We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kiera Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kiera thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
After working at a busy clinic for over four years, I started to become overwhelmed and burnt out. At times, I could see 25 -30 patients per day without a lunch break. I could not continue working under those circumstances. This type of environment isn’t ideal for patients either, as they often experience long waits and limited face time with the healthcare provider.
I wanted to offer a better experience than what many patients face, an experience that would lead to more patient satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed me to think outside of the box of having a brick-and-mortar office and instead offer virtual and home visits.
Some of the main steps to get this started involved obtaining an LLC, EIN, Electronic Health Record (EHR), and hiring a credentialing team. If I were to do anything differently, I would have incorporated more digital marketing before transitioning into my practice full time. Some of my key challenges included obtaining credentialing with third-party payors, as that can take several months for approval. The delay in approvals interrupted the ability to accept new patients at that time. For someone considering starting their own practice, I’d recommend starting small and keeping expenses low.
Kiera, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have climbed the nursing ladder over the last two decades, starting as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), then as a Registered Nurse to Family Nurse Practitioner. From the beginning of my nursing career, my goal has been to impact lives in an influential way. Over the last five years, I have been practicing as a FNP treating acute and chronic illnesses of patients of all ages. I have worked in extremely busy clinics with heavy workloads, which often led to exhaustion. Not only that, I believed the expected increased volume of patients would not allow for an adequate amount of time to spend with each patient. That’s what motivated me to start my own practice, OnDemand Healthcare.
My mission is to make it easy for families, individuals, and seniors to receive excellent healthcare. My practice provides affordable, convenient, and quality primary care. It is my hope to reach underserved and uninsured communities to provide accessible healthcare. I can do this because my practice treats patients in their home through virtual or home visits. OnDemand Healthcare spends the time needed to give patients quality care and positive experiences with a healthcare provider.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I believe that each positive experience has helped build a great reputation for my practice. We strive to ensure each patient feels their concerns are important and they are heard. By including patients in their treatment plan and decision-making, it allows them to feel like part of a team with a mutual goal, rather than just offering a one-size-fits-all approach. I am an advocate for patients being involved in their care, and I strongly encourage it. When our patients have positive experiences, they usually share that with a friend or family member. We have built our reputation on this kind of word of mouth.
We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.
I sold my first business, a home care agency, Monarch Home Healthcare last year. Monarch Home Healthcare is a home care agency that provides assistance with personal care, transfers, housekeeping, errands, medication reminders, and companionship. One thing I found to be beneficial was having things in order, including documents, financials, and licensing. Organization allows a smooth transition when selling a business. Just as important, I would recommend to someone hoping to sell their business to obtain a business valuation to know what the business is worth. A valuation gives a baseline when negotiating buyer offers and gives you an idea of what you can expect from the sale.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://houstonondemandcare.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieramoorefnp/