September 13, 2018

How a NP can start a Housecall practice

by Dr. Scharmaine Lawson, FNP, FAANP, FAAN

Medical house call practices by nurse practitioners are beginning to gain a lot of attention, as more nurse practitioners are making house calls to provide medical aid to patients who cannot visit a health facility. A Housecall practice by nurse practitioners enables advanced practice nurses to build a private practice with less overhead, and ultimately, earn more revenue. It also offers some flexibility in work schedule, as well as some degree of freedom. If you are a advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you too can start a house call practice today.

Key Steps for Starting a House Call Practice

Starting a house call practice can be a tumultuous process for many nurse practitioners, as most are confused about where and how to start. However, like many small businesses, a nursing house call practice also requires certain steps and processes you have to take to make it a success. To help you build a successful house call practice, highlighted below are some crucial things you need to do.

· Get Your Credentials

The first thing you need to do before setting up your practice is go through the credentialing process. This is required, especially, if you will be accepting payments from patients with government or private insurance. You will be asked by insurers about your medical background, as well as all the necessary licenses and permits. The entire process can take several months, so you might want to start early, to get it over and done with, as soon as possible.

· Get Licensed

Next, you need to follow some important regulations set up by your state and the federal government. You will need to get licensed by the APRN licensing department in your state. Depending on the state where you hope to have your practice set up, you might want to visit the Board of Nursing for your state to get the requirements. There may be other requirements you might have to provide, including DEA registration if you will be administering medication to your patients. You might also need to provide a national provider identifier number (NPI). If you do not have one, you can apply on the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System website.

· Establish a Legal Structure

Your house call practice will also need a legal business structure, which will help determine how you will be paying your taxes, as well as the extent to which you will be liable for losses, debts, and lawsuits. Thus, you might want to hire an attorney that will help you make the right legal decisions. Your attorney will oversee the entire legal aspect of your practice, by drafting legal documents like articles of incorporation/organization, partnership agreements, etc.

· Fund Your Practice

You may also require a small business loan or some other form of capital, to fund your house call practice. You will need to consider the cost of equipment, an accountant, attorney and other costs. Other expenses to add to your start-up cost, include the cost of medical records software, computers, medical supplies like gloves, bandages, syringes, etc. To get funding for your practice, you will need to find the right lender for you, as well as make sure that you have all the requirements they need.

These are just some key steps you need to take when planning to start a house call practice. for more in-depth information on how to start a house call practice as a nurse practitioner, You should Order Housecalls 101. And, if you would like to learn, first hand, the essential skills, and tools needed to run a successful house call practice, Book the House Call Course by Dr. Lawson today!