We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Audrey La Noce and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Audrey, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was working for other companies and I was frustrated about how they were running their businesses. I would give input that could help improve patient care but it fell on deaf ears. No surprisingly, the patients did suffer and they would hold me responsible for it but most of it was out of my control. Eventually I realized that I was ready to see if I could do it on my own, and do it better. There are fewer and fewer psychiatrists out there opening their own practices. Mostly it is just large corporations that act like “patient mills”. When the doctors are running the practice, we put patients first.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the Founder, Owner and CEO of Total Mental Wellness, Inc, which is an outpatient psychiatric practice located in Fort Lauderdale. We are all female owned and operated. I opened the practice in 2019 and at that time it was just myself, one office in an executive suite, and my computer. The practice grew very quicky and I now employ 4 psychiatrists, one therapist, 3 executive assistants and a biller. In medical school, they teach you how to be a doctor, but not how to be a business person. Starting out I did not know the first thing about billing, coding, marketing, networking, website creation, social media, SEO, you name it. Running my own practice is incredibly important to me, so over time I took courses, sought the advice and guidance of others and spent many sleepless nights working to increase my knowledge about how to run a business. It has been so rewarding, and I could never work for anyone again! I love taking care of my patients, but I was surprised how much I also loved being a young entrepreneur. The world is my oyster, and my success is limited only by my energy and imagination. I can’t imagine punching a clock at a 9 to 5 job. I love a new challenge and I welcome change and innovation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anywhere with a good steak! I value atmosphere, and there are always new places popping up all over town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give a shoutout to The Florida Psychiatric Society for nurturing me since I was a young resident. They were there with me the whole way, always encouraging me to do more and helping me to believe that I could. They nominated me for a lot of different leadership opportunities, and through that work, I have been able to become a mental health advocate. I work closely with policy makers and state legislatures to help promote the field of psychiatry.

Website: www.lanocepsychiatry.com

Instagram: total.mentalwellness

Facebook: TMwellnessflorida

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