How to open an infusion center is one of the most frequently asked questions we hear. If you’re like most physicians 
looking for a competitive edge in the ever-changing landscape of patient care, you may be considering the addition of an infusion center to your practice or medical facility.
While the benefits of an infusion center are plentiful, the process of opening one can certainly be daunting. Don’t worry. We’ve designed this blueprint to guide you through the requisite steps to establish a successful, sustainable, and a profitable infusion center.
How to Open an Infusion Center
Step 1: Understand Your Why
Determine why you want to open an infusion center. An infusion center can yield a host of favorable outcomes for both you and your patients, but identifying the specific motives and intentions driving your decision to open one is the critical first step in framing the planning process.
Clarify your short- and long-term goals and outline your anticipated deliverables. For some physicians, profitability and increased revenue stream is the key objective. For others, an infusion center provides an unparalleled level of convenience and accessibility for patients. Perhaps opening an infusion center is simply a way of bolstering the overall quality of patient care that your practice provides. Whatever your reasons may be, a concrete purpose of action must be determined before subsequent developments can materialize.
Step 2: Know Your Target Audience
Once you establish your purpose, the next step is to identify and hone in on your target market. “Target market” is often a nebulous term in the healthcare industry when considering how many influencers and individuals play key roles in driving business. The first cohort that should be included is your existing patient base.
Next, think about both traditional and nontraditional customers that are aligned with your reasons for opening the infusion center. For example, if profit is your motive, maybe it makes sense for you to target insurance companies or establish partnerships with key companies. On the other hand, if your motive is to expand and grow your patient base, you may want to target case managers, referral coordinators, and other physicians who regard your center as a more appropriate treatment site than the standard hospital-like setting.
Step 3: Determine How You Will Reach Your Target Market
With a target market established, it’s time to meet your customers where they are. Take a multifaceted approach, and employ a variety of outreach methods. For example, establish and maintain strong rapport with both patients and other physicians, and communicate to them the value and impact of referrals. Additionally, identify appropriate websites and other online channels like Facebook to market your infusion center. Traditional print advertising such as newspapers, journals, and information boards are also effective ways to gain exposure if you target the right audience.
Dollars and Sense
Step 4: Create a Financial Analysis
Performing an in-depth financial analysis of operating costs is a must. Simply put – you can’t open the doors to your infusion center without first opening your books and crunching numbers. From overhead and inventory to monthly budgets, risk assessment, and projected growth, a detailed financial picture of the entire operation must be clearly established from the beginning.
Step 5: Design Your Center
Gone are the days of cold, sterile patient settings. The ambiance of your infusion center is what patients will remember, with comfort and inclusion serving as key features. Your infusion center should represent the culture of your practice while fostering safety, warmth, and physical and emotional wellbeing–not only for your patients, but for their family, friends, and caretakers as well.
Step 6: Assess Staff and Operational Components
When it comes to a fully operational infusion center, there are a lot of moving parts, and each one plays an integral role. Identify staffing needs from infusion nurses to management personnel to billing professionals. Make sure to define their unique functions and expected contributions.
Step 7: Inventory
You’ll need to ensure that you have the right medical equipment and medication on hand. Work with a provider that negotiates the best prices and can deliver what you need when you need it. At Corinthian, we can help you identify the medications that may be costing you more to administer than what you’re bringing in. We can also help you identify areas where you can improve your return on medication.
The Optimal Solution
When it comes to opening up your infusion center, a turnkey solution can take the guesswork and grunt work off your busy plate. A turnkey healthcare service provider manages all facets of the process – operational, staffing, and financial. It allows you to direct your focus where it belongs: on your patients and practice.
From providing equipment, software, and décor to assessing managed care contracts, performing audits, and facilitating purchases, a turnkey model is the only solution that takes work off your plate.
If you would like more information and pointed guidance on how to open an infusion center, contact us today to get started.