In August 1978 Yvonne Mart Fox established her consulting firm after six years of gathering empirical knowledge in over 70 medical offices.

She specializes in startup practices, advising physicians who are joining, buying or selling a practice, merging a practice, wanting to increase income and practice efficiency or looking for a partner. She analyzes existing practices with up to four physicians and helps physicians build their practices.

Her advice basically consists of what to do, how to do it, when to do it, where to get it, how much it costs, and how long it takes.

Ms. Fox has worked with over 750 physicians in all specialities in 38 states. More than 150 of her clients have rehired her one or more times.

Areas covered in consultation include finding a job, negotiating employment or partnership contracts, and all financial aspects; cost containment, leasing space, office and medical equipment, evaluating managed care contracts; hiring and firing personnel, uncovering embezzlement, implementing a procedure manual and defining job descriptions for the staff.

In continuous publication since 1983, Ms. Fox has written more than 200 articles and columns on practice management, primarily for Resident And Staff Physician. Other publications include AMA News, California Physician, Medical Times, Physician's Management, Private Practice, Administrative Radiology, LACMA Physician, The American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgery Bulletin, Ophthalmology Times, Utah Medical Association Bulletin, Young Physicians, Dermatology Times and Dermatology World.

Ms. Fox is also the author of several books, including How to Manage the Business Called Private Practice: What They Didn't Teach You in Medical School and How to Start a Private Practice: A Compilation of Reprints and the co-author, with Brett A. Levine, M.D., of How to Join, Buy or Merge a Physician's Practice.

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For an exclusive interview with Ms. Fox, conducted by Los Angeles editor and writer Summer Nagano Gray, please click here.