Under this title we had a poll running in Vetstart for about one month. The outcome might not be surprising to many, but tells a lot about how “un-professional” veterinary students and veterinarians look at their job and their profession. We are typically passionate about our objective to manage animal health and well-being and support owners in their efforts to keep their pets, family members, “babies “healthy. This motive also is the primary reason to study veterinary medicine (see also previous polls in the archive). The latest survey shows that for 68% percent of respondents the health support should the the primary objective of a veterinary hospital.

However, This is all well, but, one cannot run a hospital and pay the staff, the bills and the rest, from dividends paid on Love & Care. A veterinary clinic is not a small version veterinary faculty or charity, financially supported by grants from government or other sources. A private veterinary clinic is a small (and sometimes midsize) enterprise that needs to follow the same economic principles that every business has to do. Unless someone is willing to lose money, the clinic has to make money in order to survive. Hence, the primary objective of a veterinary hospital has to be to make money.

The good news is that as soon as the numbers are in the black (and not in the red) one can use these funds to provide optimal health care. This allows to hire the best staff, give them appropriate training and facilitate their work with optimal equipment in an optimal environment. All to serve the health care for clients and their pets. But only after the hospital business is economically sound.

I look forward to receive your comments. Don’t hesitate a second to comment in the site or to send me your message by mail at richard@vetstart.org

Thanks and success in your career!