2006 DVM Newsmagazine Survey: Methodology

CLEVELAND — Every three years, DVM Newsmagazine conducts a national State of the Veterinary Profession survey among veterinarians in companion animal practice. The results will appear in subsequent DVM Newsmagazine editorial articles.

Practice Management Survey and Staffing, Career and Salary Survey

The results were obtained from two DVM Newsmagazine surveys e-mailed randomly to mixed and small animal veterinarians from an Advanstar Communications subscriber list. Advanstar Communications Research Services administered the surveys.

The surveys intended to:

• Document the economic issues facing veterinarians,

• Identify trends within the delivery of veterinary services today and in the future,

• Evaluate the relationship between veterinarians and their clients,

• Benchmark similar survey results conducted in 1997, 2000 and 2003.

To encourage participation, both groups were offered the chance to win one of 60 pre-paid Visa Gift Cards worth $25 from DVM Newsmagazine. One reminder e-mail invitation was sent to all individuals who had not responded to the initial invitation. Both surveys were in the field from April 6 to May 4, and they have a 95-percent confidence level.

Table 8 Two thirds of veterinarians report profits are on the rise. Just 12 percent reported a drop in net revenues.

Practice Management Survey

The Practice Management Survey yielded 625 responses, representing a 13-percent response rate.

Men and women responded in almost equal numbers; 53 percent of respondents graduated before 1990, and 47 percent graduated since 1990 (see chart).

Small animal exclusive practitioners constituted about 83 percent in the Practice Management Survey; 11 percent are predominantly small animal veterinarians, and just 6 percent are in mixed practices.

Table 9 Gross revenues, Practice Management Survey and Gross revenues, Staffing, Career and Salary Survey

Fifty percent of survey respondents are owners; 34.3 percent are associate veterinarians; 9.5 percent are partners, and 5.6 percent are either relief, part-time or other veterinarians.

Almost 25 percent of respondents are from the Northeast, 19 percent from the Midwest, 36 percent from the Southeast, and 20 percent are from the West.

Staffing, Career and Salary Survey

The Staffing, Career and Salary Survey netted 564 responses, composing a 12-percent response rate.

Men and women responded in almost equal numbers; 51 percent of respondents graduated before 1990, and 49 percent graduated in 1990 or later (see chart).

Exclusive small animal veterinarians make up 79 percent of respondents; 12 percent are predominantly small animal, and more than 9 percent perform mixed animal care.

Table 10 The local economy influences 41 percent of practices positively.

Fifty percent of survey respondents are owners; 40.6 percent are associates; 5.7 percent are partners, and 3.7 percent are other practitioners.

About 13.5 percent of respondents are from the Northeast; 27.5 percent are from the Midwest; 23 percent responded from the Southeast, and 36 percent are from the West.