Characteristics of VCN Participants

Common Beliefs of the Participants

1. Believes this is a service industry.
2. Is multi-disciplinary (non-veterinarians included) and business oriented.
3. Has business & management training and experience.
4. Has multiple practice experience.
5. Sets the standards for effective veterinary practice management.
6. Endorses quality-based care programs.
7. Has cross-sectional aims.
8. Is proactive to change dynamics.
9. Is a marketer of industry -- support and belief in association-directed marketing of veterinary medicine.
10. Provides continuing education.
11. Believes the group is expansive and inclusive.

1. Commitment to the veterinary profession; promotion of the veterinary profession.
2. Every practice is unique & must be assisted individually to meet their needs.
3. Promotion of the veterinary profession as a quality service profession.
4. Commitment to veterinary practice management.
5. Consultants are educators/teachers.
6. Commits to network resources.
7. Consultants are an integral part of a practice's business team.
8. Consultants must be beyond reproach and set a standard within the profession.
9. Assistants to veterinary profession, pets and the client.
10. Extenders of veterinarians.

Responsibilities of Consultants

Consultant Behavior to Seek

Consultant Behavior to Avoid

1. Up-to-date knowledge of veterinary practice management.
2. Clarity of fees and expenses, with some type of estimate of additional time and cost for potential supplemental services.
3. Expectations for specifically defined issues (goal oriented).
4. Follows accepted principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics.
5. General business and management expertise (avoids "tunnel vision").
6. Ability of consultant to keep current with the profession.
7. Confidentiality with full disclosure of conflicting interests.
8. Positive attitude to refer to others more skilled in specific areas of management.
9. Use of the practice staff as healthcare team members.
10. Goal of individualization of solutions to each practice.
11. Ability to effectively communicate with doctors and staff.
12. Client/patient-centered systems.
13. Real experience quoted - no partial truths.
14. Ability to follow-up and determine effectiveness.
15. Net worth to practice based in quality healthcare programs.

1. Guarantees of success without knowledge of the practice.
2. Promises of a quick fix.
3. Providing a service without a working knowledge of the veterinary profession.
4. Exciting solutions beyond the resources available - offering solutions that will be unattainable with the time and training resources that are available.
5. Kick-back of "finder fee" referral systems.
6. Breech of confidentiality and bait and switch techniques -- offering one course of action and costs as a consultant, then switching to something much different and more expensive after starting the consult.
7. People who claim they are something they are not.
8. Front people from larger non-profession organizations.
9. Vague or unclear statements of services and solutions offered.
10. Lack of long-term commitment/plan/consequence resolution.
11. Template solutions.
12. Fees with loose expense reimbursement clauses.
13. Over-promise and under-delivery; too good to be true claims.
14. Promoting oneself at another's expense.
15. Fee-based marketing (as opposed to service-based).
16. Undercutting prices.