Ohio is pondering allowing non-veterinarians to own practices, from what I understand. There are already corporate practices, but they are conglomerations of veterinarians also, from what I understand. I actually have dreamed a bit about setting up a place that would be mostly a rescue and training center that would have a vet or three to work for the rescue as needed but also for themselves the rest of the time. There are many vacant stores that would fit the bill nicely, and I'm sure there are un or underemployed vets and unemployed techs and other staff to fill the spots. Now if only I could win the darn lottery!!!!

KateH March 6th, 2009 06:02:41 AM

Based on previous unpleasant experience working for two practices managed or partly owned by MBAs without any veterinary or other medical experience and knowledge, I must vote a resounding NO to allowing non-vets (or at least techs) to own practices. It meant, at least at those two practices, that decisions were apt to be made solely to benefit the bottom line, such as restricting the drugs and supplies that could be purchased, hiring less competent but cheaper staff, and an attempt at limiting the use of items such as IV catheters and syringes to only so many per patient. I saw experienced, well qualified vets and techs driven out by these policies and replaced by much less capable inexperienced and in some cases foreign-educated persons. Though retired now, I would not take my animals to a practice controlled by a business person without oversight and decision-making by veterinarians and/or technicians. Only 2 licensed techs were left at the 2nd ER after 2 years of it being run by an MBA; the rest were mostly new hire with less than 2 years veterinary experience each.

Maria Shanley March 6th, 2009 07:07:14 AM

I rmemeber, when I was a kid, seeing a doctor who had a little (as far as I know) self-owned practice--you know, the old style family doctor. 

When he died, and we had to go to various "urgent care" clinics or really disinterested larger practices, all my experiences suggested that the "family doctor" type office was more caring and concerned--even if it was easier to get X-rays and lab tests and stuff all on the spot, the doctors didn't really seem to care.  I wondered if they were even trying to do a good job. 

I have since had some really good experiences with larger, more "corporate" type doctor's office, and a singularly bad experience with a single doctor practice.  I guess it's like anything else: the type of office doesn't matter, it's the doctors themselves that are doing the job.  Is the doctor skilled, compassionate, able to address your concerns?  Then it doesn't matter who owns the practice.

I have no idea who owns the small animal practices where I've taken my dogs.  I'm in FL, so apparently they might be owned by anybody.  Some vets have been good, some have been so-so; it's the vets that we see that matter, not the owner.  I suppose that with a different owner, these same vets might be hamstrung in their ability to work for the best interest of the patient...but in that case, we'd find somewhere else to go, find somewhere with vets just as good (hopefully) but with better policies.  Apparently, from reading Dolittler, there are vet-owned practices where the associate vets are not able to really work in the best interests of the patient, too...

Galadriel March 6th, 2009 07:08:45 AM

I've only worked in vet owned practices, and not all of these have been particularly well managed as many of us who go to vet school do not do so because of our acute business acumen.  They don't teach you to run a business in vet school (or they didn't between 1993-1997!  Maybe they do now) and IME, vets are like anyone else--some are smart about managing time/money and others are not.  Vet owned businesses can still suffer things like limiting drugs available to me in house, or IF I can use an IV catheter or not (some day I'll write a horror novel about the first place I worked--I did get hauled into the boss vet's office one day after I treated a HBC dog with IV fluids--I was asked what I thought I was doing putting that IV line in, did I know how much that cost?)

I love being an associate.  I have NO desire to run a business.  I would be terrible at managing other people.  I have utterly no interest in it, and if I HAD to own my own business to do what I do, I'd find something else to do--its enough to get me to pay my own bills on time!

So I suppose I think that a combination of a DVM and a business person might be best--I think it depends more on the individual in questions rather than the system.

drsteggy March 6th, 2009 07:20:32 AM

The practice who treats my cats (in FL) was owned by a non-vet up until a couple years ago. I was very fond of one vet and some of the staff, but some of what I overheard of how the owner treated the staff was appalling. When a pair of vets purchased the practice, some of the vets who were practicing there (including the one I had the best relationship with) left. I had some rough experiences with some of the new front-office staff, but the place also has become a lot more approachable. The former owner would not permit a Christmas tree, for example. I wonder if owner-operated vet hospitals tend to be more "friendly." That has been my experience, once the dust settled from the buyout.

