If you’re a medical practitioner wanting to
convert your clinic to a polyclinic, then we have a few tips for you that you
may find useful when adopting this strategy to grow your patient reach.
Identify a large space with clean surroundings
To expand from a clinic to a polyclinic, you
need to identify a large space with clean surroundings to offer a secure and
safe environment for visitors, patients and staff members. Note that space must
be large enough to carry out the basic functions of the facility with utmost
ease. It’s essential to set up the right infrastructure encompassing:
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Proper ventilation, water supply and air conditioning
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Signage displayed at the clinic’s entry point with its name, address
and telephone number
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Display of the doctors practising with the day and time of their visit
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Services provided
Note that computers, cabinetry and storage
shelving, printers, files, telephones, wheelchairs, water filtration systems,
etc., form an essential part of a polyclinic’s infrastructure.
Take the requisite legal and statutory licenses
To move into a polyclinic, there are certain
legal and statutory licenses which you must obtain. You need to get a trade
license from the local municipal body along with:
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NOC for fire safety
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Electricity installation certification
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Approval certificate of all radiation emitting equipment
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NOC from the pollution control board
Buy the required equipment
A polyclinic must have state-of-the-art
equipment for various diagnostic tests prescribed. Some of the common equipment
required in a polyclinic are:
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X-ray machine
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Ultrasonography machine
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ECG unit and accessories
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Basic diagnostic machines such as blood pressure monitor, pulse
oximeter, etc.
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Laboratory diagnostic equipment (microscope, urine/glucose analyser,
etc.)
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Emergency equipment and supplies (aspirator, oxygen, resuscitation
bag, etc.)
Along with the above-mentioned equipment, it’s
important for you to install an emergency power back up to ensure operations
run smoothly in case of a power cut.
Hire competent staff and invest in the right software
To run a polyclinic efficiently, you need
competent and qualified staff members. Right from front office staff to
doctors’ assistants to members in the billing and diagnostic department, a
capable workforce ensures smooth operations of your clinic.
At the same time, you need to install the
latest software for billing and scheduling appointments to boost productivity
and reduce errors.
Arranges for finances
Expanding into a polyclinic requires a
substantial amount of funds. Infrastructure, equipment and software costs can
run into several lakhs of rupees. With the availability of tailor-made medical
practice financing, you can easily offset the high expenses.
For instance, Bajaj Finserv offers a suite of
Doctor Loans which you can use to meet the expenditure needed for a polyclinic.
With a Flexi Loan facility, you can withdraw money as and when needed from your
approved loan limit. Also, you need to pay interest only on the amount utilised
and not on the entire limit, thus reducing the monthly EMIs. These loans come
with a flexible tenor for easy repayment.