07 Aug The Rural Practice Opportunity
Would you like to know where a dentist’s standard of living can be considerably increased without having to devote most, if not all, of his or her waking hours in the dental office? Would you like to know where you can afford to buy a big house your first year in practice instead of living in a cramped apartment for several years? How about buying a luxury vehicle while still being able to afford to take a four-week vacation to some nice resort each year?
Does this lifestyle sound good to you? Well, you’re not likely going to find it living and practicing in the big cities. You can, however, enjoy this relaxed, “laid back” lifestyle by acquiring a practice in one of many small, rural communities located around your state. Don’t misunderstand the point here! Cities have their advantages too, like the theater, ballet, museums, etc. But you’ll find that most people living in the cities have little time to enjoy these big city benefits. Living in the city costs a lot more money, which inevitably leaves less money for such entertaining activities.
As a matter of fact, you will discover that professional people from the rural areas come into the city, stay at a very nice hotel and probably enjoy more of the city on a long weekend than their counterparts do who live in the city all year long. A trip to the city becomes an adventure for rural professionals instead of a nightmarish journey along the crowded highways and byways that are routinely faced by their “big city” colleagues.
Do you like the idea of jeans and boots being acceptable professional office attire? Do you like the idea of trading a root canal for lift tickets at a nearby ski resort? How about the fact that going fishing means closing the office doors and strolling to a nearby lake or stream for the rest of the day? Would you like to exchange hunting and fishing stories with most of your patients since they hunt and fish as well?
Do you like the idea of being a friend and neighbor to your patients? Friends and neighbors are less likely to bring malpractice suits against you and especially when the only lawyer in town is also your patient!
If these life changing benefits appeal to you, then you need to give some strong consideration to acquiring a rural practice. Rural practices are less expensive, have less competition, lower overheads, more quality patients, and significantly much more net income. You will be able to take much more time off and definitely afford to go more places to spend that net income than most of your big city colleagues.
If you want to give up traffic jams, hot city streets, high office rent, unappreciative and demanding patients, fast paced days with exhausting nights, high staff turnover, etc., etc., etc., then it may be time to look for a better life style in a rural setting.
