Businesses and my clinical freedom

Authors: Whiting M
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Welfare, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: Business structures and practice policy can affect clinician and client autonomy - but should it? Over the past 15 years the UK veterinary profession has seen a dramatic increase in corporate owned practices and veterinary franchises. This has coincided with the loss of small veterinary businesses and individual practices that have been bought by the corporate chains1. This can have enormous beneficial effects for the profession by centralisation of the elements of business that traditionally veterinary surgeons have not excelled at, such as human resources, marketing and financial management. It also represents an excellent way in which purchasing power may be increased by veterinary groups to facilitate more cost effective products like medicines and equipment. The running costs and overheads of the practices can be reduced.

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