Sometimes, there is beauty in tradition.
At least Dr. Adam Owens of Durango Primary Care thinks so. After more than a decade of practicing medicine in modern healthcare settings, Dr. Owens knew he needed a change.
He wanted to get back to an old-fashioned business model that allowed him to spend more time working directly with his own patients. He decided to open a direct primary care clinic (also known as a concierge clinic). Under this model, patients pay a modest monthly fee and can see the doctor as often as they want. The clinic also conducts lab work, provides medications, and more.
Once he had settled on the idea of opening the clinic, he knew he needed help with the business side of things. “I didn’t have a concept for the first steps of opening a business,” Dr. Owens explains. “I was paralyzed from taking that first step. This is where the SBDC was so helpful. I walked in with an idea, and they showed me how to make it happen.”
In meeting with the SBDC, Dr. Owens was able to gain a healthy view of the realities of business ownership. He developed an understanding of what needed to be done, and he spent considerable time making it happen. “I used their assignments to create a business model. They gave me the launch point that I desperately needed.”
In addition, all of the planning and preparation allowed Dr. Owens to quickly make his idea a reality. “When it was time to go, I was able to launch fast because I had a three-month plan in place. I hit the ground running.”
So far, the launch has been smooth. Thanks to his work with the SBDC, Dr. Owens was able to anticipate a lot of issues and plan ahead. In addition, he knows he has people to go back to when he needs help.
“The whole process has been pretty amazing. I understand the business and have the resources when I need them. I’ve even started doing the books. I wouldn’t have opened the clinic without the confidence that I gained through the process.”
