Ask medical supply companies to bid on this shopping list.

Don't know what supplies and equipment you need to get your new practice off the ground? Don't worry. Practice management consultants and medical supply companies usually have a standard list of equipment and supplies that a doctor needs. We've reproduced such a list with the help of consultant Keith Borglum in Santa Rosa, CA.

Suggested quantities are provided by Henry Schein, a major medical supplier. They represent an initial order that will cover one month's worth of consumables. These estimates are based on what a hypothetical solo FP who expects to see 20 patients a day would need. We've posited an office with three exam rooms and a procedure room. Staff will include a receptionist, a medical assistant, and an office manager who handles the billing. To save on initial expenses, this doctor has decided not to invest in an electronic medical record yet, and most of his patients will be covered by private health plans or Medicare. Our FP does not do orthopedics and does not have an in-office lab.

The number of syringes, chart holders, and other supplies you'll need will depend on the parameters of your practice, says Shawn Kruer, an account representative with Henry Schein. "How much storage space you have also can affect the size of an order," says Kruer.

Ask several suppliers to bid on this list, but don't base your final vendor decision on price alone. You'll want a company that guarantees speedy delivery and makes a second effort to secure hard-to-find items.

This list is available in:   To view the form in PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your system. If you do not have this free program, click on the icon below to link to the Adobe download page. To view the form in Word you must have Word 2000 or better. If you don't have this program you can download the free Microsoft Word 97/2000 Viewer. (You cannot edit an open document in Word Viewer. However, you can copy text to the Clipboard to paste it in other applications). Other forms and patient handouts are available in the Clip and Copy section of our Web site at www.memag.com .