If you had to choose the worst timing to open a solo retina practice, I bet “during a global pandemic” would top the list. But in June of 2020, as patient volumes dipped and uncertainty became the new normal, two retina specialists (both in Texas, coincidentally) did just that—they opened their own private practices. And how are they doing now, you may ask? Today, they are thriving.
In this issue’s featured article on going solo, Courtney Crawford, MD, founder of Star Retina in Fort Worth, and Shawn Kavoussi, MD, founder of Texas Retina Center in Houston, discuss their journeys to becoming small business owners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It takes time to open a private practice, and once the train has left the station, even a pandemic can’t stop it, Dr. Crawford told Retina Today in an interview. For Dr. Kavoussi, the lull in patient volume due to the pandemic was a blessing in disguise, allowing him the breathing room he needed to ramp up his new practice.
Retina Today asked these entrepreneurs to share their success stories—just two of many others—as a reminder that being a solo practitioner remains a rewarding (and financially sound) way to care for patients. Small practices in areas of need improve access to care and can provide the more personal experience that some patients prefer. With the aging population and the chronicity of many retinal conditions, the demand for retina specialists is only increasing; patients with AMD and diabetic macular edema will continue to require frequent intravitreal injections and follow-ups, and retinal detachments will always require prompt intervention. The patient volume is there, and the field of retina will always be supportive of various practice types.
Who knows, maybe their wisdom will spark something in you too.
If it does, the other articles in this issue will come in handy when launching your own clinic. The Practice Management column walks you through how to make tough staffing changes, while Coding Advisor provides much-needed tips for avoiding claim denials. Oh, and if you already have a successful private practice, Your Money column can help you prepare to sell that business to start your next adventure.
