Dr. Nielsen Opens Oak Run TSO

Texas State Optical Oak Run is open! I’m very proud of this new practice as over the years I’ve become more and more focused on pediatrics and vision therapy which has become the foundation for this TSO Kids location. I’d like to share a little bit about the process as it can seem like a monumental task to take on for anyone, especially a new doctor. Shovels in the dirt to doors being open took just over seven months, with our build accounting for three months of that. For me, however, it started in the fall of 2016 as I started to solve the most basic of problems; where, when and how?

Solving “where” was months of work. Do I build into an already existing location, should I buy my own land, what about new development? My advice for anyone considering doing the same is to do what I did first of utilizing your Network peers who have the experience, some of them having done it multiple times. Whether or not you do what they did, everyone runs into roadblocks that they can warn you of, tips to save you time or money, and contacts they’ve saved they can share with you. Next was the problem of “when.” As you sit with all your plans, notes and timelines in front of you, it can be very easy to forget about you, your personal life and your family. It’s important to make sure you plan your build-out and opening during a time when you can afford the time to spend on site, will you need to arrange childcare, will your spouse need to request time off, will you need to hire an associate doctor or get fill-in work, et cetera.

In the 2-3 weeks leading up to opening day my husband and I spent almost every night, usually past midnight, getting all the moving parts ready and addressing all those issues that arise that we hadn’t thought of. We even installed our frame boards ourselves! The “how” is where again I turned to the Network. TSO recommended me architects, general contractors, financing companies, and other doctors that had experience with the process. I started by drawing a plan on graph paper, this is what I want and I need to find the right people that can make it a reality for me. The finished product is almost exactly what I sketched out, and that only happens if you choose the right people along the way.

I’m appreciative to the TSO Network for providing a platform for myself and doctors like me to have these practices that genuinely change people’s lives. Next time you’re in New Braunfels, I hope you stop by to take a look!