What to Consider
Setting up a TMS Clinic
1. Business Model
Are you wanting to set the TMS up as a separate business to your practice, or are you wanting to have it as part of your practice?
If you are planning on seeing more than 3 patients a day, it is very difficult to integrate the TMS clinic into a general practice.
If you are planning on running it as a separate business, you need new tax numbers etc.
- Location
Your TMS clinic needs to be easily accessible to your patients. Treatments run daily, Monday to Friday, for 6 weeks. This is a huge commitment for patients. They need to be able to easily drive in and drive out. It must be peaceful, calm, and discreet.
- Training
TMS clinics need to be supervised by an appropriately trained psychiatrist. It is possible to get TMS accreditation online.
Rewire TMS Clinics gives full TMS tech training workshops.
- Staff
- TMS technicians
TMS technicians need to be trained in TMS application. They need basic first aid.
- Billing and admin
Don’t assume that your practice staff will be able to manage your TMS clinic. It’s a different kettle of fish, and when funding becomes available it will need focus to motivate etc.
Each staff member needs UIF, PAYE, Employment contracts.
- Treatment programs
What are you going to treat in your clinic? FDA protocols, neurological disorders etc.
Rewire TMS imports Neurosoft machines.
There is a 24 hour help desk available.
The machines come with a 2 year guarantee.
Medical cover
As the psychiatrist, you should be covered by your personal medical indemnity. However, your clinic and the techs will need additional cover
- Referral sources
Many patients are self referred. It is important to raise awareness through marketing.
TMS is a new treatment modality. Ongoing education of colleagues and referring doctors is essential.
You will need to work out what feedback you are going to give the referring colleague, and how are you going to comanage the patient whilst they are getting TMS treatment.