Renting a medical centre room in Sydney is an important step in your business’s journey. Here are our top five tips to help make the rental process as smooth as possible.
1. Check what is Competitive Rent Sydney has a reputation for being an expensive place to rent commercial space. And this isn’t completely unfounded. Typically rental spaces in prime locations (such as in the CBD), or with good amenities, will attract higher rent prices. But don’t be alarmed, the higher price comes with a larger patient pool and therefore more opportunities to build your client base faster. Understand the value of prospective rental rooms by researching. Look up what the going rate is for medical centre room rent for other centres in the area. Doing your research will help you to avoid a situation where you are overpaying and eating into your potential profits. Also on the topic of fair rent, ask if your rent will be net, gross, or effective.
Some landlords may also prefer percentage rent—where rent is set at a percentage of the tenant’s income. So as profits go up, so too does rent. Understanding the various types of rental arrangements will help you to understand which will be in your businesses best interest. 2. Exit fees and Renewals Before signing any agreement, ensure you understand what the process is if:
Many medical centres may have early exit fees or will require you to replace yourself with another practitioner using the room before releasing you from your agreement. If changes were made to the room during the rental period there may be some ‘make good’ stipulations. Being aware of this from the beginning can help you to prepare for a smooth transition should you need to move on sooner than originally planned. Another circumstance that may arise is that your agreement may end, but you wish to continue to run your business from the property. It is good to know when signing an agreement if there is an option to renew. Having the option to renew offers peace of mind in knowing you don’t have to relocate after the initial term of your agreement. Even if you plan at this stage to relocate after the initial term, having the option of renewal ensures you have some time to change your mind -without the pressure of a replacement tenant already being discovered. 3. Security If you’re renting out a room in a pre-existing medical centre, it’s likely that there is an existing security arrangement to protect patient privacy and ensure the secure storage of medications and equipment. When touring a medical room you’re considering renting, be sure to ask about the security of the room you are leasing. Here are a few questions to consider:
Your security concerns when hiring a medical centre room may differ, depending on the services you offer. But usually, understanding the security protocols in place should offer you peace of mind. When touring a room, take note of potential risks, including those in security. Ensure there is somewhere for you to store your belongings while at work. If you’ve needed to provide your own equipment or furnishings to the room, it’s important that security is adequate to protect your investments. In some circumstances, you may be able to request additional security installations as a part of your agreement negotiations. 4. Insurance Before beginning to practice from your new room, make sure your insurance is adequate and up to date. At a minimum, you will need at least professional indemnity and public liability insurance. It is best to check with an insurance specialist or broker to make sure you don’t need any others. Ask your landlord or centre manager what their policies regarding insurance are. Some may require tenants to have additional insurance. For example, you may need contents insurance in the case that there is a theft from your room or other circumstance resulting in the loss of your property. Other insurance areas to consider:
Consult an insurance specialist prior to beginning your agreement to ensure that you’re covered. Things go wrong sometimes, so it’s important to know that when it does, you’ll be saved some stress. 5. Location When renting a medical centre room in Sydney, it’s important to consider the location of the centre. Foot traffic is an avenue for attracting potential patients and being in a central, easily accessible location is critical. Visibility also ensures that both new and existing patients are able to easily find their way into the clinic for their appointment. It may also be worthwhile looking at the online visibility of the centre. Do they have a website? Are they active on social media? To ensure you choose to work within a viable centre, it’s worth checking this out. Spend some time online looking up the centre, think about the digital experience the broader centre is offering patients. Is the information about services and medical practitioners easy to access? Can appointment bookings be made online? Ask the centre if you will be able to list your business on their website, or whether you will need to arrange your own booking systems and digital presence. Often, it works in both parties' favour to combine efforts and present prospective patients with a comprehensive health hub. If the centre is unwilling to collaborate in digital visibility, this may mean you need to be strategic when it comes to marketing your own services. Or it may be a factor as you weigh up the opportunities that come from renting a medical centre room. Why Wellshare? If you’re looking to rent a medical centre room in the Sydney CBD, look no further than Wellshare. Our beautiful rooms in the Dymocks building have blended historical charm with modern design. We have a range of rooms available for rent, suitable for medical practitioners looking to start their own business. We value the autonomy of our members. At Wellshare you’ll be offered maximum opportunities, for a great low-price. Book a tour today. Final thoughts Renting a medical centre room in Sydney can feel overwhelming at times. Remember that help is out there. Take enough time to think through your decision carefully and set yourself up well for success. If you’d like to do some further reading about setting up your own practice, check out: Starting a Medical Practice by the RACGP. Even if you’re just renting a room within a broader clinic, this document has some useful information for medical practitioners launching their businesses.
