DOT focused clinic

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What do you all think of opening a DOT focused Clinic? Performing mainly DOT physicals. Also employee physicals and school physicals. Vaccines and TB testing would also be offered. I am considering opening this clinic in a metropolitan city such as DC, Dallas or Las Vegas.

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There would be lots of competition. Retail clinics do DOT physical, school and sport physicals, vaccines and TB testing... along with sick visits.

What do you all think of opening a DOT focused Clinic? Performing mainly DOT physicals. Also employee physicals and school physicals. Vaccines and TB testing would also be offered. I am considering opening this clinic in a metropolitan city such as DC, Dallas or Las Vegas.
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Specializes in family practice.

And I was informed Medicaid do not reimburse much for those DOT physicals as they do PEs. We've been trying to get my employer to be on board

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Sounds great to me! Make your clinic more accessible, same day appointment, walk-ins.....even offer 'discounts' for cash paying patients. DOT physicals are not insurance reimbursed, most clinics charge $150.... charge $140/$145 for yours and offer coupon for referrals. Healthcare is becoming interesting and anything works! Sports physical? You can decide to bill insurance or just charge small fee out of pocket- there are some parents who don't want to wait for long appointments with the pediatrician. Tap into opportunities and never get discouraged!

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I am sure you are aware that there were regulation changes in 2014. The new rules put a lot more liability on the DOT examiner. I know quite a few NPs and doctors who stopped doing DOT physicals once the new regs went into effect. I was relieved when the doc I worked for stopped doing them, but that's just me. If you decide this is for you, I wish you lots of success!

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I work in a rural health clinic that also does DOTs. I work in a big oil boom area I have not yet done a DOT physical because I just passed my exam for FMCSA NRCME a few days ago. There are a lot of competition you would have to market to the companies your pricing and going up against retail clinic. For example, a private clinic in the area I work at charges around $120-$125 but 30 mins to an hour away you have Texas Med clinics or other retail clinics that only charges $60-$80 per DOT. You may have to compete with those prices to get your volume of DOTs per month.

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I think this would be a great idea. Low overhead cost. Go for it, you can always expand later.

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Unless you have a contract for local companies, county, and other issues it may flop.

One company I know of that has this on lock down in my area is Concentra. They cover all the work injuries for the Las Vegas strip, predrug screens, and are a quick care clinic as well.

They have about 5-6 locations in the valley and are always busy. Businesses enjoy them because its the only company here in town that supplies everything they need from pre-employment to unemployment. Xray on site as well

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I work in a dual walk in clinic and occupational health clinic and we do what sounds like you are talking about. I do not own the company but the occupational health side makes tons of money on drug screens that are done by our MOAs or LPNs. Molts of pre employment physicals, school, DOT, and such. The key would be getting contracts with local companies and offering good self pay rates. There is plenty of competition in our small town for the physical part though for sure

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I am sure you are aware that there were regulation changes in 2014. The new rules put a lot more liability on the DOT examiner. I know quite a few NPs and doctors who stopped doing DOT physicals once the new regs went into effect. I was relieved when the doc I worked for stopped doing them, but that's just me. If you decide this is for you, I wish you lots of success!

So let me get this straight. You stopped doing DOT physicals because of the "perception" of increased liability, even though there is almost no evidence of a practitioner being found liable (provided, of course, the physical exam is thoroughly documented and follows guidelines).

But, you continue to practice with everyday patients (I am assuming general medicine), who are likely to bring action against you even if you did nothing wrong?

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