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pace sharing, also called coworking, has become a popular option for general office work over the last decade but, until recently, has not been available in health care. MedCoShare, as the name implies, has recently opened one coworking facility in Philadelphia, and is about to open another in Marlton, N.J. The company offers doctors and other health care providers flexible space and support services that help independent providers practice on their own terms at a fraction of the cost of setting up a traditional office. Ronak Vyas, an experienced real-estate agent and broker, founded the company in 2019. Along with partners who include other real-estate experts and health care providers, he created MedCoShare to fill what he saw as a major gap in the traditional office leasing model. “There are many doctors whose needs just are not met by the typical office lease,” Vyas said, “so I see this as an exciting innovation in the health care office market.” There are many obstacles to starting a practice, including initial expenses, operational challenges and a significant degree of risk, which are neither practical nor affordable for an individual or small partnership. Part-time and short-term
medical office space is not part of the traditional leasing model. Health care-space landlords typically require tenants to sign leases ranging from 5 to 10 years, which often include personal guarantees. These spaces then require long and costly fit-outs before a provider can start seeing patients. Setting up an office also requires establishing long-term commitments for cleaning, medical waste removal, support staff and more.
of the Hahnemann hospital system. They started operations in the summer of 2020. In spite of the pandemic, MedCoShare has attracted a variety of health care providers, including specialists in cardiology, dermatology and men’s health, and other types of ancillary providers such as estheticians, massage therapists and more. “Being a new small business owner in the midst of a pandemic, MedCoShare has been a blessing,” said Marybell Rodriguez, a nurse practitioner who performs skin care procedures. “Where else could I start a business, build clients and have a flexible membership with no long-term commitments for peace of mind during the uncertainty?”
According to one of Vyas’ partners, Gregory Goldmacher, MD, “Many doctors are increasingly unhappy with the lack of autonomy in working for hospitals or large groups, and are considering private practice again, or for the first time, or going part-time as they move toward retirement In less than a year, the company has filled or shifting family obligations,” Goldmacher said. its first space and is poised to grow. The location “Coworking space could provide an ideal option.” in Marlton is scheduled to open at the end of Having an affordable coworking space/part-time January, and Vyas and his partners are evaluating office to split telehealth and in-person visits would more locations in King of Prussia. “Our goal is to be an effective hybrid practice model, or could give build locations in the region, develop our support a provider options to see patients in more than one service offerings and then go national,” Vyas said. location, one or two days a week in several offices. “We think this will become a popular new practice Vyas and his partners opened their first location model across the country, similar to the way urgent in an outpatient clinic in the Fishtown neighborhood care has grown over the last decade.” • of Philadelphia, an office left vacant by the closure
MEDC SHARE H e a l t h c a r e
C o W o r k i n g
Flexible & Affordable Exam Rooms for Rent No long-term leases • Rent rooms part-time or full-time • Private Practice Accelerator 2 week no-obligation FREE TRIAL Fully furnished/equipped private exam rooms with sinks Provider office space with separate entrance to allow record entry and privacy from waiting area
Secure storage for your equipment and materials Cleaning service and office products resupplied Secure document and sharps disposal 1st of its kind in Philadelphia & South Jersey
Locations in Philadelphia, PA and Marlton, NJ
m e dcoshar e . com (267) 552-1290 Winter 2022 : Philadelphia Medicine 17