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Endocrinology is an ever-expanding field, with patients with specific and complex needs. Because of this, the rooms in which endocrinology consultations occur need to be well-equipped and responsive to appropriate trends.
Here’s three trends that we believe are shaping endocrinology rooms in 2022. 1. Increase in Patient Knowledge Thanks to the internet, patients now have access to a myriad of information regarding endocrinology. Access to broader information means that now, more than ever before, patients often arrive in endocrinology rooms with a pre-existing expectation of the care and treatments available to them. This can be a good thing, and a bad thing. Historically, patients have been unaware of information available to them which can lead to feelings of distress or confusion. Now, they are able to feel better equipped to make decisions regarding their health. But there’s a catch. Much of the information regarding endocrinology that patients may access on the internet may be unreliable, or inappropriate for your patient. It’s the health practitioner's role to assist patients in navigating information and providing them with reliable sources where appropriate. How does this impact the endocrinology room itself? The endocrinology room plays a subtle role in the education of patients. What materials do you have available for patients to view (in the form of posters, magazines, flyers etc.), and are these appropriate or well explained? Patients can also be assured that they are receiving appropriate care by allowing the endocrinology room’s physical presence to line up with appropriate images they may have viewed online. Engage with patient expectations for a pleasant, modern physical space such as provided by leaders in the endocrinology field. Review and compare the decor, lighting, and design aspects of endocrinology rooms to reassure patients from the moment they enter the space that they are receiving the best level of care. 2. Increase in Technology and Communication Endocrinology uses an advanced network of healthcare communication. Information regarding patients’ healthcare is often needed to be shared between medical professionals and allied health providers to ensure the best care possible is given. Technological advancements have seen that specialized endocrinology services and those in regional areas are increasing. With this, comes a need to be able to continue to effectively share across the healthcare network relevant information regarding patient care. Patients are slowly gaining access to a broader network of endocrinology and other healthcare services. To continue to support this, the healthcare network must continue to dedicate itself to effective communication and collaboration. Consider how your endocrinology rooms are equipped to effectively and responsibly share patient information when needed. Do you have a network that you can refer patients on to? How is this reflected in your space? 3. COVID The Coronavirus Pandemic has led to a need for the evaluation of how best to protect those in endocrinology practices from the virus. Some patients will have compromised immune systems, and these patients are among those most at risk of infection. At the same time, these patients have unique needs for care receiving and the inclusion of family members in this process is important. Patients receiving endocrinology management often have multiple points of contact with healthcare professionals. How to best meet these needs, as well as minimize risk for virus transmission is a challenge that cannot be understated. Some of the responses that have been implemented include splitting healthcare teams, increasing personal protective equipment, increased cleaning, scanning for temperatures, limiting visitors, and more. The pandemic has been one of the most drastic trends to change the endocrinology space. Time will tell how many of these changes will be lasting in this space. Want to read more on this topic? If you’re looking for more information on how best to adjust your practice to meet the needs of COVID-19, here’s an article YAs a medical practitioner, you may already feel pretty time-poor. Continuing to offer quality healthcare to patients takes up a lot of the day. So if the idea of marketing on top of what you’re already doing, fills you with dread, know you’re not alone. As a busy medical practitioner, it’s important to ensure your marketing strategies and tactics are offering you the best return for your investment.
Whether you’re looking to attract new clients, or boost client engagement with your brand, here are our top nine tips to market your business well. 1. Website Optimisation Having a clunky and outdated website is no longer something modern medical practitioners can get away with. Your website is your virtual waiting room, the first impression of your business that potential patients will receive. Ensure your site is easy to navigate, fully functional and free from clutter or unnecessary pop-ups. By having a website that is easy to use and presents a modern and professional appearance, your brand will benefit. Double-check your site carefully for any potential errors, and make sure your written copy is clear and direct about what next steps your potential patients should take. Whether it’s booking an appointment or filling out a survey — keep your goals and messages clear online. Keep sentences short and to the point. Provide the information your patients are likely to be visiting your website for (contact details, booking information) highly visible. Want to go to the next level?
A well set up website will serve your business by converting visitors into your patients. Set it up always with your patients in mind. Emphasis should be placed on information, clarity and convenience. A good website is worth the time and investment for the potential benefit it can bring to your business. 2. Focus on Your Team Ideally, you or your team should be one of the first things seen when patients visit your website or clinic in person. Keeping your team of medical professionals up front can foster trust between patients and practitioners before even getting into the consultation room. There are multiple ways you could do this, and some may be worth repeating over time as new patients are attracted to your business.
