Choosing a Location for Practices: Optimally Planning Accessibility & Catchment Area

Why Choosing the Right Location for Practices is Crucial for Success

The location of your practice influences not only the number of patients but also their demographic composition and loyalty. A well-chosen location with optimal accessibility ensures that patients can visit your practice regularly without having to accept long travel times. At the same time, a well-thought-out catchment area allows you to reach the right target audience – whether families, the elderly, or working professionals.

In Switzerland, where mobility between cantons and municipalities is high, factors such as public transport connections, parking spaces, and accessibility play a central role. In addition, you must keep an eye on the local competitive situation as well as potential synergies with other healthcare providers. A careful location analysis helps you avoid bad investments and be successful in the long term.

Demographic Analysis: Understand Your Catchment Area

Before deciding on a location, you should conduct a well-founded demographic analysis. This provides you with insights into who lives in your potential catchment area and whether this population structure fits your practice concept.

Important Demographic Factors

Consider the following aspects in your analysis:

• Age structure: A pediatric practice requires an area with many young families, whereas a geriatric practice benefits from an older population.
• Income level: Privately financed additional services require a population with strong purchasing power.
• Population density: In urban areas, the patient potential is higher, but so is the competition.
• Growth forecasts: New development areas or expanding municipalities offer long-term potential.

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) offers detailed data on Swiss municipalities that you can use for your location analysis. Local municipal administrations also often provide information on planned developments and demographic trends.

Optimizing Accessibility via Public Transport

In Switzerland, many people use public transport – especially in urban and agglomeration areas. A good public transport connection for your practice is therefore a crucial locational advantage.

What Makes a Good Public Transport Connection?

Ideally, your practice is within walking distance of a bus, tram, or train stop. Take the following into account:

• Frequency: The more frequently services run, the more attractive the location.
• Direct connections: Patients prefer locations that can be reached without transferring.
• Walking time: A maximum of 5-10 minutes walking from the stop to the practice is ideal.
• Accessibility of the stop: The stop itself should also be barrier-free.

A practice near a train station or at a well-connected public transport hub benefits from a significantly larger catchment area. Keep in mind, however, that such locations often entail higher rental costs. Use tools like the SBB timetable query or Google Maps to compare the public transport accessibility of different locations.

Parking Availability: A Crucial Factor for Patients

Despite the well-developed public transport system in Switzerland, many patients come to the practice by car – especially in rural areas, if they have limited mobility, or when bringing children. Sufficient parking availability is therefore an important criterion when choosing a location.

Checking the Parking Situation

Ensure that there are enough parking spaces near your practice:

• Private parking: Reserved parking spaces directly at the practice building are ideal.
• Public parking: Check the availability, costs, and maximum parking duration in the surrounding area.
• Disabled parking spaces: These should be available as close to the entrance as possible.
• Parking fees: High parking fees can deter patients, especially those making regular visits.

In urban areas, parking spaces are often scarce and expensive. Here, it can be helpful to actively point patients to public transport options or explore collaborations with nearby parking garages. In suburbs and rural regions, on the other hand, generous parking availability is practically indispensable.

Ensuring Accessibility and Discreet Access

Accessibility is not only a legal requirement but also a sign of professionalism and patient orientation. According to the Disability Equality Act (BehiG), publicly accessible facilities must generally be designed to be barrier-free.

Requirements for Barrier-Free Practice Access

Ensure that your practice is accessible to all patients:

• Stepless access: Ramps or ground-level entrances allow access for wheelchair users and people with walking aids.
• Elevator: For practices on upper floors, an elevator is indispensable.
• Wide doors and corridors: At least 90 cm wide for wheelchairs.
• Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Should be available in every practice.
• Tactile and visual guidance systems: For visually impaired patients.

Discreet Access for Sensitive Practice Types

For practices in the fields of psychiatry, psychotherapy, or other sensitive disciplines, discreet access is important. Patients often do not want to be seen when visiting your practice. A separate entrance or an inconspicuous location within the building can be advantageous here. A waiting area that is not visible from the outside also helps to maintain privacy.

Utilizing Competitor Analysis and Strategic Synergies

When choosing a location, you should consider both existing competition and potential synergies with other healthcare providers. A careful competitor analysis helps you identify market gaps and avoid oversaturation.

Conducting a Competitor Analysis

Research how many practices of your specialty are already located in the catchment area:

• Number and density: Too many practices of the same specialty can lead to fierce competition.
• Specializations: Perhaps you can differentiate yourself with a special offering.
• Waiting times: Long waiting times at competitors can indicate underserved areas.
• Reputation: Analyze the reviews and the reputation of existing practices.

Utilizing Synergies

At the same time, proximity to other healthcare providers can be beneficial:

• Pharmacies: Patients appreciate short distances to obtain their medication.
• Hospitals and clinics: For specialists, referrals and collaborations can arise.
• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy: Interdisciplinary collaboration can be profitable for both sides.
• Laboratories and radiology: Simplify diagnostic processes for patients.

A medical center or health center can optimally bundle such synergies and create an attractive focal point for patients.

Visibility and Signage at the Location

Good visibility of your practice contributes significantly to patients finding you – both walk-in customers and those searching specifically for you. The right signage facilitates orientation and conveys professionalism.

Factors for Optimal Visibility

• Street front: A practice on a well-frequented street is easier to find.
• Signage: Clear, easily legible practice signs on the building and at the entrance.
• Lighting: Illuminated signs make your practice visible even in the evening.
• Directional signs: Inside the building, signs should lead to the elevator, the stairs, and the practice.
• Online presence: Ensure that your address is correctly listed on Google Maps, Apple Maps, and other services.

For practices in courtyards or on upper floors, particularly good signage is important. Inform patients about the exact location and any special access details when booking the appointment.

Ensuring Accessibility for Emergency Transports

Depending on the type of practice, accessibility for rescue services and emergency transports can be an important factor. This applies in particular to general practitioner practices, internal medicine practices, or practices with elderly or chronically ill patients.

What You Should Keep in Mind

• Access for rescue vehicles: Is the practice easily accessible for ambulances or emergency doctors?
• No-parking zone: Is there a zone where rescue vehicles can stop briefly?
• Transportability: Can patients be safely transported out of the building in an emergency?
• Proximity to hospitals: In critical cases, short transport routes can be life-saving.

Clarify in advance with the property management or the landlord whether special regulations exist for emergencies. The local rescue organization can also provide information on whether the location is easily accessible from their perspective.

Conclusion: The Right Balance for Your Practice Location

Choosing the optimal practice location is a complex decision that must take many factors into account. Accessibility and the catchment area are central success factors: Good public transport connections, sufficient parking spaces, accessibility, and a strategically smart location in terms of competition and synergies create the basis for a well-frequented practice.

Do not forget to carefully analyze the demographic structure of your catchment area and ensure that your offering suits the population. Visibility, signage, and accessibility for emergencies complete the overall picture. A careful location analysis may be time-consuming but pays off in the long run – because a well-chosen location is an investment in the future of your practice.

Use platforms like maison.work to find suitable practice spaces that meet your requirements. With the right preparation and a well-founded location decision, you lay the foundation for a successful practice that is appreciated by patients and well-visited.

Note: This article provides general information and does not replace individual legal or business advice. For specific questions regarding building permits, lease agreements, or legal requirements, you should consult specialists.