Practice Policies: A Short Guide to Protecting a New Medical Practice

If there is one constant in society today, it is that people are looking for a doctor that they can trust and rely upon. You entered this profession to help others, and opening your own medical clinic is the culmination of that dream. It is a way to apply what you have learned in a way that will contribute to the health and well-being of your patients. At the same time, great care must go into structuring your new office. Take some time to read over the following four tip to protecting your new medical practice as you get started.

Understand the Issues Surrounding Standard of Care

Just because you have opened your own solo medical practice does not give you free license to treat your patients in a way that is not line with currently accepted best practices in the field. You will want to ensure that you are providing the quality and level of care to each patient that you are expected to. This is how your treatment will, in the end, be legally defensible should any issue arise.

Establish a Professional Corporation

You want to review the guidelines in your state to determine the proper legal structure for your medical practice. This is a critical component in order to ensure that you remain in compliance in terms of patient care at all times. Establishing a professional corporation should be considered if at all possible, as it provides the best liability protection for you and your practice.

Keep a Professional Malpractice Attorney on Retainer

No matter how conscientious you are in terms of the patient care that you provide, there is always the potential for legal complications to arise. If you are not adequately protected, these issues can wreck your practice before it really gets started. In order to provide a safety net, you need to have an attorney on retainer from the beginning. When trouble does come at you, this is the first person that you will want to contact.

Maintain Proper and Adequate Insurance Coverage

It is vital that your practice have proper insurance to protect against any and all claims made against it. Make sure that you use a reputable company that has a solid reputation throughout the industry. This is the best way of protecting yourself in the event that an accident occurs.

These four tips will go a long way towards protecting you and your staff as you start a new medical practice. It is important to have a solid structure in place so that you can focus on helping your patients. If you will do that, you will establish a positive name for yourself throughout the community in no time at all.