Mary O’Meara, Certified Nurse Midwife Owner, CNM Women’s Healthcare, Tampa, Florida

How did you finance your start up and how do you maintain your finances?

I have a Sub-chapter S corporation.

A lot of CNMs seem to have trouble with the nuts and bolts of finances. The bottom line is that you have to keep overhead down and compensate good people well. You also have to create a good, positive work environment. For example, I don’t have an RN in the office because I can change my own table sheets and take my own blood pressures.

Most issues that have arisen, I have used and accountant to deal with. I do have an attorney for writing contracts with people. The most important is to be above board with billing. Because I have a state contract, I do get audited (which I have to pay $7000 for myself). Bill correctly and everything will go well.