How can you mentally prepare to have your own telemedicine practice? Starting a telemedicine practice can feel like a big transition if you have been working for other providers all along. Therefore, there are many different aspects you need to plan for when starting any type of business, but one thing that often gets lost in the fray is the mental process which is what we will focus on in this article!
Get into the Mindset
If this is your first business, you may have trouble getting into the right mindset. Even if you have experience starting other types of businesses, you may not know how to start a telemedicine practice, and this can affect your mindset. As an NP entrepreneur, it’s important that you walk the walk and talk the talk. To get yourself into the right mindset, you can turn to books and podcasts for inspiration or even talk to other entrepreneurs you know.
What’s important is getting those thoughts and ideas flowing through your brain. You will need to search for people and resources who can influence you, motivate you and encourage you to put your idea into fruition. Here is where community support is really important. You may wish to speak to other entrepreneurs to get their guidance, mentorship and input. If someone in your circle is on the same journey, it can help to just compare notes and commiserate with each other.
You may already have heard the saying: you are the sum of the five people you hang out with the most. To put it in the entrepreneurial spirit, think about who you most want to be influenced by when you practice telemedicine. These individuals do not necessarily have to be in the field themselves but simply possess qualities you admire and will put you in good stead when starting a telemedicine practice.
Set Clear Goals
Now that you have done everything you can to get into the right mindset, do you have a clear idea of your goals? This does not have to be strictly financial, although that can tie into it. For instance, how much money do you want to make per year? Is it your dream to be your own boss and achieve a work-life balance you have control over? Are you saving up to get a new car, home, or simply to set your family up for success? Maybe you want to be able to care for patients on your own terms. Think about what motivates you to start your telemedicine practice and focus on it.
All the above are valid reasons for wanting to start your own telemedicine practice. You just need to identify what motivates you and have a clear goal in mind. Once you have done that, it helps to write down your goal on a piece of paper and stick it in a place you will see every day. This could be above your office desk or on your bathroom mirror. Of course, there will be challenging times ahead, and that’s when you most need to be reminded of what is keeping you going.
You will also want to make sure that your goal is realistic and achievable both in the long and short term. If you are looking to make a certain amount of money each year, you will have to do the calculations based on how many patients you expect to see and how much you charge for each session. Then, if you find that your goal is too lofty or unrealistic, do not be afraid to make adjustments as you go along. Keep in mind that achieving your goals will take time, and that this does not mean you are failing.
Keep Your Day Job if Possible
In between figuring out how to set up a telemedicine practice, you may be contemplating quitting your day job. However, at this stage, you have no guarantee that your entrepreneurial venture will take off. It may be worth it to keep your steady, employed job as something to fall back on until you have some assurance that you are able to manage financially without it. Even if it’s part time, holding on to a job can give you peace of mind that if anything were to happen, you still have an income and savings.
Think about the worst thing that could possibly happen as you work out how to open your own telemedicine practice. You could put $10,000 into your venture and end up losing it all. You would also have lost some time and missed out on other opportunities, but you will learn from the mistakes and be more aware of the risks in any future venture. It may not be helpful to dwell on these eventualities, but these are all possibilities you should keep in mind when deciding whether or not to keep your day job.
Make Time to Envision Your Dream Future
One thing that can help is taking some time out of each day to envision your dream future when your telemedicine practice has taken off. You can easily incorporate this into your daily routine. For instance, if you take a daily walk around your neighborhood, use this time to think, daydream and look to the future. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, one thing we don’t do enough of is dream.
By setting aside this time each day, you are giving yourself the chance to visualize the future you want and what you need to do to achieve that goal. There is no magical solution to reaching your goal. You will have to put in the time and hard work. When you keep a positive attitude and manifest your dream future, you will find out you are that much more motivated and committed to your goal!
Need Help with Finding a Collaborating Physician?
In the process of starting a telemedicine practice, you may need some help with finding a collaborating physician. When that’s the case, you have come to the right place at Collaborating Docs. We connect NPs to more than 500 physicians in all 50 states, and you can request a free quote via a Zoom call with us to get started today!
