Finding facts in the figures

It's the numbers that drive this special annual report. We reviewed more than 15 surveys specifically about the veterinary profession, and conducted two of our own, just for this issue. Our editorial team looked at 1000s of numbers. We talked to at least 40 experts to develop survey questions and concise analysis that pulls the key points from the study data. And that's not counting all of you who contributed by participating in studies.

That means the information you'll see comes from more than 5,000 veterinarians and 3,300 team members. And in the pages that follow you'll find 70 charts and tables and 28 articles about the data points we think have the most potential to affect your business.

Who receives Veterinary Economics?

Of course, we don't want to just drown you in digits. So we do everything we can to make all those numbers interesting and appealing.

For example, we commissioned 24 dynamic pieces of original art from Russian-born artist Val Bochkov. (He even drew me.) We checked and double-checked our numbers, then built clear charts that we hope make it easier to find the facts in the figures. And we hope that a clearer picture of what's happening in practices emerges.

Just for starters, the numbers here give some basic information about all of you who subscribe to Veterinary Economics. On the pages that follow, we dig much deeper to talk about how the new generation of practitioners sees practice today; how their influence could change practice in the future; and how your finances, management strategies, and outlook have changed since past studies.

You'll notice that with this issue, we step back a little from giving specific steps to improve your finances and efficiency and look at the whole picture of practice as comprehensively as we can. Ideally, the facts and figures we present will open discussion. Those of you who shared information about your work and your practices—and your comments about both—sent the first volley over the net. Thank you for contributing. The rest of you, we'd love to get your two cents.

It's your report. It's your data. Dig in.

Marnette Denell Falley, Editor

ve@advanstar.com