Veterinary practices miss $64,000 in fees each year

Veterinary practices are hemorrhaging money and don't even know it. To show you how much money veterinary practices are losing each year, Mark Opperman, CVPM, owner of veterinary consulting firm VMC Inc., based in Evergreen Colo., studied 300 practices. Here's the average breakdown for one full-time veterinarian.

Out-patient services

1. Fecals

The average hospital misses four fecals a week. At $19 each, this equals $3,800*.

2. Heartworm tests

The average hospital misses five heartworm tests a week. At $29 each, this equals $7,250.

3. Injections

The average hospital misses four injections a week. At $19 each, this equals $3,800.

4. Nail trims

The average hospital misses five nail trims a week. At $11 each, this equals $2,750.

In-patient services

1. Injections

The average hospital misses four injections a week. At $16 each, this equals $3,200.

2. Fluid therapy

The average hospital misses two liters of fluid used outside of the initial fluid charge a week. At $32 each, this equals $3,200.

3. IV catheters

The average hospital misses three catheters a week. At $34 each, this equals $5,100.

4. Radiographs

The average hospital misses four views (after the two initial views) a week. At $35 each, this equals $7,000.

5. Lab procedures

The average hospital misses four procedures a week. At $35 each, this equals $7,000.

Surgery income

1. Suture materials

The average hospital misses three packs a week. At $12 each, this equals $1,800.

2. Anesthesia

The average hospital misses four hours outside the initial half-hour fee a week. At $60 per hour, this equals $12,000.

3. Hospitalization

The average hospital misses three days a week. At $26 each, this equals $3,900.

4. Extra materials used

The average hospital misses $65 in extra materials a week. This equals $3,250.

*Yearly totals are 50 weeks to account for time out of the office.