Do You Know the Power of Paint?June 21, 2011Design renovations don’t have to cost a fortune. Although some veterinarians may long for a complete design overhaul of their practice, practical budgeting in a down economy typically allows only for basic upgrades. Designing on a budget, however, can still make a meaningful difference in client perception and workflow. Architects and designers recommend prioritizing cosmetic changes to waiting areas, exam rooms and the reception area, saying not to underestimate the power of a new coat of paint and other minimal-expense projects. “A new coat of paint can be a simple solution and many veterinarians do not use this option often enough,” says Mark Hafen, AIA, of Animal Arts in Boulder, Colo. “Shades of orange and lime green are some of the ‘in’ colors that really make a wall pop. Clients notice positive changes and it makes them feel better about their veterinary experience and bill.” If finances prevent a major overhaul or multiple changes at once, experts recommend that veterinarians tackle individual jobs that have the greatest effect on client comfort and perception first. “The logical areas to update are the areas clients will be exposed to most in the practice,” says Peter Hill Sr., president of HDA Architects in …
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Trends In Mobile Veterinary ClinicsJune 9, 2011Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. A tight economy can encourage practical changes in the way some equine practitioners travel, store medications and supplies, and organize their practices. Mobile clinic and insert manufacturers can help veterinarians make the most of their chassis-mounted or insert clinics, whether new or reconditioned inventory. Steve Sinnard says veterinarians are choosing more versatile trucks for their practice vehicles. He is executive vice president of mobile veterinary clinic manufacturer Bowie International of Lake City, Iowa. Bowie and Porta-Vet joined forces some time ago and the Porta-Vet units have been manufactured in Iowa for more than a year now. “Veterinarians tell us they want more storage space,” Sinnard says. “They are buying trucks with crew cabs and extended cabs, so they not only have their mobile clinic in the back, they have more room in the cab for larger equipment such as ultrasound or digital X-ray equipment. “Shock wave and laser therapy equipment seem to be growing in popularity,” Sinnard said. “A bulk storage compartment in an insert unit will easily accommodate specialized equipment.” Dennis Van Roekel, DVM, owner of Van Roekel & Associates, an equine practice in Alva, Fla., has a …
Mobile Vets Are Driven To SucceedJune 9, 2011 Affordability, practice requirements and revenue growth are important considerations when establishing a mobile veterinary clinic. Mobile clinics may be self-contained units, an insert or box, or chassis-mounted. They may provide just the basics—exam room, surgery area, standard equipment—or be colossal examples of today’s high-tech design, complete with the latest equipment. They roll along without overhead, property taxes or other real estate costs a brick-and-mortar clinic would require. Koni Wade, senior sales consultant for La Boit Inc. of Gahanna, Ohio, says each unit is customized with as much or as little equipment as a practitioner wants. “Of course,” she says, “the more options and upgrades you add, the higher the cost. For instance, more clients are putting digital X-ray in their clinics, which raises the complete cost by $40,000.” Without digital radiography, La Boit’s self-contained clinics usually are available for about $150,000. The base price starts at $104,495, with financing available and no down payment required, Wade says. “La Boit also provides working capital,” Wade says, “which is great for veterinarians just starting out and needing to keep as much of their cash in hand as possible to grow the business.” Satisfied Customer Seely …
Convenience-Based Services: Are They The Right Choice For Your Practice?May 23, 2011 When evaluating additional services as a means to generate revenue, it is important to look beyond veterinary medicine and take advantage of opportunities to meet the needs of pet owners in other ways. In today’s world, convenience is the name of the game, and finding new avenues of revenue that make your practice a “one stop shop“ for pet owners can be an excellent decision. While the obvious and immediate benefits include increased revenue and visits, it is the potential long-term client loyalty resulting from additional interaction with your practice that provides the greatest value. Below are some of the more common convenience-based services that many veterinary hospitals offer. It is important to remember, though, that every practice is unique, and not all options are a good fit or practical to implement. And for those of you who already offer some or all of these services, a bit of revitalization followed by a new marketing campaign can bring improved earning potential to an existing revenue stream. Luxury Boarding While the majority of clinics offer boarding of some sort, the current demand is for upscale facilities that cater to four-legged family members—“family” being the key word. …
Softer Alternatives To Traditional E-collars AboundApril 18, 2011 Consumer demand for people-friendly surgical recovery collars is changing the way veterinarians look at their supply and sales, according to several e-collar manufacturers and suppliers. “Consumers are saying, ‘Oh, my poor baby, I don’t want to put a satellite dish on him. And I don’t want my coffee table or my walls banged up,’” says Gabe Martinez, business manager for KVP International, manufacturer of recovery collars and other surgical supplies. “So veterinarians needed something not only to protect animals but keep owners happy.” Irwindale, Ca.-based KVP International manufactures a variety of recovery collars. “Soft e-collars look cool and they are people-friendly,” says Martinez, adding that it’s a major reason soft e-collars are becoming so popular. Some of the latest soft collars don’t limit pets’ peripheral vision, ability to eat, drink or sleep, or cause damage to walls and furniture. “Rigid collars are definitely not animal-friendly,” says Frank Banesse, southeast regional training manager for MWI Veterinary Products of Meridian, Idaho. “Soft e-collars offer a better design and give animals a better life during their recovery.” Peter Kross, DVM, owner of Rivergate Veterinary Clinic in New York City, stocks collars of all brands and sizes …
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 …
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 …