Feline March 6th, 2009 07:31:34 AM

Re: ownership by non vets:"decisions were apt to be made solely to benefit the bottom line, such as restricting the drugs and supplies that could be purchased, hiring less competent but cheaper staff, and an attempt at limiting the use of items such as IV catheters and syringes to only so many per patient."

My observation is that when vets own practices the same kind of bottom-line concerns can come to dominate their thinking as well. The fact that an owner is a vet doesn't mean that patient care will always trump profit in his analysis. Not so. I've seen it . . . I've expereinced it and suffered from it, as a result of a vet who apparently wanted to save money on vet techs (i.e., not have to pay one on the weekend).

One of the few vets I trust is home-visit basic care only, and works for a rescue. She explained that she saw what "brick and mortar" concerns did to vets, and she did not want to become like that.

Anybody who is responsible for the bottom line profit, especially when there is a direct correlatin between the business' bottom line and their take home pay, can begin to warp their priorities so that $$ matters most.

Stefani March 6th, 2009 07:33:27 AM

My experience has been that the bigger the hospital owner (i.e. coporation vs vet owner), the less personal the service & the less I felt in tune with the vet I was seeing.

Ellie March 6th, 2009 07:46:03 AM

I cannot see where restricting ownership benefits anybody, it all comes down to the individual Veterinarian treating the pet. If they have scruples they will not do things that they know are not right just for the bottom line. If they have the discretion (as owners) they will do what is right, if they do not have discretion (associates) they will try to influence and improve policies or move on.

Hobson March 6th, 2009 07:58:18 AM

Sure we care. We want to know who we are investing in and supporting by being clients-customers whatever nomenclature you prefer.

Medicine isn't totally dominated by Corporates and MBA's.  Our Dentist for example still operates as  an independent while enjoying an excellent reputation. She enjoys a very well balanced lifestyle and avoided getting in over her head to begin with by not becoming a frothing at the mouth materialist.

Success stories like these are under reported and obviously under hyped.  Imagine someone saying to Big Corporate, thanks but no thanks we don't need your help.

Evet March 6th, 2009 08:11:19 AM

I have always worked for private practitioners. From my first vet clinic in 1972--one doctor, 2 staff; next to a 5 doctor practice-2 owners, father and son, and 3 new grads usually, with a large staff; then to a 3 doctor partnership with large staff; and now the happiest at an all feline practice, two women veterinarians-one owner, one associate and a staff of 5-2 LVT's and the rest all experienced assistants. 

I have a personal perspective of working under a hospital manager that came from the human medical field and the experience was horrendous, much like what Maria Shanley said. I feel the practice I work at now is very flexible with offering options, both vets spend a lot, a very lot of time on case management, researching treatments on VIN, and special ordering items for patients, which I do hear doesn't happen at a "corporate" practice as there are too many hoops to jump through to use a new drug in the inventory etc.

While many practices are not managed well, I think you can tell a lot from a practice by how happy and well-trained the staff is, no matter how large or small the practice is.

Teri and the cats of Furrydance March 6th, 2009 09:49:27 AM

Yes, it matters to me a LOT.  Having watched human medicine go corporate for many of the reasons you cite which has resulted in continuously rising costs and far lesser care for the vast majority, I hope Vets do not follow human medicine on this one.  That isn't to say that Vets shouldn't hire managers, accountants, lawyers, etc. at various times so they can be effective and efficient.  The bottom lines matters in all businesses or they go out of business!

As for non-vet spouses and heirs, they can be VERY invested in the practice but I'm not sure they should be vested.  They can participate but perhaps being persuasive is better than having voting stock.  They can most certainly continue to share profits whether they can vote or not.  While having huge loans to finance a practice may be scary, it seems better than having those who know nothing of practice trying to run it (into the ground).  I say that because when corporations own professional practices and the corps are run by non-practitioners, there's going to be ongoing conflict between them which inevitable results in the least effectiveness and efficiencies - where we are today in human medicine and a number of other areas.

