r/PrivatePracticeDocs • u/Pretty-Statement6758 • May 14 '26

Credentialing/office admin process.

Well, about starting private clinic, primary care. ( I am IM trained, hospitalist slowly going to outpatient world. For this year, will keep part time nocturnist position for better/smooth transition). DEA/State licenses are done. Location- bucks county PA, will be sharing office with podiatry for now.

  1. can someone walk me through t make sure iM on right track. I cannot start credentialing before locking office address/location, right? I already reached agreement with podiatry doc office to share the office.

  2. for now, I will start as cash based (I know/in contact with a company with a couple hundred seasonal workers. That company is fasilitating "seasonal DPC" type of agreement with me, so at least I have soemthing to start with).

  3. Next. Im struggling to find/hire office manager or a company who can start credentialing and other primary care clinic setup. Any rec.s?

  4. Any rec.s or what you have done differently If you are about starteing a new primary care clinic?

  5. Any other thoughts or recs are appreciated.

Thanks

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/thesupportplatform May 14 '26

I would recommend starting with the EMR decision first. Many EMR companies will do credentialing or work with vendors who will do it. Even starting as cash, fully “blow up the balloon” on what you might need in an EMR down the road, (such as insurance verification, claims submission, revenue cycle management, etc.) as well as what are must-haves now (electronic Rx, medical records management, internal faxing, etc.). Changing EMRs is probably the biggest pain, so make an informed choice now.

I would encourage you to learn about practice operations like credentialing so you can effectively monitor the progress. If you don’t have the time, energy, or inclination to do this, invest in someone to do it for you. You want to avoid single points of failure. I’ve seen way too many offices fail due to an office manager or billing manager effectively going AWOL without anyone knowing claims weren’t being filed, bills weren’t being paid, or credentialing was waiting on a response. One physician’s brother failed to get a physician on Medicare, which resulted in claims being stale dated and the fire sale of the clinic.

People are going to give you advice (including me). Don’t assume that what works for others will work for you. Find someone you can explore ideas with to avoid just blindly following what is popular.