Tips for growing your Allied Health Practice

Are you running or in a smaller allied health practice with an eye on the big-time? Perhaps you are juggling so much at once, growth may be the furthest thought from your mind. If you want more from your practice and are struggling to get there, we have some tips for growing your practice and keeping it safe as you expand.

Your business plan

Do you have a business plan? Every business needs one if they want to experience growth. A solid road map will put your allied health practice on the right path towards growth. You may maintain focus on your objectives and feel more in control by devoting time and effort to creating a business strategy. Importantly, banks and credit providers will want to examine your strategy if you’re looking for finance to enhance your growth.

Getting the right technology

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more patients are seeking care from the comfort of their own home. To facilitate telehealth and at-home care, the Federal Government is investing over $107m to strengthen primary health care through digital enablement. Gone are the days of treating a certain area — an allied health practice can theoretically service all of Australia and experience unprecedented growth. Care management software also helps boost productivity and patient outcomes. Also, automated software can prevent errors in keeping track of certificates of insurance and AHPRA registrations which could cost your practice if things go wrong.

Having the right insurance

Every allied health business should have comprehensive insurance policies covering their public liability, professional indemnity (malpractice), and compulsory worker’s compensation insurance. Risk management is a top priority when growing your allied health practice, especially if you plan to provide ancillary or extended services, such as NDIS-approved services. Commercial property insurance can cover your practice from asset damage, theft, fire and spoilage (of medicines if they require refrigeration). Cyber liability insurance protects your business if you are hacked and personal patient information is leaked online.

If you are starting out or want to upgrade what you have currently, you should seriously compare business insurance options and choose the right combination that will cover your practice for any eventuality. Consulting a business insurance broker may prove beneficial, as they can advise you on which policies will provide the maximum coverage for the least outlay.

Getting your digital marketing up and running

Though many allied health businesses will do fine, you can accelerate your growth by getting digital marketing up and running. That means getting a logo done up, and a website describing your services and allowing for referrals/appointments and social media accounts. By focusing on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) through writing blogs and producing other content such as videos, you can establish a credible presence online. You can also pay for traffic using Pay Per Click advertising. It may also be worth consulting a digital marketing agency to set all this up and manage it for you.

With all these aspects combined, you’ll find that it’s all an investment in your future success.

Image credit: iStock.com/imaginima