30 September 2018

Best Practices For New-Age Veterinary Clinics, Hospitals, And Animal Care Centers

Written by Michael Noah
Tagged as Blog

The face of veterinary medicine is extremely different from what it used to be a decade ago. It is imperative for veterinary practices large and small to embrace these developments, to stay relevant in changing times. Whether you are a veterinarian who is fresh out of college or a seasoned practitioner, these tips help you brace competition, improve your reputation, make your vet practice financially stable, and ultimately grow your business so that you can reap better returns.

Today’s Veterinary Practice

As you may know veterinary science is not a new development, there is proof that veterinary medicine existed centuries ago and was very much prevalent in ancient times. However, veterinary practice has evolved over the decades into a thriving and ever-changing industry. Modern veterinarian practices have changed from the traditional family vets of decades ago; it is now so much more than just the medical treatment of animals.

Modern medicine, advanced medical technologies and newer therapeutic techniques, have all led to a vast and diverse group of veterinary practitioners in recent years. Multiple, intensive veterinary specializations like surgery, neurology, oncology among others, has created an extremely skilled pool of veterinarians and spawned numbers of veterinary practices, clinics, facilitators and hospitals. Veterinary knowledge nowadays is becoming extremely vital for forays into biological research as well as wildlife conservation objectives.

Changing ownership practices over the decades are reflected in the varied kinds of practices today like partnerships, joint venture ownerships, private practice, corporate practice etc. Specialized emergency practice, collaborations, the small and large animal sectors have culminated into new genres of veterinary practices. Many practices in rural and urban areas do extend their services to after hour treatments and have greatly helped in employment of new and emerging vets as well as strengthening their client bases.

Earlier, vets used to operate in individual units with each vet treating his or her set of pet patients or farm animal patients; now since the pet industry has grown tremendously and services are not limited to medical treatment of pets, the network is ever-widening. Services include behavioral treatment, therapy, nutrition plans, etc. Pet care has become an industry in itself. Facilities like X-ray rooms, pet therapy rooms, on-site kennels etc. have upped the game in modern veterinary practice. This has led to growing numbers of required staff like surgeons, supportive staff, nurses, managers etc. Relevant training for each group is vital for the entire system to function at its optimum and efficient management is a must.

Even veterinary management as a whole is heading on efficient and technologically advanced paths, as the years go by. Traditional practices like entering client data in log books and hand-written documents are slowly but surely giving way to modern technologies like management software and online documentation. The foundation to a successful veterinary practice today includes not only professional expertise, compassion and medical knowledge, but also powerful management skills and use of efficient veterinary practice software.

1. Adopt technology

Being technologically advanced gives your practice a certain edge over the others. Not all practitioners can afford state of the art equipment in their clinics, hospitals or care centers, but holding on to obsolete tools and treatment methods definitely can be a put-off for most clients. The key is to invest in good quality equipment that is fairly modern and to use up to date techniques that are affordable to the clients and their animal friends who visit your practice.

Technology also encompasses taking the digital route in your practice. This means digitized medical records, exams room, lab work, pharmacy, admission blocks etc. made possible through a veterinary practice management software. Embracing technology improves your day to day functions and impresses clients with the professionalism you display in handling your veterinary clinic or hospital.

Success in veterinary practice isn’t derived from a magical formula. What works for one kind of veterinarian or clinic may not be equally relevant to another. However, these suggestions and best practices help you improve practice so that you can reap the fruits in the short term and over a longer period.

2. Get accredited

Any good veterinary practitioner needs to invest sufficient time and effort into staying abreast of changes in veterinary medicine and technology. Ongoing education through participation in seminars or certification in recognized courses as well as accreditation show existing and prospective clients that you value care standards seriously and pay attention to best practices in animal care.

3. Gather feedback

Veterinary practitioners often lose business because they aren’t really ears for what their clients have to say about them. When you and your staff pay attention to what pet owners like or dislike about your clinic, it shows how much you care for them and their animal companions. Feedback is a great way to fine-tune your practice to meet or exceed the expectations of customers who visit your clinic. This can be collected through a simple survey printed out on forms or be conducted through a veterinary PMS.

4. Pay attention to the pricing structure

Veterinary practice isn’t just about healing and caring for animal friends. People today consider veterinary practice equivalent to a service and expect adequate value for the money they put into keeping their pets healthy and happy. For this reason, a clinic whose treatment options are inappropriately priced can soon fall out of the competition and suffer. To avoid this, compare your veterinary offerings with that of other care providers in your area or locality to see how you can offer affordable services to clients while paying off your bills and expenses on time, and making money for yourself. Do this from time to time to ensure that you stay competitive even when shifts occur.

5. Invest in well-trained staff

While you spend a considerable time treating, immunizing, and nursing sick animals back to health, all these activities make up only a part of your practice. The interactions that the clients have with your admin staff, technicians, nurses, and others in the clinic have an equally important impact on the perception of pet owners about your practice. Hiring the right staff and training them in best practices makes a huge difference in the way your clinic or hospital functions. This ensures that any interaction that they have with clients is a pleasant one and that all needs of pet owners and their animal buddies are adequately taken care of.

6. Improve the experience

Treatment constitutes just one part of veterinary care. The experience that customers and pets have at your practice can leave a lasting impact. So, be sure to asses your clinic from time to time through the eyes, nose, and ears of not just the client but also the patient. Is the reception area welcoming? Does it have enough space for patients who need to wait? Is there unused equipment lying around? Are there service bottlenecks? Check with the staff as well to see on what their thoughts and feedback are. Things that skip your attention often garner that of the staff, who spend almost the same amount of time in the practice area as you do.

You could also consider retailing pet and animal care products out of your clinic for an enhanced experience. While not mandatory, clients appreciate it when you have snacks, toys, carriers, harnesses, and others stocked up in your clinic. Whatever you display on the shelves is an assurance that the products have been handpicked by you or your staff for the benefits that they offer to animal companions. So, be sure to pick and choose products with care.

7. Give back to the vet community

The years spent in to receiving veterinary education and treating sick animals equips you with loads of experience, which can be put to good use outside your practice. As a well-educated, well-trained, veterinary professional, you could put some time aside to pen down your thoughts and observations on veterinary medicine or the industry through blogs on websites, social media pages, or other direct marketing materials. You could utilize the platforms to also interact with pet owners or like-minded professionals for greater outreach. The more omnipresent you are, the more your practice flourishes.

Alongside publishing, you could also involve yourself in charity work or social service by sponsoring non- profits, local veterinary events, animal welfare institutions etc. Not only are these good things to do but they also establish respect for your practice among the community and drive referral business exponentially.