In owning a solo practice, you may find that it can be lonely seeking clients and not interacting with other colleagues. You may also find that you have more referrals than you can manage alone. The thought of expanding to a group practice and hiring clinicians may be enticing and it can be an incredible way to increase impact and revenue. There are several steps we would recommend to prepare yourself for a successful expansion. Be sure to avoid common pitfalls when expanding your practice.

Successful Solo

Being successful solo includes a solid business structure and profitability, consistent referrals, thorough and timely documentation, an efficient intake process, developing a web presence, and providing quality mental health treatment. Ensuring that you have acquired the experience and training necessary to oversee and train others is a helpful first step. Demonstrating knowledge in business, selecting the appropriate business entity, establishing a separate bank account, and effectively managing finances to ensure profitability is also important. Developing a web presence, nurturing and maintaining relationships that result in consistent referrals, and building a positive reputation will benefit your future clinicians as well as the practice. Creating documentation templates and consent forms that are comprehensive and compliant and developing a system for documentation that is timely and efficient will also help prepare you for increased administrative tasks and oversight.

Streamline Operations

An all-in-one Electronic Health Record will make expansion but easier with regard to intake, scheduling, billing, documentation, and oversight. Selecting a HIPAA compliant communications platform and encrypted email platform will help ensure compliance and make it easier for your clinicians to communicate with clients securely. Developing a streamlined intake process where clients are screened properly and all required information is collected before they are scheduled will help ensure they are not only appropriate but committed to the therapeutic process. Automating what you can including scheduling, appointment reminders, and collecting payments will make your life much easier as a group practice owner. Beginning to document your expectations, processes, and procedures will also set your team up for success and increase effective communication and service delivery.

Marketing

Marketing is an important component of a successful business and is even more essential as you expand. Not only do the right people need to know about you, but it is also crucial for them to like and trust you. Clear messaging and a strong online presence are the first steps you need to take. You should also learn how to leverage social media, SEO and Google My Business to help with the process. Successfully using email marketing, partnerships, and collaboration will also help you stay top of mind. Do not overlook the benefits of in-person networking for group practices.

Recruiting

Now that you’ve taken the steps to build a strong, successful business you can start thinking about your process for recruiting other clinicians. We recommend getting clear on your vision and values beforehand. Identify the aspects of your practice that set you apart. Assess the needs of your practice to ensure the right candidate find you. It is important to determine if you will be hiring contractors or employees. Your will also need to determine your compensation structure and if you will be offering a percentage or a flat fee. Considering what if any benefits you will be offering at the outset is well. Then you will need to considering your process for interviewing and hiring as well as training and onboarding.

Consider Us

The consultants at Compassionate Consulting Company are licensed independent clinical social workers located in Massachusetts who have been running successful counseling practices for years. Here are testimonials from clients that have worked with us. We enjoy working with entrepreneurs that are starting their business, expanding and hiring team members, as well as those who are considering diversifying and adding different income streams. Schedule a free consult so we can learn more about your business goals and share how we can help. Read this post to learn the steps of working with a consultant and here is another on what to look for in a consultant.