The first trimester of 2021 is now behind us. Our industry continues to feel more complicated and changing at break-neck speed. In December 2020, Karen E. Felsted, DVM, CPA, MS, CVPM, CVA, and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, reviewed Pew Research Center’s “Future Directions for Veterinary Medicine” (1989), and KPMG’s “The Current and Future Market for Veterinarians and Veterinary Medical Services in the U.S.” (1999). These studies are benchmarks for establishing trends and where changes were needed.
The two reports didn’t predict the speed at which the world would change technologically, demographically, psychographically and socially. The authors identify six areas in which the world is changing dramatically and have an ongoing influence on the veterinary profession.
Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, December 2020. Link. As we start to come out of the pandemic and life goes back to some kind of normal, veterinary practices need to not just revert to the old way of doing things but also give serious thought to which changes will add future value to the practice. This includes safety and curbside modifications as well as the use of online pharmacies, the practice’s delivery of food and medications, and a greater focus on leadership and team building.
INSIGHTS: It’s a good practice to re-read articles like this. We’ve spent the last 15 months reinventing tactics on a daily basis. Felsted and Weinstein provide a semblance of strategic grounding useful for realignments and prioritization.