Small Damn Clinic!
Posted September 10th, 2007 by Skip
A problem that many acupunks encounter when visiting Working Class Acupuncture is imagining how they could duplicate its success when they are a solo practitioner with limited funds just getting started. After all WCA is a Big Damn Clinic- just under 4000 square feet in total, just under 3000 square feet in just the treatment area. Acupunks look around for a space in their town and al too often can't imagine how they could afford such a place.
Okay. That's fair. but let me tell you about an incredibly cool, incredibly tight clinic. It's the clinic of Lumiel Kim-Hammerich and- get this- the whole thing is 280 square feet. Let me take you on a tour...
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Okay. Lumiel's clinic is in the town of San Rafael- boutique HQ to the world. You cruise down the main street and its one cute little store after another, each of them outdoing the one before in unique and expensive stuff. You get to a corner and see a five story modern glass and steel office building. You walk in this thing and take the elevator to the 5th floor, suite 509 and open the door. There you see Lumiel!
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010822.jpg[/IMG]
Behind Lumiel is the entire clinic- all 8' wide by 35' long:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010802.jpg[/IMG]
The office itself is 8X10:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010803.jpg[/IMG]
(That's Lumiel talking to Lupine and Lisa.)
Now my photos don't do justice. In the office every surface is used p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y. Every surface contains information without feeling cluttered. Here's Thomas with Lumiel's herbs:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010827.jpg[/IMG]
But let's go back to the treatment areas. As you no doubt figured out the rest of the space is 8'X25'. It contains three treatment areas,partitioned by shoji screens, in succession: two areas 6"X8" with a LaFuma chairs and the last containing a massage table. Each space has a station with acupuncture equipment, all perfectly organized. Here's a treatment area- and I apologize that the pictures don't convey the spaces adequately:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010815.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010804-1.jpg[/IMG]
Here's Lisa in a chair with Lumiel:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010814.jpg[/IMG]
And here's the head of the massage table:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010812.jpg[/IMG]
What's amazing is how tight this clinic is. Everything fits and at the same time it doesn't feel crowded. Its a very relaxing space and after she converted to this open space she went from three patients a week to 50+.
I strongly urge any acupunk in the Bay Area to visit Lumiel's clinic to see what the could do with a tiny amount of space. Its a work of art! It shows what can be done with a Community Acupuncture model.
Oh yes, Lumiel's prices on a wall:
[IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/skipvanmeter/P1010818.jpg[/IMG]
See? This is one tight clinic! Nothing sketch about it at all!
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
Very inspiring, space and prices. Wondering how you went from 3 to 50 patients. Was it just reducing the cost? Or the new, vibrant space? Of something else. Thanks, Lumiel, for sharing. My space is quite large, but peaceful (and cheap). I may have to move on, however, and want to try CAN models.
Sandy
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
What an important post! I think for many of us starting out the challenge of finding the right partners (and the belief that they are necessary) can be limiting. Partnership is like marriage, and I'm already married so I am familiar with many of the difficulties and rewards in "joining forces". However, as this post clearly shows, we are only limited by our own imaginations! It is soooo helpful to have a visual of a beautiful smaller clinic, bravo Lumiel.
Julie
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
So very happy for you, Lumiel. Great Work and Ehjoy the fruits of your labor...
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
Congrats Lumiel! I also have a little-big-little clinic and you've inspired me to use it even more effectively. Thanks!
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
Lovely clinic Lumiel.
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Yes, I can get a bit abstract. Its nice to post about a real live clinic!
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
lumiel,
you are an inspiration indeed. i look forward to hanging out with you more next month and visiting your space.
skip, thanks for posting this cool stuff.
-tatyana
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
Lumiel's space is proof, once and for all...there are no excuses!!!!
I was over-the-top impressed with her use of space and also the energy of the space. I stood in the doorway between the little tiny treatment room and the little tinier office and I just wanted to sit down for a snooze. It was so calm and relaxing and proved to me, as I really, really wanted to beleive....that this CAN (pun totally intended) be done in any space.
But as for those extra special Lumiel touches, we will all have to wait for her How-To-CA booklet.
Thanks again Lumiel (and thank your hubby again for the best croissants in the world!!).
Stay tuned all you CAN folks....a Community Clinic "Sampling" video is in the works, thanks to our own fabulous volunteer videographer, Thomas. It will have NINE clinics featured.....oooohhhh, I'm so excited!
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
My clinic is 365 space and I am guesstimating 200 is treatment space and 165 is office space. I have 4 recliners and two carts to hold needles,etc in. The treatment area with some shoji screens to block off a small section for reception right where the patient first enters. My office holds my stuff and a table which is usually not up (I only use it for labor induction). It works perfect for the solo practitioner and is my stepping stone to a bigger clinic when I get busier and can afford a bigger place. I love having my own office (I know lots of CAN flok like to have partners) and don't plan on having more than maybe eight chairs total and maybe 1000sq ft total. WCA is a big cool box for sure, but you can think outside of it.
Julie
Like the new cut Lisa!
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
Hey Skip, nice photos! I measured very carefully after you left, and came up with 242 sf of space. I wish I did have 280!
BTW, I have started work on the project of describing this clinic, piece by piece, to print out as a How-to for the total newbie.
Oh yes, and the sliding fee schedule is taped to my lockbox, which is behind the front door when it opens. It was great having you all here. You are always welcome, and I'd like to extend this invitation to everyone else reading this blog.
Re: Small Damn Clinic!
Thanks for the post! Lumiel has done a great job with her space-very inspiring. It was also cool to see a little push pin in Florida for our clinic! When will you guys visit? He he
Melonie