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Allison
Student
Hernando, Mississippi
1
Question
Updated
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What are the biggest challenges facing an equine veterinarian in the first 3-5 years of practice? How are veterinary franchises effecting the independent provider? How do you predict telemedicine to effect veterinary practice?
I am seeking information regarding starting a new independent practice after graduation from veterinary school.
Also looking for impacts on telemedicine for servicing rural areas and how data security might be a concern.
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1 answer
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Allison !
You have asked a lot that your Veterinary School should have covered and some things that would be in the future that are hard to predict. I do have some advice for you, however, and some things to consider as you move forward.
It is my strong belief that you should work at an established veterinary office or clinic or hospital for at least two years before opening your own service. This will teach you the business end, ethics and guidelines for your business. You will also need more experience with spontaneous animal needs situations. So go over your intent with your professors and Veterinarian advisors before starting. This is especially crucial if you plan to work only with horses which will be limiting, awesome, but limiting in how much work you get. You'd be working with the horses in Hernando and nearby areas like Coldwater and Southaven.
Treating horses online as a veterinarian is not advisable without an established in-person veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which is a legal and ethical requirement for telemedicine in veterinary care. Online care can be for follow-up conversations with the owner, but you will not be able to practice, diagnose and treat online. This is true for all animals but especially for the intricate and complex makeup of horses.
Being an independent vet, you can set up an office at your home, but you will need to travel to the animal's locations and only 12% of your area is rural where you'd have people keeping horses. My advice is to market your service for pets, dogs, cats, etc. too so that you might have consistent work. An issue that I see with doing it independent is that it may be more expensive for the owner if you examine the animal and you charge for your service, then the animal is transferred to an animal hospital, another charge for the owner. If the owner goes directly to the animal hospital, that's one trip and one fee.
So large veterinary clinics and hospitals will play a part in how active an independent business could be. The places where I live which is smaller than your town has all privately run veterinarian clinics and vet hospitals in which veterinarians work. There are no known "franchises" where I live. I think if you work for a place a couple of years after graduation, you may get some of your posted questions answered first hand.
When you have your own business practice in Hernando, Mississippi you will need to register your business entity with the Mississippi Secretary of State through their online portal, Mississippi Online Business Services, which is the required method for all filings. You have to submit to them Articles of Incorporation for a corporation or a Certificate of Formation for an LLC, along with a $50 filing fee. You're also going to probably need to purchase the necessary devices, equipment and supplies to examine, diagnose and treat all animals. This is another reason why working for an employer and saving up can allow you to afford to have your own practice.
Far be it from me to be expert in this, I'm just someone who loves horses, so you should go over all of this information directly with your Veterinary School staff and professors to see what they say.
If you are intent on utilizing online modes, consider creating a You Tube Channel dedicated solely to horses and equestrian matters. You can make instructional and informative videos on various topics pertaining to horses and explore how to monetize your channel.
Please discuss all of this with your professors and clinical advisors. I hope it is something to consider and I wish you all the best !
You have asked a lot that your Veterinary School should have covered and some things that would be in the future that are hard to predict. I do have some advice for you, however, and some things to consider as you move forward.
It is my strong belief that you should work at an established veterinary office or clinic or hospital for at least two years before opening your own service. This will teach you the business end, ethics and guidelines for your business. You will also need more experience with spontaneous animal needs situations. So go over your intent with your professors and Veterinarian advisors before starting. This is especially crucial if you plan to work only with horses which will be limiting, awesome, but limiting in how much work you get. You'd be working with the horses in Hernando and nearby areas like Coldwater and Southaven.
Treating horses online as a veterinarian is not advisable without an established in-person veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which is a legal and ethical requirement for telemedicine in veterinary care. Online care can be for follow-up conversations with the owner, but you will not be able to practice, diagnose and treat online. This is true for all animals but especially for the intricate and complex makeup of horses.
Being an independent vet, you can set up an office at your home, but you will need to travel to the animal's locations and only 12% of your area is rural where you'd have people keeping horses. My advice is to market your service for pets, dogs, cats, etc. too so that you might have consistent work. An issue that I see with doing it independent is that it may be more expensive for the owner if you examine the animal and you charge for your service, then the animal is transferred to an animal hospital, another charge for the owner. If the owner goes directly to the animal hospital, that's one trip and one fee.
So large veterinary clinics and hospitals will play a part in how active an independent business could be. The places where I live which is smaller than your town has all privately run veterinarian clinics and vet hospitals in which veterinarians work. There are no known "franchises" where I live. I think if you work for a place a couple of years after graduation, you may get some of your posted questions answered first hand.
When you have your own business practice in Hernando, Mississippi you will need to register your business entity with the Mississippi Secretary of State through their online portal, Mississippi Online Business Services, which is the required method for all filings. You have to submit to them Articles of Incorporation for a corporation or a Certificate of Formation for an LLC, along with a $50 filing fee. You're also going to probably need to purchase the necessary devices, equipment and supplies to examine, diagnose and treat all animals. This is another reason why working for an employer and saving up can allow you to afford to have your own practice.
Far be it from me to be expert in this, I'm just someone who loves horses, so you should go over all of this information directly with your Veterinary School staff and professors to see what they say.
If you are intent on utilizing online modes, consider creating a You Tube Channel dedicated solely to horses and equestrian matters. You can make instructional and informative videos on various topics pertaining to horses and explore how to monetize your channel.
Please discuss all of this with your professors and clinical advisors. I hope it is something to consider and I wish you all the best !