Reply to What is the reason for the veterinary back up?

Forum Index » Pets

Reply to "What is the reason for the veterinary back up?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So, another question-
Do corporate take overs help or hinder?  What do they help in a practice, and what go they  hurt? I can see how an individual practice could drown  in expenses, and maybe the business model needs this corporate investment.

I'm comparing it to optometry,  which used to all be private practices until Pearl Vision and all the subsequent others arrived on the scene  and changed everything starting in the late 70s. Optical services really changed, as well.

Back to veterinary- One issue is insurance. It was a rarity to buy it, with very limited options until the past 5 or 6 years. I managed 6 dogs without.  Now I would only recommend getting a pet with insurance as a  requirement. People don't understand  what it costs to treat pets these days. It's not unusual to have MRIs, laser treatments, physical therapy,  specialized surgeries, oncology treatment,  etc.

If I've forgotten  up to now, thanks so much to all the veterinary staff, doctors and techs  alike. Of course you are important to pets,  but it's really people  you are treating. Many apologies for any abuse anyone has had to endure,  I feel just awful to hear about it. [/quote]

Vet owner here - corporate practices hurt the profession overall (again, looking at you Banfield/MM Mars).  They offer massive signing bonuses and salaries - we CANNOT compete.  They see almost exclusively routine appts such as vaccines and push any illness or emergencies to other clinics - why?  Because, it takes time and those appts aren't as profitable.  From a business model standpoint, great model.  But from a general support the profession, not so great.

Our clinic does not have an issue with pet insurance as fees are paid by the client and reimbursed directly to the client.  We don't get involved.  It allows clients to support their pets and get them care.
I believe people don't see human medicine bills because most everyone has human health insurance and you pay $20 for a copay.  They don't understand that we use the same MRI, meds and have the same education yet charge a tenth of what human medicine does.  Also, the recent uptick in client crap is a function of people not being allowed in the buildings.  It is much easier to complain when you don't look people in the eye - same way people feel open to complain on the internet.  [/quote]
So, like the way Pearl Vision changed the Optometric and Optician private practices, corporate is taking over hampering how vets can compete and stay in business. And that's not unlike what happened to a lot of small businesses, particularly with online shopping,  although unrelated.  I totally get it, and feel for you, but I am guessing this is the way veterinary services will end of going.  
And I know the doctors and  practices have nothing  to do with insurance, but I meant that  owners just need to realize  they  really need to get it...having a pet is expensive.  They have to understand that vets need to charge what is costs.

So, what the future looks like is probably  the fact that most practices will  be under various corporate umbrellas, the companies  will combine and partner  with  insurance companies and veterinarians will be contractors or employees of such. I think  these are the transition years before  we see the last of individual practices, and yes,  it's sad, but it may be way it has to go considering the larger breadth of services and technology needed as opposed to  animal care 20 years ago. Also, women are dominating the DVM population and they want more flexibility.

I think dentistry,  dermatology, PT, mental health are also going through  industry changes, but insurance has always covered  these entities. 
Thanks for all your hard work. Veterinarians really should be cherished and definitely paid more. I will be sure to express my gratitude to our practice whenever possible, which, BTW,  is owned by Banfield,  I think. In the end, it's the specific vet that matters to me more than who owns  the practice,  but our vet left practicing all together this year ( wasn't older, just left) and  the one other seasoned vet is older and will eventually leave.  The rest  have been a steady turnover of young vets for the last decade. That is what concerns me. [/quote]

Thank you.  Fun fact, Banfield is actually owned by M&M mars.  It was a private company until about 10 years ago and then Mars came in and purchased the practice.  Significant changes since then.[/quote]

Very interesting.  They also control a big chunk of the pet food market (40+%) in the U.S.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics