Regardless Of The Lab, Accuracy Is Top PriorityApril 18, 2011 Whether a clinic uses reference laboratories exclusively or combines them with in-house diagnostics, there’s no denying the benefits testing advances have brought to the industry, patients and clients. Results in about 15 minutes for in-house tests and next-day results on most reference laboratory tests mean faster diagnosis and treatment options as well as expediting the identification of zoonotic, contagious and emerging diseases. Board-certified veterinarians with advanced training in diagnostic work in reference labs along with medical technologists and specially trained veterinary technicians. The expertise of reference laboratory staff makes outside labs an appealing option to many practitioners. But manufacturers of in-house laboratory equipment note that accuracy is their priority and their machines are accurate, easy to use and maintain. “The design and capabilities of newer technologies have resulted in overall improvements and enhancements to the work flow and streamlining of laboratory processes,” says Liz Whitney, DVM, a technical writer and industry outreach coordinator for Heska Corp. of Loveland, Colo. “Newer productivity features, such as integration with practice management software programs, help to improve the processes of the diagnostic team, save time and reduce operational costs.” Dr. Whitney says the ability to customize panels …
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A Graduation Gift From A Globe-trotting VeterinarianApril 18, 2011 Thanks to the vision and tenacity of Richard Nap, about 2,200 graduating U.S. veterinary students will receive a complimentary copy of “VetCoach: Career Reflections of Veterinary Professionals,” a book co-written by more than 100 veterinarians from 26 countries. In the book, distributed by VCA Animal Hospitals, veterinarians share their most useful tips with students and new graduates. (Full disclosure: I was kindly invited to write for the book.) Its goal is to encourage young veterinarians to try new things and explore new avenues by stepping out of their comfort zones. The mission of VetCoach, a not-for-profit organization, is “to inspire and motivate students by sharing professional career reflections from one generation to the next.” “The current generation has much of the experience that the new one entering the profession is lacking,” Dr. Nap explains. “Students typically have a limited network and no or little international exposure. “Students tend to stick to the comfort of what and who they know: family, friends, city and school. The challenge was to create a platform available to graduating students.” Courtesy of Richard Nap, …
Promote Or Don’t Promote Pet Health Insurance?March 21, 2011 Unexpected veterinary bills often exceed what the average pet owner can finance with discretionary income. In those cases, insurance often means that euthanasia isn’t the most humane option. “A year and a half after we insured our dog, he was diagnosed with nasal cancer and given only a two-month prognosis without treatment,” says Barbara Borah of Glendale, Calif. “We researched our options and sent him to Colorado State University for radiation. Even though CSU charged less than half of its (usual) radiation fees, there is no way we could have afforded it without insurance. “We are happy to report that our dog just celebrated his 17th birthday and has already survived twice as long as the Colorado vets estimated he would.” Still, some pet owners find insurance for pets a superfluous cost and vow to start saving specifically for their pets’ veterinary expenses. “People have good intentions of creating a savings account for their pet, but it rarely works out as they plan,” says Jack Stephens, DVM, founder and president of Pets Best Insurance in Boise, Idaho. “Depending on when the funds need to be pulled, you might not have enough to cover the …
Get The Facts About PACS Before BuyingMarch 21, 2011 With 36 to 40 percent of practices already using digital imaging, and 90 percent of those hospitals utilizing a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), colleagues looking to upgrade are investigating which PACS product would best suit their needs. While vendors tend to be the common route in which veterinarians learn of their PACS options, some preliminary research gives practitioners a base from which to form questions and make decisions. “Veterinarians should do legwork before contacting a vendor and research not only the different technologies but the software and the capabilities it can deliver with PACS,” says Fotine Sotiropoulos, DVM, marketing manager for digital imaging at Idexx Laboratories of Westbrook, Maine. “Understanding the hospital’s needs and PACS capabilities will help the veterinarian ask the right questions and make an educated decision about the purchase. For example, does the system come with a full PACS? Is the PACS able to handle multiple modalities, such as digital dental or ultrasound? Does the software provide the option to integrate with their product integration modules (PIMS)?” With a full PACS costing about $60,000, including hardware, software and support fees, veterinarians want to be satisfied with their purchase, says Emery …
Pet Insurance Gurus Answer SkepticsMarch 7, 2011 Many veterinarians say they don’t recommend pet insurance to their clients for a variety of reasons: • It is an inappropriate or unproductive activity. • A fear of powerful insurance companies dictating veterinary practice in the future. • Concerns that pet insurance increases paperwork. • A need for a better understanding of plans. We asked three colleagues in leadership positions at pet insurance companies to address these concerns and a few others. Bill Craig, DVM, chief medical and underwriting director at PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. • Bill Craig, DVM, is chief medical and underwriting director at PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance in San Antonio. He is responsible for all medical-related aspects of the plan, ranging from designing policies to reviewing applications for medical issues to overseeing claims processing. • Jack Stephens, DVM, is president of Pets Best Insurance in Boise, Idaho. He invented the concept of pet health insurance in the U.S., founding Veterinary Pet Insurance in 1980 and Pets Best in 2005. • Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, is vice president and chief veterinary medical officer of Veterinary Pet Insurance in Brea, Calif. She has been with VPI for more than six years and is responsible …