3. Offer Bilingual Marketing Material In a similar vein to our point on focusing on your team, consider how you can best market the skills of those involved. If you or your colleagues speak multiple languages, be sure this is highlighted through your marketing material. Producing marketing material in both English, and in another language shows that your clinic is professional and proficient in assisting patients who may otherwise not realise they can access your care in their language. Doing this may provide you with a competitive edge to other medical professionals who although may also speak multiple languages, do not advertise this strategically. Areas to consider ensuring translations are available:
4. Respond Where Your Patients Are Social media is a fact of life for business now. But with a plethora of social media platforms around, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Yes, you could start up an account on all the platforms, but this likely isn’t going to be the most effective strategy. Yes, there are automated systems that will allow you to create one content piece and post it everywhere. But this will likely be a case of taking aim at all the targets and hitting none. Instead, focus your attention on where your patients are. It may be Instagram, or Facebook, or even Twitter. Once you know where they are, start up an account and take the time to study what content the most successful practitioners in your industry are producing. While you shouldn’t directly copy, this can be a good way to get inspired about connecting with your patients. Learn about what works and what doesn’t. Some of this will be via trial and error, but by developing an online presence on social media, you open another avenue of contact with your patients. Ensure you are responsive to direct messages on the platforms and have a plan for your content. What are the goals for your social media? How will you know if your presence on the platform has made an impact on your business? Be sure as a medical practitioner to always maintain your professional image online. Keep aware of AHPRA’s guidelines regarding online content for what you can and can’t do. 5. Email Marketing Email marketing from medical practitioners is often overlooked. You might be worried about ‘spamming’ or annoying people, but this often isn’t the case. Effective email marketing can provide added communication and information for patients, which is often appreciated. By popping up in people’s inboxes as a regular occurrence (weekly, or monthly is a good aim) you remind them of your service and can continue to be useful to them—even outside the clinic. Not sure what to email about? Here are a few ideas:
Emails can be scheduled in advance and utilise automated technology to communicate with your patients. This means there’s a lot of potential for positive impact on your business, for relatively minimal effort. However, whenever possible, it’s best to go for personalising emails as these tend to be far more effective than those produced and sent en masse. 6. Focus on the Patient One of the most effective marketing strategies is to provide exceptional patient care. This means all aspects of your business should focus on what you can offer your patients. From the information listed on your website to checking in with reception, their appointment and the follow up—your patients should feel valued and cared for. If your patients feel this way, they’re more likely to stay with your business and even refer people to your business. Ensure you have a welcoming environment and a staff strategy for how to interact with your patients. A consistent experience is reassuring. Build systems that make the experience better for your patients. Listen to the feedback they provide to you. Lots saying they get lost finding their way to your rooms? You may need to provide better signage, website directions or even escort your clients in. 7. Be Transparent Patients appreciate knowing how much they’re going to be out of pocket. By displaying your fees prominently on your website and in the clinic, your patients are able to financially plan for their appointment. This reduces stress and frustration for many people. While it may seem odd marketing advice, displaying your fees may contribute to attracting new patients. At a glance, they are able to determine if your services will be financially accessible for them. Some patients may be considering swapping health service providers and knowing your fees may be the deciding factor. You’ll also build a reputation of your business as one which is honest and direct. This continues to foster a trusting relationship between patient and practitioner. 8. Build your Referral Network Getting to know fellow practitioners can be a great marketing strategy. Networking is an opportunity for you to grow the scope of your services, and collaborate with others in your industry. You never know what opportunities will arise from this. Often when patients have a rapport with practitioners they will ask for their advice regarding other areas of health that they may not specialise in. By ensuring you have a good relationship with other professionals, this increases the likelihood that another medical practitioner will refer some of their patients to you. How to build your network?
9. Video Content Video content is perfect for engaging patients. Typically people prefer the opportunity to see medical practitioners in their element. This type of content is also very shareable across social media, which can give your brand extra reach. Educating and entertaining are excellent ways to increase brand awareness and video is a great tool for this when used well. Some health clinics and medical professionals now have YouTube channels where they engage with patients. Not sure what you’d make video content about?
When making video content keep it short and direct. A few minutes is best to capture your patient’s attention. For those who want to explore an alternative to blogging, video content is a great option. Final Thoughts Marketing can feel overwhelming at times. But with these 9 tactics, you’ve got options. Rather than trying everything at once, pick one and give it a try. It may take time to figure out what will work best for your business, but the effort will be worth it in the end. |