Have you been considering bringing diagnostic testing in-house into your veterinary practice?
More in-house testing is now available to vet practices. So if you have been considering this change in your practice, now might be the time to weigh up your options.
Benefits of in-house diagnostics
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Pet and patient care
First and foremost, having in-house diagnostics at your practice enables you to offer a faster, higher level of care. At a minimum, all practices should have immediate hematology, serum chemistry profile and urinalysis testing available in-house.
Having instant access to these test results, enable you to make an informed decision about the pet’s next step in their care plan. Whether that be further testing, changes to diet or a pharmaceutical recommendation, it is vital information to have on hand.
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Treatment
Having these tools in-house means treatment can commence right away as opposed to waiting on lab results. This is a big plus for both unwell and anxious pets and concerned owners.
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Targeted appointments
Having in-house testing also gives structure to your appointments. By having testing available, appointments can result in a defined outcome as opposed to multiple possible diagnoses and treatments.
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Pets can’t hide
Pets are very good at disguising their ailments – even to the point of hiding very apparent symptoms like limping. But they cannot hide from their test results. Blood and urine samples don’t lie. This will enable a guided and informed diagnosis on the spot.
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Evidence for owners
The key advantage in terms of your practice is the ability to show your clients, in black and white, the state of health of their pet. Test results can show in an instant whether their pet is in optimal heath or is unwell. This opens up lines of effective communication between you, your staff and your clients.
If there is any confusion or uncertainty, the test results can help back up your decisions and guidance on required treatment.
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A proactive approach
Having access to diagnostic testing allows you to take a more proactive approach in your patient care -as opposed to reactive. If there’s waring signs early or abnormally high levels detected in test results, you can advise changes to make before a disease progresses too far.
Integration for optional efficiency
If you are considering in-house diagnostics, then the first step is to ensure it integrates with your practice management software. This integration will save you countless hours of admin and will swiftly improve procesess.
It may cost you more in the beginning in equipment, but the benefits will outlast the upfront cost.
With integrated in-house diagnostics with your practice management software, test results will instantly load onto the patient’s profile and charge automatically through the system. Imagine the number of admin hours and double handling you will save!
This will leave your staff with more time for new business development and maintaining client relationships. All the while as your bottom line goes up.
The future of in-house diagnostics
Whilst bloodwork is standard, newer testing such as cytology is becoming more common and accessible. As opposed to taking a sample and sending to a lab, you can have a result back within a couple of hours. Other tests such as protein for inflammation and progesterone for kidney function will continue to get more and more sophisticated and accessible for more veterinary practices.
The more practices that take them on, the more economical they will become.
Considerations when purchasing diagnostic equipment
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Is there after-purchase support?
Are there any hidden service agreement costs and does it include free support of is support and additional cost?
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What are the contract terms and are they negotiable?
Do you need to wait out a certain contract length or can it be based on revenue?
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Purchase outright or lease?
Will you purchase the equipment outright or lease it? Which option will work better for you?
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What are the integration capabilities?
As we mentioned, above, ensure your equipment and practice management software have sophisticated integration capabilities – such as automatic uploading results and charges to your client profile.
Purchasing diagnostic equipment is a big decision and one that will greatly impact the efficiency and bottom line of your practice. If you’d like to chat to us about your options to purchase in-house diagnostic equipment, give our team a call. We are experts in assisting veterinarians purchase and manage their clinics across Australia.
