OutsideClinic launches joint venture partnership model

The OutsideClinic launched its joint venture partnership (JVP) model on 24 September.

OT spoke with the company’s director of strategic partnerships, Paul Chapman-Hatchett, about what JVPs offer eye care professionals and the patients they care for.

How will the JVP model work within OutsideClinic? What are the advantages of this model?

Our model mitigates the risk that entrepreneurial optometrists face when setting up their business. The JVP can be launched with minimal initial outlay, while the JVP enjoys access to a steady flow of patients. The optometrist runs their own practice with the flexibility to manage their days and offer the highest standards of care. Secure in the knowledge that they have access to comprehensive business support and equipment. The key advantage is that the optometrists can concentrate on serving their clients profitably while OutsideClinic takes care of all the back-office activities.

How has the response been?

We have had an a really strong level of interest and as our current JVPs are successfully growing their JVPs the rewarding nature of the opportunity is demonstrating success both professionally and financially. This is in turn is giving potential new JVPs the confidence that this opportunity will allow them to create and build a profitable business that affords a strong work-life balance, under pinned by the highest possible clinical standards and access to the best possible portable equipment. We are looking for more ambitious and driven optometrists to join this exciting pathway. We are also offering relocation packages to optometrists to allow them to move to underserved areas, which in turn have really good business opportunities.

There is a huge demand for our services, which will continue to grow as the population ages

What will this model mean for patient care?

We are looking for professionals who are committed to making a difference to the quality of life of people whose choices are limited. Our JVPs have access to cutting edge portable equipment and coupled with the extensive head office support allows them to spend more time seeing more patients, maximising their quality of life and maintaining their independence. There is a huge demand for our services, which will continue to grow as the population ages and OutsideClinic want to help deliver eye care to these individuals. From a patient perspective, we offer a broad support services at headoffice, allowing us to manage any patient queries quickly and efficiently, and helping us to drive the highest standard of patient care.

What support does OutsideClinic provide to JVPs?

Head office provides our JVPs with an impressive set of services. For example, head office can support the running of each joint venture partner by helping with diary management, patient support and marketing as well as business support, accountancy, HR, legal and contracts. We can help with patient services and patient management across all aspects of the business, including initial scheduling, aftercare and rebooking.