Family First Health Centers South - Pocatello
Scott and Nancy Malm approached Tom Maydew of the Pocatello Small Business Development Center in September 2006 to discuss a novel business concept. Scott has a Physician Assistant degree and a Masters degree in Emergency Medicine. He had been working as the lead physician’s assistant for Portneuf Medical Center for the past twelve years. He was interested in determining the feasibility of opening a family medical private practice in Pocatello.
The project was conceptualized over the next eight months. The SBDC assisted Scott in preparing a business plan with cash flow projections. The plan was submitted to Susan Gibbens of Citizens Community Bank. Susan evaluated the project and worked with the Eastern Idaho Development Corporation on an SBA 504 loan for Scott to purchase property and construct a building in south Pocatello. Scott and one employee opened the family medical practice in early December 2007, culminating fourteen months of coordinated effort.
Scott’s practice started slowly, but with marketing assistance from the Pocatello SBDC, it began to grow rapidly in the sixth month of operation. He is now seeing an average of 18 patients per day, triple his breakeven point. He currently employs six individuals in the practice. Scott will add an additional physician’s assistant within the next three months.
He is also working to bring a family practice physician and a psychologist on board in the near future. His nurse will receive her RN degree in the next five weeks, which will allow the practice to offer more advanced IV therapy.