PJBoosinger March 6th, 2009 09:51:55 AM

Natalie you said: "the push is to "process" (read treat and bill) as many animals as possible because with the rescue discount, the margin of profit is lower, so as to maintain the overall level you need to "process" more. The math is simple, really. When rescue groups own vet practices, it is a disaster in many cases. Again, if a decent human being is in charge, disasters can be avoided, and things can go swimmingly, but how do we legislate decency?"

Another incentive for vet practices to become involved with rescues is that they can take their empty slots if they don't have full appointment books. I know of some cases where we have suspectec "markup to markdown" pricing from the vets to the shelters. Alternately the shelter brokers a relationship with one of the areas most expensive (overpriced) vets who lowers his prices for the shelter to something more market-median, but also cuts wicked corners on care provided (the rapid processing thing you talked about -- and who is going to file a complaint about a dead shelter cat?) One local vet has been raking it in from a shelter. The shelter doesn't own and operate the business, they just use him as one of their main care providers. Someone I know got a look at how much they paid out to him in a year and was horrified, knowing that they were gettign a discount on an overpriced service, and it was a two-way racket geared to benefit the rescue and the vet much more than the animals, who MIGHT have figured third in the equation, if that.

Stefani March 6th, 2009 11:10:00 AM

I'm currently trying to get into vet school. I also have to face the reality that I may not be accepted. Given that, I would like to stay in the veterinary field and owning a practice might be a way to do this. If I can't earn my DVM, then I can try to earn a CVPM and own my own practice. My "bottom line" is compassionate, quality medicine. It doesn't take a vet to make sure a profitable pratice reflects this.

PandoraNoir March 6th, 2009 11:13:27 AM

Socks goes to a family owned vet practice, and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking him to a big practice, the same as I wouldn't feel comfortable being treated at a big practice.. There are advantages, and disadvantages to both.. I am in a small family practice, and the patients aren't a number, or known by there ailment... We have our own lab, but most insurance companies require the bloods go to specific.  and X-rays go out..

I had an interesting issue come up with my gyn.. who was employed in a group of five.. It seems that it was taking longer, and longer (sometimes a week, or two) for her to call the patients back (except the pregnant ones.. they got called back that day).. When I questioned her, she mentioned that the owners expected her to see thirty five patients in the six hours she was in, plus return calls.. and if she was on call for deliveries, everthing got backed up further.. It wasn't just her not getting everything accomplished.. I was getting calls from our patients complaining about not getting called back from one of the group.. The end result...  My gyn moved to NJ to do fertility, and our patients are now being referred to other docs.. I found a new doc in solo practice.. but I'm unbelievably upset, as my doc was right calling the shots.. She was the only one of the group that did not have  malpractice cases listed on the NY state physicians profile..

Socks is hanging out with his grandmother.. He lowers her b.p.

barri March 6th, 2009 11:23:54 AM

How about you, Dr. K? Would you want one of your fellow B-school grads as your boss? (Picture the one whose values resemble yours the least, because Mr. Murphy usually has his way.)

Deanna March 6th, 2009 11:27:52 AM

Re: " had an interesting issue come up with my gyn.. . . . . she mentioned that the owners expected her to see thirty five patients in the six hours she was in, plus return calls".

I hate to tell you, but this can happen when a human dr. owns a practice too. I'm looking to dump my Primary care physician, because she owns her practice, and she bought a HUGE space (expanded) on the assumption that she would be bringing other doctors into her practice. She used to be very attentive in the small space she had before. Now she is frazzled, barely remembers your name, minimizes her time with you. They refuse to give you test results on the phone, even if they are OK. That's if they even can FIND your test results. They refuse to obtain test results from specialists they refer you to. They make you EMAIL THEM AND REMIND THEM. You must then, after reminding them, make an appointment to go in and get your results. If you don't make an appointment, even if your results are potentially troubling they will never look at them till you come in. Which could be months later. They try to get you to sign a paper saying coming in physically to get test results is the patients' responsibility (I refuse to sign this). When I confronted her about this, she threw up her hands and poured out her heart about how overburdened she is trying to pay for this huge space. She doesn't have time or resources to call patients. She doesn't have time to look at their test results, even if they indicate something bad.

