Choosing the ideal location for your dental or medical office is crucial to your business's success. Here are three key points and some questions, the answers to which may help you make your decision:
Target Audience
Consider the profile of the patients you want to treat. Answer the following questions:
- What is the income range of your audience?
- What is the age range of your audience (children and/or adults)?
- Will it serve companies and/or agreements?
Well located property
Look for a space in a busy, easily accessible area that meets your target audience. Answer the following questions:
- Is the property easy to see for my target audience?
If possible, choose an establishment that is visible and conveys professionalism and that matches your target audience.
- Does the property have its own parking or is it close to third-party parking?
- Is there public transport nearby?
- According to your audience profile, is there good accessibility?
If the office is in a building, check if there is an elevator, because of elderly and disabled patients.
- Do you have good basic sanitation?
Imagine there being no water in your office and, even worse, there being sewage overflowing onto your sidewalk.
- Is the power grid stable?
Check if there are many power outages/outages in the neighborhood.
- How many competitors are there in the neighborhood and/or commercial building where the property is located?3
Be careful not to be just another one .
- Is the neighborhood where the property is located safe?
a) To check a neighborhood's crime rate, you can use a few tools and websites that provide this information. Here are some options:Secretariat of Public Security (SSP): Many Brazilian states, such as São Paulo, provide crime statistics on their official websites. You can access your state's SSP portal and search for crime statistics.b) Interactive Maps: Estadão, for example, offers an interactive map where you can enter a specific address and view the number of criminal occurrences registered within a 500-meter radius.c) Atlas of Violence: The Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea) publishes the Atlas of Violence, which contains detailed data on crime in different regions of Brazil.
These tools can help you get a clear picture of the safety of the neighborhood you want to research.
Size and Architectural Standards
Pay attention to the size of the space and the Health Surveillance regulations.
- Is there enough space to place the dental chair separate from the office space (recommended)?
- Is there enough space for a dual-environment sterilization area (soiled material area and sterilized material area)?
- Is there enough space for a pleasant and comfortable reception, given the waiting time for the expected number of people?
- Is it possible to install air conditioning units to ensure good climate control in the environment?
- Is there a separate bathroom/washroom for patients?
Yes, it is recommended A dental office must have separate bathrooms for patients and professionals. Additionally, there are other ANVISA regulations that must be followed to ensure a safe and contamination-free environment.
- Are floors and walls easy to clean?
By answering these questions, you'll have a guide to start planning your practice. Remember to adapt these tips to your local situation and the target audience. Good luck with your practice! 🦷.
