We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Airelle Rucker-Smith DNP, CRNP recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Dr. Airelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
Tell us the story of the early days from when you decided to start your own practice to establishing FirstChoice Primary Care.
The thought of creating FirstChoice Primary Care dates back to my childhood. From the age of 5, I remember declaring my dream of owning a medical practice. This aspiration had deep roots within me. Growing up, I was diagnosed with congenital cataracts, leading me to attend numerous doctor’s appointments before undergoing surgery. Moreover, my grandmother and aunt were nurses, and witnessing them in their uniforms and visiting them at work left an impression on me. I even have Halloween photos of me dressed as various medical professionals. It seemed as though my path was destined to be in the medical field.
Although my initial plan was to attend medical school, I ultimately pursued a nursing major during college because it resonated with me on a more personal level. The human interaction and the ability to help people drew me into the world of nursing. After graduating from Penn State University, I embarked on my nursing career as a new graduate nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, specializing in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. It was during those years that I began pondering how I could contribute to keeping patients out of the hospital, which rekindled the dream of opening my own medical practice.
To prepare for this endeavor, I sought to gain additional nursing experience and knowledge across a variety of clinical areas, including surgical, telemetry, endoscopy, and occupational health. I returned to the doctoral nurse practitioner program at the University of Maryland, where I was dedicated to furthering my medical knowledge. I didn’t stop there; I also shadowed other providers with their own practices and dedicated extra clinical hours to learning the ropes. My thirst for knowledge extended to business aspects as well. I consumed books, attended business workshops, and took advantage of free classes, courses at the local Small Business Association, and even YouTube videos about entrepreneurship and business journeys. My objective was to soak up as much information as possible, and it proved invaluable when I eventually embarked on my entrepreneurial journey.
What were the main steps you had to take?
The main steps I took in establishing FirstChoice Primary Care involved gaining a comprehensive understanding of the workings of a medical practice. I learned how to perform every role within the practice, from the receptionist to the provider to the billing personnel. This hands-on experience was crucial in two ways: it allowed me to start my practice cost-effectively by wearing multiple hats and gave me the ability to shape how I wanted my practice to operate. I spent time working in various medical practices to learn these roles, and I must say that this practical experience was instrumental in building FirstChoice Primary Care.
What were some of the key challenges in setting up your own office/practice?
One of the biggest challenges I encountered was funding the practice. As the saying goes, it takes money to make money, and in the field of healthcare, this rings especially true. While I had extensively studied the intricacies of starting and running a practice, securing adequate funding proved to be a significant barrier. It’s essential to have a solid financial plan and resources in place before embarking on such an endeavor.
Would you have done anything differently knowing what you know now?
Looking back, I would have saved more money and been a bit more strategic about securing funding. Although I had a clear vision and knowledge, financial resources are a fundamental requirement for any startup, and being more prepared in this aspect would have made the initial stages of my practice smoother.
Any advice for a young professional considering starting their own practice?
My advice to young professionals considering starting their own practice is to ensure that their passion is unwavering. Entrepreneurship in the medical field is not easy, and your commitment must be rock-solid. Moreover, I would recommend thorough research and patience. Don’t rush into the process. Take the time to learn and understand the nuances of both the medical and business aspects. Continuous learning and adaptability will be your allies on this journey. In the end, the hard work and dedication will be incredibly rewarding, but it’s a path that requires persistence and resilience.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My journey into the nurse practitioner-led primary care industry has been a lifelong commitment to improving healthcare and the lives of individuals and communities. I began working in the healthcare industry at the age of 14. I participated in a summer youth program at a local hospital in NYC, working in the medical records department. This early exposure to healthcare ignited my passion for the field.
After earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I launched my nursing career as a new graduate nurse at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital, specializing in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. Over the years, I gained extensive experience in various clinical areas, including surgical, telemetry, endoscopy, and occupational health. My educational journey continued with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, specializing in Adult Gerontology Primary Care, from the University of Maryland.
But my commitment didn’t stop at clinical excellence. I realized that true healthcare extends beyond clinical expertise, so I dedicated myself to learning the business side of healthcare. I shadowed providers with their own practices, invested time in extra clinical hours, and voraciously absorbed knowledge through books, workshops, and courses on entrepreneurship and business.
In the field of primary care, my path took me to the role of the sole provider managing a busy primary care practice and an urgent care center. This experience solidified my resolve to provide top-quality, patient-centered care, and it eventually led to the establishment of FirstChoice Primary Care.
FirstChoice Primary Care is more than just a medical practice; it’s a commitment to a set of core values encapsulated in the acronym “I CARE,” which stands for Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Reliability, and Equity. Every patient who walks through our doors receives the best healthcare in Maryland from providers who genuinely care about their well-being.
Our services encompass a wide range of healthcare needs, including acute illness visits, primary and preventative care, geriatric care, women’s health, psychiatric mental health services, pediatric and adolescent care, routine physicals, chronic disease management, nutritional counseling, telehealth visits, and lab and imaging testing. We are not your typical medical office; we are a doctoral-prepared nurse practitioner-led practice with a holistic approach that recognizes the social determinants of health that affect not just physical health but mental and spiritual/faith health as well.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to listening. We prioritize thorough, compassionate, and quality care, making sure our patients have the time and attention they deserve, rather than rushing through appointments. Additionally, we offer a one-stop shop for healthcare, allowing patients to access specialty care in addition to primary care.
I am most proud of the sustainability and growth of FirstChoice Primary Care. We started as a telehealth practice and have since outgrown our first physical location, necessitating the search for a larger space. This growth is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional care that resonates with our patients and the community.
FirstChoice Primary Care is built on values that matter most to patients when choosing a medical practice. Our mission is to offer care services that promote total health and well-being throughout the community, and our vision is to be the trusted first choice for primary healthcare nationwide.
In summary, our journey is rooted in a passionate commitment to making a profound impact on individuals’ lives and the communities we serve. We are dedicated to providing healthcare that goes beyond the clinical, embodying the values of integrity, compassion, accountability, reliability, and equity. Our aim is to be the trusted first choice for primary healthcare and contribute to the overall health and well-being of the community.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Without a heart beat. I would do it over, and over and over again! I can truly safe I love what I do.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Right before I was about to launch my business I went through a divorce. I had to place the launch on hold for many reasons. I had strategically planned to launch this business and the divorce uprooted the plan I had. I had a savings, I positioned my self to work part-time everything was in perfect position to launch. Now I had to figure out how I would launch if I needed to work fulltime and go back to being the sole provider. I had to grieve, process, and pivot. I made a promise to myself that the divorce would not impact or delay my dream. I healed and I processed. I made the decision to push through. I was very hard but I pushed because I was determined to not let that break me or my business. I am extremely proud of my self for finding the strength. However, I know the strength didn’t come from me, it was my high source.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.firstchoiceprimary.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airelleruckerdnp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fcpcares & https://www.facebook.com/AirelleRucker/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/firstchoiceprimarycare/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/airelle-rucker-smith-dnp/