Many younger doctors ask me what I would do differently if I were starting my private practice today.

Looking back, these are a few things that come to mind.

Don't chase only the highest consultation fee.

If you get an opportunity to work with a reputed hospital, take it.

The experience, referrals and credibility you build there are often worth much more than a slightly higher consultation fee somewhere else.

Don't wait too long to start your own clinic.

Many of us keep waiting.

A better location.

A bigger clinic.

More savings.

The truth is, there is never a perfect time.

Your practice grows one patient at a time. The earlier you start, the earlier that journey begins.

Make sure patients can find you.

Patients don't search telephone directories anymore.

They search on Google.

If someone searches for a doctor in your area, your clinic should be easy to find.

Make it easy for patients to reach you.

This is something we often don't think about.

We only see the patients who made it to the clinic.

We never see the patients who called while we were busy.

Or sent a WhatsApp message that nobody replied to.

Or simply didn't want to keep calling.

Those patients quietly go somewhere else.

You never even know they existed.

Don't let administration take over your day.

As doctors, our job is to see patients.

Not spend hours managing appointments, reminders, billing and paperwork.

Use a good clinic management system. Whether it's GoCliniq or any other system doesn't matter.

The point is to spend less time on administration and more time with patients.

Ask happy patients to leave a Google review.

Many doctors feel awkward asking.

I don't.

If a patient had a good experience, there is nothing wrong in asking them to leave an honest review.

Those reviews become your reputation online.

Be kind whenever you can.

Every doctor meets patients who genuinely cannot afford treatment.

If you can help, help.

The consultation fee you waive today will probably not change your income.

But your kindness may stay with that patient for the rest of their life.

Respect your patients' time.

If you are running late, tell them.

Patients usually understand.

What they don't like is not knowing what's happening.

At the end of the day, I think a good practice is built on three things.

Good clinical judgement.

Trust.

And making it easy for patients to access you.

The first takes years to learn.

The second is earned one patient at a time.

The third is completely in our hands.