Starting your own medical practice may have been a dream of yours since you were a little child. It is a common dream to have, but few end up seeing it through all the way. This is because it is no easy task, and it takes a strong-minded, intelligent, and persevering individual to get there. If you have managed to finish up your medical degree and are officially now a doctor, then congratulations! You are only a couple of steps away from your dream coming true! If you are now thinking about the next steps of setting up your practice, here are a few guidelines that can help you move it along.

Defining Your Specialty and Getting Work Experience

If you have only just finished medical school, then you must consider whether you are going to be a general practitioner or if you are going to continue into a specialty. Do you picture yourself making your rounds with your trusty Littmann Cardiology 3 stethoscope, or are you going to be rushing into the Emergency Room or Operating Theatre with surgical scrubs, gloves, and mask?

You will need to apply for an internship or residency. Even if you do not require much to set up your own clinic in a particular area or country, you owe it to your patients to try and get in as much experience under expert doctors before you try to branch off on your own. It will also help you prepare for the event that you do set up an independent practice.

Setting Up Office

Now, if you are past the point of residencies or internships, then it definitely a realistic goal to set up your own practice. You will have to consider multiple factors, however. For instance, consider the location you wish to have your practice. Given the abundance of huge medical facilities in cities, you might want to consider setting up in a more rural area that lacks the kind of medical equipment and setting that you can provide. Consider the equipment you will need based on what practices you intend to conduct there.

If, for example, you are planning on having a small operating theatre, then you are going to need more than a few Omron blood pressure monitors, syringes, and saline solutions!

You also need to check on what permits and licensing are required according to the state and country regulations. You cannot just start a clinic of your own without adhering to these regulations, especially when it comes to medical treatment. You will also need insurance to protect yourself and your institution. You cannot practice alone, either; you will need to hire a number of employees and other physicians to help. In addition, you must learn to handle the finances.

As you can see, the task of setting up and managing your clinic is not for the faint of heart. But it is not impossible. Since you have come this far, give it some thorough thought and give it your best shot.