Nursing Professor

by  Dr. Nancy Dirubbo, FNP, FAANP

The Perfect Niche for an NP-Owned Business

Many NPs who want to start a business are looking for a niche. While I started a primary care practice for women in 1985, I was ready for a change. I was looking for a niche that could provide me with a part time practice that would allow me flexibility, low stress and a healthy income. I wanted to be free of the ever increasing, administrative burdens of managing a traditional fee for service practice.  Those tasks that were taking me away from face to face delivery of patient care that was so important to me.

In my waiting room I had a digital picture frame with photos from my trips. Patients would see it and ask me for advice about their upcoming trips. What shots do I need? How can I prevent traveler’s diarrhea? Should I take malaria pills? It occurred to me that there was a need for this type of service in my community and it could be a practice I could do part time.

In 2008 I opened Travel Health of New Hampshire, PLLC (www.travelhealthnh.com). I operated it on a limited basis side by side to my primary care practice until 2015 when I retired from primary care and now I operate the travel clinic part time.

Why do I think travel health is perfect practice model for an NP owned business?

1. Low cost to start – you can easily open a travel clinic for less than $15,000.

2. Perfect model for a cash only practice since most insurances wont cover travel health anyways.

3. Low overhead- you don’t need a lot of space or fancy equipment.

4. Low need for staff- I actually don’t have any. A full -time travel clinic could run with an NP and one staff person.

5. It’s easy to learn what you need to gain expertise in travel health online. Great for new grads. (www.BeaconCEU.com “The Comprehensive Course in Travel Health”.

6. You don’t need sophisticated business skills to run it successfully.

7. There is an online program that teaches you step by step how to start and run a travel clinic (www.BeaconCEU.com “Owning, Opening, & Operating a Travel Clinic”).

8. Great add on – you can add travel health as another revenue stream to an existing practice.

9. Flexibility – see patients when you want, no call, and you can do this part time while you work for someone else. Ideal for someone who wants time with their family or as a semi-retirement business.

10.  And it’s fun! Patients are happy to come see you. You can spend 45 minutes to an hour with your patients and really get to know them.

Travel health is an exciting field in health care that is a perfect practice for an NP owned business. What are you waiting for?

For more information contact Nancy Dirubbo, DNP, FNP, FAANP, Certificate in Travel Health at ndirubbo@BeaconCEU.com