Paving the way: Building a Paediatric Clinic for Health, Healing & Happiness

Opening your own clinic sounds like a colossal leap of faith and something which many practitioners shy away from. I get it, it’s scary but my experience has shown that with proper planning and due diligence you’ll be wondering why you didn’t do it sooner! This article workshops the steps involved and questions to consider when opening your own clinic. 

This year, 13 years after launching Kids Heart Pilates, we opened our very own clinic. The small and humble space has welcomed little feet through the doors for only a few months but I’m seriously wondering why it’s taken me this long to do it. Traditionally a mobile business, the idea sparked after seeing how my other business, Northside Allied Health, thrived when we moved to our own exclusive clinic space.

Northside Allied Health is an exercise physiology business based in Brisbane’s north and services a range of clients but mainly those over the age of 60, many of whom are DVA clients. 

After many years in a shared space within a commercial gym, in 2021, I moved the business to our very own spaced and kitted it out with my clients in mind. It has been the best decision for the team, our clients and the future of the business.  

Northside Allied Health was born out of a desire to create a warm, welcoming and safe space for our clients and team to come together to exercise, talk, collaborate and improve health holistically. We aimed to create a space our NAH family can call home, a place that is welcoming and warm and removes common barriers to exercise intervention and we did. Our clinic is more than a space, it’s a place where people come to connect, to foster their health. I personally have gained so much over the past seven years from the NAH community with so many friendships made and connections formed and I think my clients share the same sentiments.   

I hope to inspire many more practitioners to take a leap of faith and open your own space where your clients can feel welcome and at home. Here are a few consideration and some guided steps:

1. Do a deep dive on who your clients really are

When thinking about your ideal clinic space, your clients should be at the forefront of your mind. The space should be a safe and non-threatening area that reflects the needs of your business and your clients. It should be a space where clients feel welcomed to reduce barriers and allow clients to connect and achieve their goals. Creating a client avatar can be a helpful way to define your client and there may be multiple avatars to represent different client subsets. What does your client look like, talk like, think like and need from you? 

 2. Consider why you are making this move

Asking yourself this question is really important. You may have multiple reasons for opening your clinic, including, the happiness and wellbeing of your clients, the professional development and retention of your team and the benefit it brings to your business financially. 

 3.Client to space ratio and equipment 

When considering a space to lease or buy, your client/space ratio is a key consideration. During COVID we needed 1:4m space and so this was something I had to take into account when leasing a space for Northside Allied Health. Think about how much equipment you will need and how much physical space your clients will need. How many clients will you be seeing at once? 

When it comes to paediatric clients, the requirement for fancy, expensive equipment is unnecessary. Having a simple set of basic equipment like mats and balls and a mobile ‘bag of tricks’, including a set of sensory items is good practice for start up practitioners and also makes home visits an easy option. 

4. Adaptability of space  

The clinic space should be adaptable, meaning you are able to change the space to suit your client’s needs and the movement/activity you are prescribing. As paediatric practitioners we often see children who are neurodiverse and have sensory concerns. Consider the acoustics of the space, the soft furnishing and level of stimulation within the clinic environment and how easily this can be adapted to suit the needs of each client. Even atypical children (and adults) sit somewhere on the sensory scale and can feel distracted or overstimulated in certain environments. The space should aim to eliminate known triggers for clients.  

 5. Accessibility of space 

Car Parking, stairs and universal access (particularly for NDIS clients) should not be overlooked. Paediatric clients come with parents who are busy so your clinic should have ample parking and have nice open access.

 6. Workflow 

Draw a map of your workflow during the day to determine an effective floorplan for your clinic. The space should be comfortable for clients, carers and your team to be in. Do your assessment rooms have adequate privacy? Will your clients feel comfortable if there are other clients in the space?   

7. Budget 

The cost vs return on investment is key to sustainability of your clinic and professional advice from your accountant or financial advisor should be sought. 

And Go!

The step to open up your own clinic is a big one. It’s exciting and frightening at the same time. My advice in summary is this: brainstorm, plan and do your due diligence before committing to your space. Surround yourself with people who champion business success. Follow your dreams and keep your client at the heart of all that you do.