It wasn't lost on me either that when I went in for flu, but had no chest infiltrate, they ran some computerized lung capacity test on me when my chest was totally clear and I told them that. Ok they wanted to bill my insurance for some computerized lung flow test. No skin off me. Help them pay for their space. $$$$$. But it wasn't about what I needed as a patient.

She used to be a good doctor, now I think she's flat out dangerous. Why? $$$ and business concerns are trumping patient care. They MUST. If they don't she will go out of business and declare bankruptcy.

Point being: It's not just business owners who AREN'T Docs that are the problem. Just like with vets, once docs become business owners, the

Stefani March 6th, 2009 11:55:25 AM

Oops missing sentence end: ". . . the business interest take precedence."

Stefani March 6th, 2009 11:57:13 AM

"I guess it's like anything else: the type of office doesn't matter, it's the doctors themselves that are doing the job.  Is the doctor skilled, compassionate, able to address your concerns?  Then it doesn't matter who owns the practice."

I subscribe mostly to this belief, too, Galadriel. Despite having had a horrible experience working for a non-vet at one of the hospitals I cut my teeth in, I can honestly say that most of the other vets I've worked for haven't been much better. 

I worry most about corporate practice and how that experience may corrupt young vets––or leave a bad taste in their mouths for the profession. But then, that's possible anywhere. 

Honestly, I think I'd have never practiced without the amazing experience I had as a newbie in an ER right after graduation. What luck!

As to the scary MBA as a boss, Deanna? Why'd you have to make me picture that? It's going to take me the whole weekend to get over that vision––yuck!

Dr. Patty Khuly March 6th, 2009 12:15:02 PM

Since most (but not all!) of my work experience has come from working at a "corporate" practice, I feel I've gained some valuable insight. First, profit matters - a lot. My desire, first and foremost, is to get paid. This doesn't make me care any less about animals or their owners, but it does bring into sharp relief the fact that my job is a job, not a volunteer experience. I think most workers in the veterinary field also recognize that it's almost impossible to walk that fine line between their altruism and their need to get paid - especially in veterinary medicine where pets occupy that funny grey sphere of being the beloved family memeber whose medical care is often dependent on the availability of discretionary funds. I think that's why there's an advantage to having a separation within the practice - a hospital manager/co-owner who's responsible for financial aspects, and a veterinarian responsible for practicing veterinary medicine. Like others have said, veterinary schools don't grant business administration degrees. For example, one doctor practices great medicine and is generally well-liked by her clients, but she gives away so many freebies (i.e., not charging for time or services) and writes so many prescriptions for $4 generic WalMart drugs that she'd never stay afloat if she were running her own practice - and it's reflected in the practice numbers on the days she works. She doesn't do it purposely - it's just an inability to separate the business from the compassion. And while some outside the profession (namely, her clients) think it's great, what they're not seeing are the consequences - staff hours being cut, a reduced revenue which constricts our supply budget, etc., which directly affects our hospital's ability to provide care. That's where our hospital manager (and corporate oversight) step in. I'm not saying there aren't cases where the business side overwhelms the medicine side to the point of negatively impacting patient care (i.e., reusing i.v. lines to save money, only stocking the cheapest drugs, etc.), but in general I'd argue that practices partly owned or managed by business managers are more likely to be better-managed and more profitable than those owned/managed by the veterinarian trying to wear both hats. As a staff member, I can see the benefits of working for a veterinarian-owned practice in terms of loyalty, especially if you love the doc you work for, and I do kind of miss that. But it's a trade-off - the fact that I am employed by the same company that employs the docs, rather than being employed BY the docs, means that there are definite, enforced standards of treatment amongst staff. The way I've been treated by some previous docs as a staff member of their private practice would never fly at my current job - because I don't work FOR these docs, I work WITH them. That's a big deal to me, especially when it comes to the full utilization of my skills and my ability to work independently. Another benefit of corporate practice - I'm relatively well-paid, although as any tech or staff member can attest, we are often woefully underpaid at private practices (although I still can't fathom making a permanent career out of my current job, much as I love it, based on my yearly earnings - sufficient only for part-time employment as a student). This (relatively) higher pay, at least at my hosptial, has attracted harder-working individuals more likely to put the time into improving their skills. So for those who are concerned about where to take their pets, I'd say there are many hospitals like mine whose corporate ownership is a benefit to their pet's care - and they'd be missing out if skipped over us simply because we've got a corporate logo above our reception desk. :)

