thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

rosielb — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:54:32 GMT

thank you everyone for your sound words of advice

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

annaw — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:08:27 GMT

Hi,

I set up a home visiting mobile clinic in February this year and it is tremendously successful. At present I use a one man practice to do operations/x-rays etc (performing the procedures myself and paying for use of the space/equipment) but am considering small premises of my own. Many clients love the service as it is convenient and reduces stress for their pet and for them. However, most want a complete service so I would definately try and work out how you will do surgical and diagnostic procedures. I am not sure how a clinic which operates as you suggest would fair and would advise doing a sound business plan. There is certainly much to think about when setting up a practice and more so with one which is fundamentally unique. I would be more than happy to give you any advice or answer any questions you have. Also don't be afraid to think outside the box and explore new ideas. It was the best move I ever made.

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

Bob Russell — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:44:13 GMT

Just remember you cannot just stop anywhere and open up shop. Check with the planning authority because they can be very touchy about these things.

As a single handed practice I would be enthusiastic to co-operate with this sort of venture but I have looked at the economics and whilst they look fairly simple they are not necessarily that straight forward.

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

Judith Joyce — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:47:48 GMT

A lady called Hilary Ross ran such a venture in Northumberland for many years. I think she is retired now but probably still in the register. She is very nice and approachable - I would suggest you contact her and discuss your project.

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

Rob Loxley — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:32:58 GMT

[quote user="rosielb"]would park up for the day at a variety of regular sites to offer my services to pet owners by appointment[/quote]

Why this over having permanent premises? Where are you planning to operate: e.g. a city, or bringing a service to isolated villages / islands one day a week a la mobile library? If clients will have to get out of their house (compared with a home-visit service) to come to you, why would they not visit the bricks-and-mortar surgery with a warm, dry waiting room, flushing toilets, nurses to hold for bloods, kennels and all the other bells-and-whistles?

[quote user="rosielb"]Able to do house visits where necessary according to situation.[/quote]

Is this not a different business model? I'd guess there's a decent, lifestyle business in a solo visiting vet with very low overheads, but if you have what is essentially a mobile clinic, will doing house visits support the overheads?
If you are parking up on the local council estate and offering drop-in budget vaccination and chipping/worming +/- neutering, maybe that's another business model again.

Hope this is constructive

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

Neil Wheadon — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:58:46 GMT

I locummed for once once and the vet who ran it gave up as the traffic increased so badly it became uneconomic.

I agree with the need to have the co-operation of a 'fixed centre' You'll need the ability to operate sometimes. Having said that I know of a van in Somerset that has an operating table inside and is able to source oxgen from the air outside, so it's not insummountable.

There is an advert at the moment for a vet in the Forest of Dean to run a mobile clinic, you could enquire.

I think you need good co-opration with local practices, in some respects it could be symbiotic as not everyone can get to a vet such as the elderley and people with disabilities

Good luck

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

Jacquin Mitchell — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:22:24 GMT

If I was you, I'd do my homework and see what need there was for a mobile clinic.

I run a small mobile practice and refer quite a bit of work to the established clinic at the end of our road. I looked into setting a mobile clinic but I'm in London and there are already too many well equipped vets in this area. What people want/need here, are low tech home visits for routine procedures and euthanasia at a reasonable price. I don't have any fancy toys beyond a good stethoscope and otoscope/opthalmascope, so I charge only a little more than a clinic based vet for a consultation but usually spend at least 30 minutes with each client.

I know some people will be only to ready to yell 'cherry picker' in the direction of any mobile vet in their vicinity but the truth if my clients come to me from someone else, it's because they are not happy with the service they have received. Most clients are incredibly bonded to their vets if they like and respect them.

Re: thoughts on setting up a mobile clinic

plantagenet — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:32:23 GMT

Have you thought about approaching local small (possibly one man band) practices which you would be able to add to their services and they could support the bits you might find hard to provide?

I know if a mobile clinic set up near me, I would probably be a bit upset, since it would undoubtedly cherry pick some of my clients, but if someone approached me with an idea of cooperation/maintaining our own independence, I would find that a very interesting idea.