There is no doubt that most entrepreneurs are gifted with a vision of their successful business. That’s often the catalyst for the move to start or grow a business. The tendency to minimize expenses during the start-up process is common, and although some tasks can be done by a business-minded (soon-to-be) company owner, it’s just as important to know when to call in the experts. Why should you hire a consultant?
Establishing a home care business is a process that very few people do more than one time. The entrepreneur who intends to establish a home care business is generally, and rightly, focused on obtaining patients, marketing, hiring and maintaining staff and on long-term growth. The process of establishing the business is nuanced. Let’s consider the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA, State of Florida) licensure process.
Although AHCA lists the requirements for the application, it does not explain how to properly supply this information; AHCA also does not provide details to guide the applicant in submitting material that is sufficient to satisfy its requirements. Some of our clients start off by submitting their own applications, assuming, what’s so difficult about filling in blanks on a form? The rude awakening comes in the form of an Omissions Letter, which gives the applicant only one chance to fix the errors, or he/she forfeits the $2,000 application fee and must re-apply. That’s sometimes when clients contact CCG for help.
Writing policies & procedures is another challenge many clients take on themselves. These documents must cover not only the what of state regulations but also how the agency will assure compliance with them. P&P are reviewed during the licensure survey and can also result in significant deficiencies with a short timeframe for correction or the license will be denied.
Relying on experts with the requisite knowledge and a proven track record of successes in your particular project are two critical points to consider when asking for help. Last-minute, tight deadline fixes will be costly to the client even without factoring in the stress involved. It makes sense to focus the entrepreneur mind on the big picture and retain competent help for foundational tasks. This will set your highly regulated long-term care business on the right path.