Veterinary Equipment Can Pay For ItselfFebruary 14, 2011 Veterinary Equipment Can Pay for Itself and consultants advise looking at the return on investment when weighing a big-ticket purchase. Manufacturers and consultants advise looking at the return on investment when weighing a big-ticket purchase. Manufacturers and consultants advise looking at the return on investment when weighing a big-ticket purchase. Lynn M. Tiffany Investing in new clinic equipment can quickly improve or create a profit center. “Equipment is an investment instead of an expense,” says Jamie Renner, veterinary products market manager at Midmark Corp. of Versailles, Ohio. “Every business owner knows the best investment is in yourself. If veterinarians think in those terms, they are helping their own bottom line.” Vendors can be very helpful to veterinarians, practice owners and managers by providing an analysis of the return on investment, says Shelley Johnson, founder of Company 42 LLC, a veterinary management solutions business in Winchester, Va. “A vendor is motivated to sell equipment,” Johnson notes. “Good business relationships with vendors who help your practice shop for the right equipment may be beneficial. When a high-end purchase is made and installation has been completed, who will help troubleshoot any issues? Some vendors …
Philanthropy: Manufacturers’ Presence Goes Beyond ProductsDecember 20, 2010Some companies such as Hill’s, Nestlé Purina and Bayer support the veterinary community with their generosity. Vendors—the companies that manufacture or supply medications and equipment and provide services to help veterinary practices run smoothly—don’t get much publicity for their behind-the-scenes philanthropic work on behalf of the profession and the animals it serves. Most manufacturers aren’t eager to talk about their contributions, saying they would rather spend dollars doing good than using the money to promote their work. Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. looks for the biggest impact when deciding which organizations to donate to, says marketing official Kurt R. Venator, DVM, Ph.D., of Nestle. “We like to create shared value, which means our contributions will be good for the community and good for the company,” Dr. Venator says. “We have relationships with all of the U.S. veterinary schools, which house the future of the veterinary industry.” Martin Mulroy, vice president of veterinary sales and marketing at Abaxis Inc., says the company maintains a strong relationship with Colorado State University. “We’re participating in the funding of a new avian/exotic animal wing at the veterinary hospital, and we donate equipment to the veterinary school,” he …
Expert Opinion Just Digital Hookup AwayDecember 20, 2010 In the past, obtaining a radiology specialist’s opinion sometimes meant traveling to a veterinary teaching hospital. This required time and money and certainly delayed treatment. Today, telemedicine allows radiologists to diagnose patients without ever placing their hands on the animal. Primary care veterinarians can send X-rays and other medical information electronically and receive a report in a matter of minutes or hours. “Using a telemedicine service means a general practitioner can have a radiology department without having board-certified radiologists on the payroll,” says John Feleciano, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, manager of Idexx/VDIC Telemedicine in Clackamas, Ore. “Veterinarians say they find the service to be professionally and medically enriching and it brings financially tangible and intangible benefits. “Owners are comforted by having a built-in second opinion by board-certified veterinarians.” The days, and sometimes nights, of telemedicine veterinarians are filled with exchanges of medical information and questions. Primary care givers ask specialists to confirm a suspicion or help unravel a complex case. “We have specialists available 24 hours a day, although the cases we receive from midnight to 6 a.m. are generally limited,” says Victor Rendano, VMD, Dipl. ACVR, Dipl. ACVR (RO), president of eVet Diagnostics in …
Financial Opportunity, Challenges AheadDecember 15, 2010 Albert Einstein had it right when he said, “Necessity is the mother of all invention.” For veterinarians, the Great Recession forced the profession to find a way to become more business savvy and sustainable. Amid the economic crisis, a sharp change in veterinary product sales has had some practice owners concerned about their hospitals’ long-term strength. “Veterinarians want to know where they stand in the eyes of lenders and they want to know what they need to do to keep their practice in the green,” says Michael Andrews, DVM, chairman of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) and owner of Woodcrest Veterinary Clinic in Riverside, Calif. “Focusing on profitability is what NCVEI is suggesting to owners for maintaining practice revenue and building on it.” Veterinary-exclusive sales of maintenance products is a thing of the past. Building on and marketing procedures and modalities offered is the focus for 2011, experts say. One of the first steps in making a practice profitable and attractive to lenders is demystifying why patient visits have declined, Dr. Andrews says. The results of a Brakke study on that very question are expected to be released this month at the …
Vendors Give Back To The Vet CommunityNovember 22, 2010 The companies that manufacture or supply medications and equipment and provide services to help veterinary practices run smoothly also perform behind-the-scenes philanthropic work on behalf of the profession and the animals it serves. Organizations that have compelling missions often earn the philanthropic nod. For example, in 2009 Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. donated $15 million to animal welfare programs alone. Nestlé looks for the biggest impact when deciding which organizations to donate to, says marketing official Kurt R. Venator, DVM, Ph.D., of Nestlé. “We like to create shared value, which means our contributions will be good for the community and good for the company,” Dr. Venator says. “We have relationships with all of the U.S. veterinary schools, which house the future of the veterinary industry.” Martin Mulroy, vice president of veterinary sales and marketing at Abaxis Inc., says the company maintains a strong relationship with Colorado State University. “We’re participating in the funding of a new avian/exotic animal wing at the veterinary hospital, and we donate equipment to the veterinary school,” he said. “We also sponsor chair positions at several other universities, including the University of Florida, Texas A&M and the University of Pennsylvania.” …