anna March 6th, 2009 12:52:13 PM

In the cases of spouses who aren't vets owning the practice, there are many scenarios, and so there can't be one rule for everyone. What about the spouse who works full-time to put the other through vet school, intending on going back themselves when the practice starts generating enough? Hopefully they have a written contract to that end (and wills, of course), but if death or divorce occurs then all the sweat equity is lost. I know one situation where one spouse's family set up the vet with loans to buy a practice, which became profitable, but then the vet died. Because there was no vet, the practice had to be sold to another vet and that took so long that the loan (involving a second mortage) the parents had made became a big problem. If the family had just been able to take over the practice it would have been much better for them and the staff.

KateH March 6th, 2009 12:56:26 PM

Many years ago, I worked in a kennel that was part of a clinic owned by an MBA. This guy was incredibly business-savvy, but he was clueless in the animal department.. and I'm talking dangerously clueless.  I'm pretty forgiving, but that place was just appalling. (Don't let beautiful, state-of-the-art facilities fool you.. if they can't keep their staff, run!) I got out as soon as I could line up a new job.

I hope the place has improved in the years since I left, but I don't hold much hope.

I definitely have a preference for the vet-owned practice. I would never (given any remotely viable options) patronize a corporate-owned clinic, and it would take a lot to sell me on an MBA-owned practice.

Ramen Connoisseur March 6th, 2009 12:57:41 PM

ha...how many vet techs would it take to buy a vet practice?!? i think i'd rather vets own the practice as they are the ones ultimately responsible for the patients. i'd hate some business-only minded person telling me (if i were a vet) what to do based on the $$$ instead of the quality of care. the vet techs i worked with certainly weren't like the stories i hear about RNs fighting with the docs about treatments, but it would be weird to have a group of techs essentially be the vets' bosses. but i also think vet students should receive mandatory business training. and veterinary staff should get paid A LOT better as they are vital to the productivity of the doctors. i've learned a lot as a medical technologist, but i'd leave it for a vet clinic in a minute if the salary would pay my bills.

sarah March 6th, 2009 01:02:55 PM

stefani- tell your doctor to write on the script that you are also to get a copy/fax of the labs. go directly through the lab or the medical records department of the hospital-it's much easier. per HIPPA, we aren't allowed to deny you your medical records, although you should have to sign a release to get them (protects the hospital if a patient freaks about the results).

sarah March 6th, 2009 01:11:02 PM

I'm not entirely sure, but I think there might be some other reasons that some states prohibit ownership by a "corporation" or non-vet-owner. Some legal implications that have to do with licensing & insurance (possibly malpractice or liability??).

PJB, jump in on this one. NH tried to introduce a bill on this subject, that was defeated last year. And I will have to revisit the bill & purpose to find out why.

There is also a few subtle changes here & there of legal changes to LLC's (which by the way, must be "advertised OR known". And I'll have to look that up also.

Barbara/ Pocket's Story from New Hampshire

Barbara A. Albright March 6th, 2009 01:18:06 PM

So what's the scoop on the PetsMart Doc-in-a-Box, Banfield?

And the chain, VCA, that's buying up clinics around here?

Are they formally vet-owned, or do they not operate in states where the practice law requires veterinary ownership?

