Q:

Dr. M.
I am in the process of trying to
relocate my office. I am currently in an office that is about 2700 sq feet.
It is far too big. I feel that I only need about 100- 1500 square feet. My
lease ends in six months and I do not want to stay where I am now. My real 
problem
is that i would like to open an office right in front of my neighborhood in
a new strip mall. I am not sure what to do because the new rent will be
so high. Where I am now the space is too big. I am looking at the
convenience of where Ižd like to work vs my current pateints in a dying and 
tremendous location. I would personally like to have the best of both worlds 
so I was
thinking about picking a location somewhere in the middle with a much more
reasonable size space and rent.What would you do if you wanted to move but
did not want to lose your patients in the process?

A:

I moved my office location after 19 years but it was only a mile up the road. 
In our society and in an urban setting like Atlanta .. five miles may be too far 
for patients to follow you. Obviously .. pre-planned education and patient 
discussions will avoid this. Also .. the average practice is always in transition 
and must be created new daily .. therefore .. forget about keeping you patient 
base .. those that will follow will those that won't .. won't .. instead 
concentrate on always expanding.

Next .. find a spot that feels right or you. Where yopu want to go is expensive 
because there is booming growth .. now .. can you capture the growth there .. 
are you ready to meet the potential patients .. meet the new and established 
corporations .. provide the specialized programs that will set your office 
above the others close by .. if the answer is yes and you have programs ready 
to implement .. then the cost per square foot is immaterial .. if not .. then 
worrying aout rent fees would be a concern.

The trend today is a primary DC holding the lease and providing the 
equipment and then having either an IC or associate help with the rent. This is 
very common today and may allow you to choose the better and convenient 
place and go from there

So .. to make a long answer short .. you can recreate what you already have 
with some marketing and grow from there .. or .. look in the middle and open 
a practice there. Too large a space is as bad as too small .. go with the flow 
and it'll fit

Have a Great Day

Dr. M