10 Steps to Developing Your Medical Spa… Avoid the Pitfalls!

Index • Step One Secure a Solid Concept • Step Two Creating your Business Plan & Numbers • Step Three Hiring Your Development Team • Step Four Finding Your Location • Step Five Menu Creation and Product Selection • Step Six Creating and Implementing your Business Infrastructure • Step Eight Medical Insurance • Step Nine Hiring and Staffing • Step Ten Generating Revenue Through Marketing and Retail Sales

Other Spa Site Articles by Alexis Ufland • The Medical Spa - The Next Generation of the Spa Industry

Contact Alexis Ufland Lexi Design - Spa Definition, Design, Development • Address:  9 Barrow Street Suite #3N, New York, NY 10014 • Phone/Fax: 646-336-5549 • Email: alexis@lexidesign.com  • Web Site • Lexi Design Online Presentation

Related Resources • Spa Business Articles and Surveys  • Spa Consultants • Public Relations, Marketing, & Communications Firms • Spa Recruitment Services • Spa Management Services • Spa Suppliers

Step Seven:  Integrate the Doctor with the Spa Services  
Pitfall:  One-stop Shopping

The backbone to a Medical Spa is the integration between the Doctor’s office and the Spa. This integration comes from programming and communication. There are several approaches you can take to integrate your operation. One style is to create a ‘panel of experts’, to include both doctors and practitioners. The diagnosis of the patient is discussed with the panel to create a comprehensive treatment program for healing the patient with Western, Eastern and/or Alternative philosophies. Another method is to have each patient undergo a thorough consultation prior to making his or her appointments. In this consultation, the patient can describe any problems, needs and goals they wish to achieve. With this information and utilizing the services offered within the Spa, a long-term program can be formed to target the patient’s needs. This one-on-one consultation gives the patient not only time to discuss what they want to achieve, but at the same time learn about the services your Medical Spa offers. A third approach, and one that is more specific to a Spa that is cosmetically driven, is to design your ‘menu of services’ inclusive of all treatments offered, whether by both Doctor or Spa. However, the doctor-spa arrangement needs to be strictly adhered to for who performs which services.  For example, if you are offering Glycolic Peels in both the Spa and in the Doctor’s office, then separate the services, allowing the Spa to perform below 30% peels and the Doctor to perform above 30%.

Communication between Doctor and staff is critical. Spa staff needs to have a full understanding of a patient’s health history and current medications patients are using so as to avoid performing contra-indicated services or using contra-indicated products. Your patients are going to assume that everyone in the Office and Spa is aware of his/her health history and therefore may be lax about reminding your Spa staff of current health issues, medications etc. It is necessary to create a system that allows the staff access to understanding specific information about the patient that could negatively affect his/her experience in the Spa.

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