With the rise in interest in wellness and body optimization, many patients are looking for an edge. Where are they looking? Wellness clinics, including those that offer high quality IV therapy and vitamin injections. Starting from scratch may seem like a daunting task. Where do you start? Should you lease space or operate on a mobile basis? Should I start my own or buy an existing business? Are franchises a good way to start?
These questions are common and deserve thought-out and thorough vetting. First and foremost, you should be certain that you understand the laws that will govern your clinic in your state. Laws such as scope of practice (who can do what in this clinic, what licensure is required), supervision (are standing orders enough? Who can practice independently?), facility licensure (Does the Dept. of Health govern, or Board of Pharmacy, or both?), what are the laws for a mobile clinic?
After that, you want to address your two biggest sources of liability – employees and patients. Do you have protocols and procedures? Are there clear (and legal) employee policies in place? Are patients giving informed consent, or do your forms fall short? What about membership programs for patients, are those policies spelled out? Does your staff understand patient privacy laws?
Things can get trickier when you’re buying an existing clinic or a franchise. Here, vetting the laws becomes even more important. You have to know what is required before you buy or franchise because you become responsible, or you invest money into a business that has been operating illegally or in the gray area and your investment is at risk.
While an IV clinic can be a great healthcare business, it’s not always as simple as it seems.
