• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Letters: Our profession's identity crisis

January 1, 2009

As I look for a direction for my practice, should I be looking to the Mayo Clinic or Wal-Mart?

We consider ourselves members of the medical profession, comparing our wages and starting salary with those of physicians and dentists. Our training and skill levels are on par with these other professionals, and we like to think of ourselves as equals.

However, I recently attended a continuing-education seminar given by a well-known and well-respected member of our profession who was speaking to us on management issues. Partway through the evening, the speaker made a statement that we are really in the retail business and went on to say that the key to success is keeping our clinics open seven days a week and extending our hours far beyond traditional office times. In addition, others of the same mindset encourage the one-stop shopping concept of medical care, boarding, grooming, and retail all under one roof.

So now I am confused. As I look for a direction for my practice, should I be looking to the Mayo Clinic or Wal-Mart?

I think that we, as a profession, need to decide what we want to be. Are we medical professionals, worthy of respect and comfortable wages? Or are we high-volume retail salespeople, available any time of day or night, to make a buck?

It is my opinion that if we want to be seen as medical professionals, we need to act like ones. I do not get my hair cut at the ER, look for a hospital to stay in while on vacation (I really hope to avoid that as much as possible), or seek out midnight teeth cleanings from my dentist. Why do we continue to think that we must offer the equivalent services to the animal-owning public?

Advertisement

There is no question that people increasingly have work schedules that make it difficult to do business between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. But over the years, we have also seen the human-animal bond grow stronger. I see more and more of my clients willing to take time off from work to care for a sick pet or spend a few days at home as it recovers from surgery.

When I first entered practice in 1996, our hospital had extended hours one night a week. We rotated emergency duty with neighboring clinics, despite close-by emergency hospitals. Until about five years ago, as often as our schedules allowed, we had two of the three doctors present on Saturdays.

No longer. We now close at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. All after-hours emergencies are sent to the emergency clinic. Only one doctor works on Saturdays, and we close an hour earlier. I know a number of practices that are closed completely on Saturdays.

And you know what? Life is good. Our practice continues to grow. Our compensation is good. Our staff is not burned out by long hours, and we all enjoy the time away from work.

Too many veterinarians burn out on the profession, and high-quality support staff is hard to find. It is also often discussed that the newer generations of veterinarians place an increased value on personal and family time. Meanwhile, the ever-increasing debt of new graduates is another great cause of concern.

Many dread the effect these combined factors will have on the future of the profession. While there is no single solution to the problems of the profession, I think the search for answers must start by asking what we want our profession to be.

Do you want to be a member of the medical community, valued for your skills and knowledge, or are you content to be in after-hours retail sales?

Personally, I vote for being medical professionals.

Drew L. Allen, DVM

Brickyard Animal Hospital

1213 E. 3300 South

Salt Lake City, Utah

Related Content:

Clinical
A practical approach to a fever of unknown origin
A practical approach to a fever of unknown origin
Tips and tricks for diagnosing canine osteoarthritis early
Tips and tricks for diagnosing canine osteoarthritis early
Performing surgery on dogs with GDV
Performing surgery on dogs with GDV

Advertisement

Latest News

Thriving when life is hard

Hospital design expert shares his favorite design element

Updated EquiTrace app integrates wth HISA Portal

San Francisco SPCA receives $100k grant from San Francisco Foundation

View More Latest News
Advertisement