isn't much HMO stuff for chiropractors, so I'll skip that.
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Step 4
The last thing I'll address is solo practice. This is the most challenging. First, find an area you want to work in and an office building with an attractive office space, adequate parking, accessibility (very important for chiropractors), and an affordable price. Remember, you can negotiate office space prices, especially right now with real estate like it is. Never pay full price. Talk to your peers and see what they are paying. Investigate. Make sure you have enough space. It's very difficult to move once you have an established practice, so it's better to take a bigger space than you think you need.
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Step 5
Organizing Patient ChartsFurnish your office with used medical equipment. Never buy new until you are so rich you can burn money, and don't do it even then! There are great buys at drastically reduced prices of what looks like new equipment easily available, and this will make starting out so much easier. You'll need desks and chairs for the reception area, along with file cabinets and chart racks. In the waiting room you'll need chairs and tables and lamps. You'll need a nice desk for you office along with a few chairs. And lastly, examination and treatment equipment. Once you have everything in place, put an ad in the paper and start interviewing to hire a receptionist. Start them part time initially so that you don't have to worry about the expense of benefits. By the time you do, you can delegate that responsibility to someone else.
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Step 6
The eye cannot see what the mind cannot dream.Once you have opened your doors, make sure you let your colleagues and friends know you are there. Also, be sure you are always available to your patients. There are very inexpensive ways to be reachable these days. You can call forward your office phone to your cell phone, etc. Investigate this. You no longer have to pay for expensive page operators. Being available is essential to good health care, so be sure your system works and test it every day.
