As corporate vet care continues to rise, veterinarians are feeling the pressure to generate income, leading to concerns about patient welfare and trust between vets and clients.
The Pressure to Perform: Vets Under Financial Stress
Animal health and welfare has always been the top priority for veterinary companies, but a recent investigation by File on 4 Investigates reveals that some vets are being put under ‘consistent pressure’ to generate income. The British Veterinary Union (BVU) survey found that monitoring and targets had an impact on the decisions of almost 40% of nurses and just over 17% of vets.
Veterinary companies have a long history dating back to ancient civilizations, where animal care was a crucial aspect of daily life.
In the late 19th century, veterinary medicine began to formalize with the establishment of the first veterinary schools and professional organizations.
Today, there are thousands of veterinary companies worldwide, providing a range of services from routine check-ups to advanced surgical procedures.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are over 60,000 licensed veterinarians in the United States alone.
Veterinarians, commonly referred to as vets, play a crucial role in animal healthcare.
They diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and diseases in animals, improving their quality of life.
Vets also provide preventive care, such as vaccinations and check-ups, to maintain animal health.
In the United States alone, there are over 100,000 licensed veterinarians, serving both companion animals and livestock.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that vets perform over 700 million procedures annually.
The Rise of Corporate Vet Care
In 2013, only 10% of vet practices in the UK were owned by large corporate groups. Now, that figure stands at 60%. The big six pet-care providers, including IVC Evidensia (IVC), are monitoring the average amount per animal a vet generates across all their consultations. This data is used to set targets and track performance.
Clinical Challenge Milestones
IVC’s clinical challenge milestones aim to improve the clinical care of pets by setting targets for specific procedures. These procedures help identify potential future issues, enabling preventative action to be taken and improving patient outcomes. However, some vets claim that these targets can lead to a focus on generating income rather than providing the best possible care.
The Impact on Vets
Vets working for IVC report feeling pressure to meet their targets. One vet says, ‘Your worth is only how much income you bring.‘ This pressure has resulted in him feeling he needed to upsell to pet owners, and he believes that this approach can lead to a lack of trust between vets and their clients.
The Cost of Compliance
Complying with IVC’s targets can be costly for vets. One vet who works at an out-of-hours service claims that the company’s call centre regularly books emergency appointments with her for animals with non-urgent symptoms, costing pet owners more than £300. She believes that this approach is not in the best interest of the animal.
A Call for Change
The investigation into the UK pet-care market by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is expected to deliver its provisional recommendations in May or June. The CMA has been investigating concerns about corporations buying hundreds of independent vet practices, pushing up prices and making potentially excessive profits.
The Main Goal: Making Money
One of the vets we spoke to believes that IVC’s main goal is making money for the venture capitalists behind the company. This raises questions about the priorities of large corporate groups in the veterinary industry.
