Startup advice etc

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Hello there. I am a young, recently accredited Foot Health Professional studying a Podiatry degree, part time, and I'm looking for the best way to acquire my first client! There is a sports clinic that (once my skills are competent enough) are going to employ me to treat their private patients. However in the meantime I need to gain experience whilst not tarnishing a reputation before I even have one, and pay the rent! My inclinations are to get disposable equipment primarily and target nursing homes, although I know this is a fairly saturated market in the UK. Also does anybody know of any sort of grants, bursaries or soft loans available in the UK for stating up? I have had a look around but haven't been able to locate anything specific....
Much Love
Tom

 

TomJohnsonPod1,
I would refer you to to my reply in the "Introductions" sections of this forum.

regards

Catfoot

 

Start in the manner in which you wish to continue.

So if you want a nursing home practice do nursing homes.

If you wish to have a proper podiatry practice within a sports speciality get your bio mech up to speed and go down that route.

So i feel you have a bit more to think about.

What has your FHP training prepared you for?

regards david

 

:good:

Tom, be prepared for the barrage of `prickly`postings, which will inevitably follow

The above post raises some realistic points to consider in addition to asking a very pertinent question that has been asked of FHP`s but remains, in the whole, unanswered. I appreciate that your particular training will have differed to that offered at other FHP schools, but it would be in your interest to answer this as best you can.

Good luck :drinks

 

Tom,
I am curious to know what you mean by "accredited" ?
By whom or what are you "accredited" ??

I am also surprised that you have to ask on this forum how to acquire your first client.
All the FHP training courses that I know of, cover this in some detail, so how is it you are lacking this essential information?

regards

Catfoot

 

that was why i asked what the FHP course had prepared them for.

Also another question the p/t pod degree, is it a Podiatry degree leading to HPC reg.

If so why did you not just go to uni in the first place?

If it is a modified nursing top up degree which uni is it attached to?

Curious

David

 

I just find it interesting CF and DAVO have nothing better to do on a Friday night than pedantically analyse the wording of my post.
Tom

 

TJP1,
I thought you wanted advice?

No-one can give you advice if we don't know what you are talking about - hence the request for clarification.

If you are at Uni taking a Pod degree, as you say you are, then you should know that you cannot give advice to a patient until all the facts have been ascertained.
It would make sense to apply that premise to this forum.

At least davo and I have responed to your postings - everyone else seems to have ignored you.

regards

CF

 

Hi again Tom,

Beautiful day in Winchester....I can`t really offer any advice, other than what you have already been advised by the tutors at the FHP college. From my own experience, I started with nursing homes, which was good for experience, although bad ergonomically (not sure if that`s a word).

You may be able to obtain a business loan from your bank, although as a student you may well be too much of a risk to lend to.

Have you considered offering your services to a podiatrist as an assistant? Just a thought.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Cheers,
Bel

 

Good Luck Tom!

I just started a practice in Mississauga, Ontario Canada - now in month 4 -
...first have an operating plan and financial plan (highly under-rated)...market like crazy...here we either work with other busy practitioners for cheap or the lucky few get a low paying government health job (with benefits however), retirement homes and long term care...yes these are usually filled but call them and keep in touch with them - there seems to be a lot of turnover...so staying in touch increases your chances...you need this in the first few years in order to cover your expenses

have a multifacited marketing plans and do it slow and easy - but do something on that front each and every day - it adds up


to Family Physicians
to Gerontologists
to Paediatricians
to Endocrinologists

then hospitals

do speaking engagemenst at sports clubs, retirement homes
referral referrals referrals...

also have a web presence..35% of my patients so far have found me on line, 35% are referrals from my family doctor marketing......

good luck

 

Hi Tom,

I am sorry you have not appreciated my response. But to give pertinent advice i needed more info.

As an aside i graduated in 1986 worked in the NHS for 20 years also had a p/t private practice for 10 years and have recently returned from 4 years working for a large private practice in Sydney Australia.

So i had hoped that with a bit more info on your training , skill base and aspirations i could have given you some pertinent info.

Ho Hum

regards a PEDANT

 

Well why didn't you just ask?