19th Nov 2008
The Last Year of Chiropractic School - What to Do While You’re Waiting
I talked this morning with a student who is just starting her last year of school. She is going into her clinical experience, but she is also trying to decide where to practice and whether to open her own business or associate. After we talked a while she said, “There is not a lot I can do right now, is there?” Well, yes and no.
Here are some things you can do in your last year while you are waiting anxiously to graduate.
1. Settle on a location. Visit towns and cities where you are interested in practicing. Talk to the doctors in those places, especially the ones who are doing the technique you want to do. Drive around; walk around; talk to people in the town or city.
2. Search out used equipment to buy. Check on software vendors and get demos. Check on prices for expenses like rent, utilities, phone. Go to practice management seminars and decide if you want a practice management company or not.
3. Look for practices to buy, particularly in areas where you are considering moving. Talk to the doctor; maybe you can get a externship experience with that doctor and see how the practice works.
4. Read books, like my Planning for Practice Success, so you know the start-up process. Start filling in a business plan, with numbers for things you will need to buy for start-up and costs for expenses (like utilities, rent, Yellow Pages).
5. Prepare for your discussion with a bank. Get your personal credit in order. Seek out co-signers. Learn about banks in your area. Talk to vendors about leasing equipment.
5. Finally, be flexible. Sure, you can work toward a goal, but don’t ignore other possible opportunities that come along. One might be THE place, THE practice you have been looking for.
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