H. Houlahan March 6th, 2009 01:29:03 PM

The very traditional view is that you can't possibly stand your ethical grounds as a professional if any non-member of the profession can dictate anything to you.  The solution was that only members could own the professional practices.  Non-members having ownership does substantially increase insurance costs too.  However, most professions started down this slippery slope eons ago.  With lawyers, it was letting retired senior partners remain in control even though they were no longer licensed; no longer subject to professional sanctions (and there's that other slippery slope we've all slid down).

PJBoosinger March 6th, 2009 03:26:51 PM

Houlahan, the simple answer is that one group of lawyers writes a law and another group finds a way around or through it or people just plain ignore the law until they get swatted.

PJBoosinger March 6th, 2009 03:28:55 PM

Stefani

I sure hope you ran as far as you could from the physician you were seeing.. She seems to be heading for a malpractice suit.. We have two docs, and are rotating between two offices.. All labs, consults, and any reports that come in are reviewed that day, and are left for the other physician to read when they come in.. All patients are notified of the abnormal results within a day, or two based on the urgency.. and it isn't always necessary for the physician to get on the phone.. It is based on what the result is.. Having the right staff helps.. Our staff have been together for no less than seven years..  With the economy the way it is, and copayments high, we can't expect the patients to come in.. There are many times there is the need for the patient to come in..and the reasoning is explained on the phone..

As for my gyn.. I'm elated for her.. She is a single mom with three girls, and was getting paid decently,  but saw the light, and took a major step.. I think I had something to do with her move.. I mentioned that she had a great babysitter..

barri March 6th, 2009 05:08:41 PM

As a vet student, I'm determined to NOT go to work for a corporate-owned practice when I graduate.  The biggest corporations all come to school and give lectures with free food to get you to come and listen to how wonderful it will be to work for them.  Some of them are much worse than others, but I still have the idea that I'm going to own my own practice someday.  With all my loans this is a scary prospect, but ultimately I see this as the best option for me and the best way I can ensure that I am able to practice the type of medicine I want to practice.  I didn't take my pets to corporate vet hospitals before I started vet school, and now that I've been to the corporate lectures I'll never go near them as long as I have other options.

Ingrid March 7th, 2009 06:56:40 AM

I'm a vet student. If I ever own a practice someday, and I'm not sure I will, I think it might work well to hire a well-educated and experienced practice manager to take care of the business aspects, so I can focus on actually practicing veterinary medicine. This way, you could have someone to manage your staff and handle marketing, etc. while still not handing over conrol over how you practice medicine to somebody who is not a vet.

I consider myself fortunate to be attending a vet school that offers an elective business certification program to vet students. Is it a business degree? No. But it does give us the opportunity to take courses in accounting, finance, management, marketing, legal issues of business, entrepreneurship, and a course called "Practice Management and Professional Development" that is actually required for all vet students, regardless of whether they are completing the business certificate.

Becky March 7th, 2009 08:34:33 AM

Ever watch that "House" season where the rich guy writes a check then wants to run the hospital like a business ....

I don't want a business man running my vet clinic for at least all the reasons mentioned above. Maybe the vet program should include some business classes to compensate if there is a gap, but I think vet's should have to own at least 51% of a vet business....spouses and techs and sadly MBA's alike could join in the other parts if desired.

LorriM March 7th, 2009 01:04:25 PM

Lolz, Dr. K.! I have half an MBA. Sadly, I could not persevere and complete it, since I was both dissatisfied with the coursework and disappointed with my classmates. I thought I was going to learn about running a business, not how to attract and keep investors. Naive.

Deanna March 7th, 2009 03:52:42 PM

The bottom line is, if you are a good enough business person your business will stay afloat, no matter how compassionate you are. You will recognize that in order to pay your bills, both personal and professional you have to get paid. If you are not a good business person your business will fail. Customer service is an integral part of any business plan, especially something like veterinary medicine where there is a disconnect between your patient and your client. I personally think the best course of action is to have a disinterested person run the business, regardless of who owns the business. That can be either an MBA, a corporation or a vet who runs the business first. This way the vet can advocate for the patients while the business owner/manager/accountant can make sure the practice is making enough money that every one gets paid.

