Designing & Furnishing the Family Practice:

Many physicians starting a new family practice start by renting an already completed (and usually already used) building. Setting up the clinic in this case usually involves remodelling, a little or a lot. New paint, flooring and possible fixtures are typical remodelling expenses and much less costly than the building and furnishing process.

Maximize Efficiency in the Family Practice Floor plan:
No matter what type of rental situation is in use, it is recommended that the interior be set up in a way that maximizes efficiency. Exam rooms should be huddled together. This makes it easy to go from room to room when seeing patients. A small workstation within the area will make it possible to review charts and manage telephone calls. Most experts suggest a minimum of three exam rooms per physician.

The best laid layouts move patients from waiting area to reception to exam rooms in a streamlined fashion. The receptionist should be able to see the entire waiting area. All hallways, doorways and pathways should be wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs.

Waiting areas should be comfortable and relaxing. An aquarium can be an excellent addition to the furnishings. The waiting area is the new patient's first impression of the family practice. Make it a good one.

Stocking the Family Practice:
Furnishing and stocking a new family practice can get costly if attention isn't paid to details. The first step is to find out what discounts are available from professional organizations. Ask other physicians where they shop.

Consider buying used furniture and furnishings. Used furniture stores and office supply stores are good places to start looking. Often banks and hospitals redecorate and sell used furnishings at a good price.

When it comes to purchasing equipment and clinical supplies, many vendors have checklists. Consider creating a list and asking for bids from several vendors.  Chart materials and office supplies can be found online and at local supply stores.

Setting up a new family practice is an involved process. If starting from scratch with a new building, then that must be designed, there's even more work (and money!) involved! No matter which method of renting or purchasing is being used, do make checklists of the tasks that need to be done and the supplies that must be acquired.  Carefully consider layout and use a floor plan that saves time and money. When your family practice becomes a successful and busy one, you'll be glad you did.

Women Are Changing Family Practice

Today more than ever women are helping to change the face of family practice. There have always been more men in family practice than women. For many years, women were reluctant to enter family practice because there was gender stereotyping, sexism, and difficulties of mixing and balancing both family and work. Today, women are not only becoming doctors, more and more they also fill some of the seats on the board of directors.

Women in family practice are rejecting the negative stereotypes and proving that they can not only balance both family and work, they can excel at it. There are many support groups, seminars, and literature available today that encourage women to pursue careers in family practice and how to come up with a harmonious balance between the two. These are only a small part of the changing attitudes that show that people are more accepting of women running family practices whereas years ago, it may not have been so acceptable. Further, there was no help available to women at all that assisted women and gave them a place to turn to.

Until recently women have been the minority especially in family practice but as more people have showed an interest in female doctors, the demands are being filled. Many women feel much more comfortable speaking with not only a female doctor but one who has positioned herself in a family practice because there is no greater comfort zone. However, many men want to see a female doctor too, which is another reason that women and family practice fit together and are a perfect match.

Many family practice doctors are actually offering partnerships that are geared towards women doctors because they have a tendency to attract new patients. It causes a lot of work for women when they attempt to manage a family practice, balance a family, and continue to work towards furthering their careers but are able to do it. Women are actually an asset to the world of family practice and with this constant growth; it is possible to re-establish the role of family medicine practice.

Since family practice embraces health care, mainly preventative, and treats babies to seniors, many people also like the idea of having a woman ran family practice because children are more likely to take to women than men doctors. Family practices are a place that families as a whole can go for medical treatment and see the same doctor each time and continue with an ongoing medical relationship.

Times have changed since back in the day and although women have not been able to break the glass ceiling they surely have put a few cracks in it. If women keep going and not just in family practice in particular, the glass ceiling might just disappear altogether. There is no doubt that women are changing the way that people view family practice in general. They are an asset and are going to show that they can make changes, become leaders, and change the whole concept of what a family practice really is.