When we are looking for favorable places to put a practice, we are often drawn to those sites that are allowing or encouraging growth, particularly those sites that are encouraging the construction of single family, owner occupied dwelling units. In some states (including California) this is becoming more expensive (assuming they are even possible.) Politicians don't like them for several reasons. They don't provide property taxes like apartment developments do and they are difficult to put in utilities. They also represent challenges to voting blocks that local politicians like. Worst of all, they encourage "buy-in" that is independent of politicians. They prefer to deal with individual developers. They don't like individual property owner or their representatives.

When big developers have to answer to politicians, they resent losing their power base.

We are looking for a large population base that also controls building permits rather than politicians that control them like a kind of "patronage gift." When practices depend upon single-family housing that is owner-occupied, the politicians lose power (and control). That is one more reason you want local control to be in the hands of local property owners.

Doctor Demographics can tell you where these places exist. If you are going to put the future in the hands of a building developer, you want to retain control of that property. We have the answers to how this can be done.

This episode deals with the question of competition saturation. How many other general dentists (for example) should cause concern for a doctor considering putting a new office in a neighborhood? The real question is how closely the two offices match up in their definition of their marketing mix (product, place, price, and promotion?) Experience would suggest that unless they are exactly the same, there is no good reason to locate an office in another neighborhood just because there is another office that looks somewhat similar. In fact, the idea that NO ONE would consider putting a competing practice in that location may be sufficient reason to wonder about the neighborhood in the first place. 

So rather than shrink away from an office with competition, it might be considered a desirable factor!

When I first started doing demographic and site analysis reports for doctors nearly 40 years ago, the art and science of this analysis were still pretty primitive. Things have changed in fairly significant ways. This includes the ways that we drew practice boundaries and interpreted the data.  This session talks about one of the BIG changes that have occurred: Zip Code definitions and drive times. Another big change is the inclusion and interpretation of psychographics.

This week our episode deals with presenting the reasons the patient base should choose YOUR practice and how you can present the benefits of seeking can in a more persuasive manner. It is based upon tools we call Agenda Setting and Framing Theories and they are cutting-edge market research. They have been proven wildly effective in recent decades to help "move the needle" for healthcare practices to not only choose YOUR practice but to build a loyal and enthusiastic patient base.

When you are ready Doctor Demographics can customize your image and practice promotion to make them more effective and targeted. Come to www.DoctorDemographics.com to get a sample report and a price quote.

Here is a recording of our Live Youtube stream where Mike Green talks about the 5 Keys for a Successful Practice Placement. He also answer a few live questions along the way from doctors who were on with us live. Want to join us for our next broadcast? We'll be live again next Friday at noon eastern on our YouTube channel found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxB3_hnovfETy3okc3yQudA 

To REALLY meet the healthcare wants and needs of a population, it is necessary to know them well. Otherwise, you will spend time and effort on activities and advertising that won't work. This episode starts with the basic assumption that too many doctors believe the ideal patient base will look like they do (fit their demographic profile). Their unique point of view will be lost as providers carry out these assumptions without doing good research.

What is the true potential of American healthcare when contrasted with Rival nations (such as China) which have been talking smack about the medical and dental programs in the U.S.? To be fair, the U.S. has been unrivaled in the world. By contrast, China (and others) have a great deal of political meddling get into their research and teaching. To make my case, we examine data on life expectancy to prove the point that the outcomes have been superior in the American system.

Right before our eyes, America's cities are being reinvented and reimagined. They are not what we have seen before. This short episode shows just how America is changing. The Davos Economic Forum Predicted (and Mandated) that Americans would prefer one direction for America's future. It seems that we are heading in a new direction entirely. Doctors should be aware that places they want to practice in are diverging from what the ruling Elites have told us to expect (and demand).

We want to explore how there exists a cross-over between Desirable Demographics and the attitudes within a patient base to purchase healthcare.  This episode explores those demographic factors.  In fact, we have even included a partial list of some U.S. cities that demonstrate these factors so you can see what kinds of places we are talking about.

It might be desirable to concentrate only on those locations that are growing when choosing a place to practice. Still, that isn't always the best choice. Some areas may not be increasing in size, but they have favorable demographics (such as employment, age, or income). The locations that are showing "out-migration" are the ones we see as having the most risk. Three of these were once growing but have reversed their trends.  These include Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. 

This episode describes just WHY these formerly thriving places are losing population (surprisingly). Some of these sites are pricing themselves out of the market. Of particular note is the very high tax rate we are seeing.  This has particularly surprised demographic experts at the speed of the effects on population and employment.  The market has fallen very rapidly. No one seems to know when these trends will be stabilized.

This episode is about a rising trend in Healthcare Practice Locations. When I started Doctor Demographics, clients seemed obsessed with knowing the number of competing practices (and providers) in their neighborhood/ The demographic character of residents was not the important (according to them.) This has all changed, of course but as the costs of parking and site availability rose, another important factor emerged: Walkability. This term is growing in significance for several reasons. This episode will explain why you need to know your walkability score and what to do about it.