Leasing new office space for your medical practice can be a rewarding experience in terms of setting up operations in a prime location that is easily accessible to new and existing patients. However, it can also be a challenging effort if you are unaware of the finer details that leasing medical space entails.
Here is some strategic advice on how to proceed with caution and lease medical office space that best suits your practice’s specific needs:
- Know how much space you really need. This will be based on your current practice and your future growth needs. A good rule of thumb for your practice facility size is
1200 to 1500 square feet for the first physician and 1000 to 1200 square feet for each additional physician, up to five. - Determine whether this is the ideal location for both your patients and staff. While suburban office spaces offer lower rates, they don’t get as much walk-thru traffic and may require a longer commute for patients and staff. On the other hand, urban properties are closer to public transportation, making it easier to build a sizeable patient base.
- Make sure the entire property is ADA compliant. If it is not, you may have to pay the cost of making necessary updates. So, focus on properties that are either fully compliant or where the owner is willing to cover any or most of the upgrades.
- Look for the ideal lease terms. It’s important to find out each of the costs and expenses you may incur in addition to your annual lease cost. Find out whether the owner offers extras, such as free months or financial aid for cost of improvements. If you opt for a long lease, you’ll likely benefit from lower overall costs.
- Choose a location near other medical professionals, clinics, or a hospital. Close proximity to other physicians and referring specialists can boost your patient base and provide added convenience for your patients.
- Make sure there is adequate parking. Rule of thumb: Have at least five parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of office space. You may also want to lease in a building with a “drop off” zone, so cars can stop in a designated area and allow patients to walk directly into your building.
- Make sure your lease allows for radiation and the handling of biohazardous materials. Most commercial leases do not account for the costs associated with the heavy shielding you’ll need if your equipment emits radiation or if you need to safely dispose biohazardous materials. Properties that lease strictly to medical facilities are more likely to cater to these needs.
- Determine whether you need after-hours access. Conventional commercial property typically restricts after-hours use due to safety, legal liability, and utility cost concerns. Discuss this accommodation with your landlord, who may approve it provided some compensation is received for any additional utility costs.
- Consider a lease document that addresses specific tenant needs. Medical practices often have special needs that are not cover in the typical commercial lease. When provided with a lease document, examine it carefully, line by line, with your broker to ensure that it includes all items that are acceptable to you and addresses any special accommodations you requested and require.
A Great Way to Lease Medical Office Space in Naples, Florida
If you’re looking to establish a medical office space that will draw new and/or existing patients, as well as save you money in the long run, consider leasing at the brand new Executive Medical Center.
Set to open in February 2021, the Executive Medical Center is conveniently located just a quarter-mile from I-75 in Naples, FL. The contemporary-designed, three-story, 28,000-square foot building offers healthcare providers many valuable amenities and conveniences, including:
- Two spacious, stylishly designed floors of medical offices in move-in condition.
- An independent, state-of-the-art MRI imaging center located on the first floor, equipped to provide detailed scans for the timely diagnosis and treatment of your patients.
- The North Naples Surgery Center, an ultramodern outpatient ambulatory surgical unit conveniently located on the third floor of the Executive Medical Center. The surgical center is equipped with the latest, advanced technology and staffed with highly trained medical professionals capable of handling a large volume of daily patient traffic and a wide range of elective, same-day procedures. As a surgeon with privileges at the Surgery Center, you will have access to the equipment, anesthesiologists, and/or medical staff necessary to perform your specific procedure.