Jacob March 8th, 2009 09:26:03 AM

I don't think it matters WHO owns the practice, as long as the practice is run correctly and you are comfortable there.

I used to go to a vet who ran his practice very badly. Much like the complaints here about corporate owned facilities. There are other vets in my area that I have heard stories about and will never bring my pets there because of how they are run.

if the business is run with the bottom line as the most important factor, then it doesn't really matter who owns it, it is not a place I want to bring my pet. I would be very willing to check out any organization and give them the chance to show me they want to do the right thing.

Connie March 9th, 2009 11:30:52 AM

I took my dog to a cliinc that mislead me by not stating that they were owned by a rescue group. I took my dog Mutley to have a neuter surgery and they used a drug that is very old and not used much especially for a sedation prior to surgery. The FDA Report that I recieved stated that this drug was not recommended for dogs, Bovine, Horses & Cervadae ONLY. I did not give any informed consent to use this drug on my dog.They used this drug because it was cheap and they could dilute it down to streatch it to save money. Ultimately my Beloved dog MUTLEY collasped and died within minutes of being injected with this horrible drug, no neuter surgery even took place. The necropsy that was performed showed my young dog to be healthy. It absolutely does matter who ownes an animal clinic or hospital. Thery were so cheap that they even charged me for a surgery that never happend. The treatment after this unforgiveable tragity was of lies and no reason or phone call to explain what had happened. I received substandard care and as a direct result my precious Mutley lost his life. I do believe that they are not focused on our pets and cost cutting plays a part in the substandard care we are given. I have been severely traunatized by this. I do believe that no one but a licenesed Veterinarian should own and operate a animal facility because then they would be held to a higher standard of care. Did you know that your beloved pet companion is view as only mere PROPERTY of no real value???? Mine was check your states Law regarding pets, it WILL SURPRISE YOU.

Patricia March 9th, 2009 12:15:51 PM

#5 is a huge issue for me, the spouse of a veterinarian. We aren't practice owners, yet, but will some day (hopefully soon). Here in Maine, non-veterinarians can't own practices. So if we build a practice and my wife dies, I can't hire an associate and keep the small business we built together. I'd have to shut down and find a buyer, while the value of the business spirals down because it's assets, the clients, are finding other veterinarians because our clinic would be closed. Her death would cost me 1) my wife and 2) my job and 3) my retirement plan. If we have a child who wants to pursue veterinary medicine, I will steer her elsewhere. The pay is too low, the business risks too high. You exit college with hundreds of thousands in debt and a $50K per year job. It doesn't make economic sense. I can see value in corporate ownership as well. I mean, my wife's boss would like to upgrade to digital radiography. It's a (reportedly) $100,000 investment. They have two doctors each working 35 hours a week. They would need to snap A LOT more x-rays for that machine to pay for itself. That means they'd need to hire a lot more doctors and staff, then triple the size of the building, and a high-priced practice manager to manage everything, and a full time bookkeeper... Where does the money come from? It really isn't who owns the practice, it's who owns the practice if you get my drift. Sadly there are a lot of veterinarian owned practices here who use outdated anesthesia protocols and cheap suture materials, "sterilize" their instruments in a pressure cooker, cut corners on equipment, etc. all to save a dollar. Sadly too, the penny-pinching veterinarians stay in business because if a penny-pinching owner's pet manages to survive their care, they rave about that vet being the best "value" in town, and "it's so refreshing to find a veterinarian who isn't a money-grubbing, bill-padding con-man."

Todd Chrisman March 11th, 2009 02:44:24 AM

We face a similar problem her is Australia....time will tell which way the tree falls....but I sincerely hope we are not seeing the death knells for community based veterinary practice......

I blog about it here....the-corporate-beast

In the end it will be a community and public decision voted with feet.  Where would you prefer your pet get treated?

Ben March 18th, 2009 08:43:59 PM

THANKS FOR UR HAPPY

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