This is Dr. Paul Thomas with Startup DPC - I help doctors start and grow their direct primary care practices. A common question that I have been getting lately is in regards to if it’s a good idea to start a direct primary care practice right now because of the coronavirus and the effect on our economy.
Should I start my Direct Primary Care Practice During a Recession?
The first thing that I’ll say is that there’s never a good time to start a mediocre business. If you write an excellent business plan, and if you consistently deliver excellent care and service to your patients, you will be successful with your direct primary care practice, regardless of the greater economic forces. On the other hand, if you start a mediocre DPC practice, that gives okay service, that doesn’t put customers first, you’ll have a difficult time regardless of the economic ups and downs.
What is the most important thing that you can do to build a strong Direct Primary Care business, regardless of the economy?
The most important thing that you can do to build a strong direct primary care practice is to build trusting relationships with your patients and the broader community. As long as you’re producing quality care and not mediocrity, you can build strong relationships with your patients. With everything going on in the world today, with our economy taking a hit from the Coronavirus and people who are scared of the global pandemic, people are looking for a trusted physicians to talk to.
This is where you come in - you can be that trusted physician to help guide your community through these troubling times. You can communicate your knowledge in an understandable way and help people to navigate these difficult times. You can provide people with affordable and accessible healthcare, even as they lose employment and therefore their health insurance policies.
How to Weigh Price and Value when selling your Direct Primary Care services
If you're adding value to a consumer, you'll be in business. The value proposition is measured in terms of value versus price. If you believe you're offering value and a quality service but aren't seeing customers, marketing is needed. If your marketing plan is solid and customers know about you, but you're not getting business, you should re-evaluate your value proposition.
If you still can't figure it out, find a business strategy expert who will work with you to increase your chances of success. They can help you find the gap in your marketing plan and business plan, and help you break through whatever gaps exist.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT STARTING A DIRECT PRIMARY CARE Practice?
If you want to learn more about starting and growing your direct primary care practice, look no further than our courses on how to start and grow your direct primary care practice. We at Startup DPC have begun compiling some of the best content available on this blog and in our courses.
The best place to start is to take our Direct Primary Care Business Plan course, available here. From there, you can learn how to attract new patients to your direct primary care practice and how to find the perfect location or build out the practice of your dreams.
Thanks for reading and watching, and best of luck in your direct primary care journey!
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Startup DPC