Recognizing Our Practice Managers

Friends, colleagues, employees and especially Practice Managers,

A few weeks ago I received a note from one of our Practice Managers who informed me that we consistently speak about all of the people associated with Pet Partners and never mention the work or recognize the expertise of those with the responsibility to manage the business in each practice.  So I wanted to be sure that this oversight was corrected and that I not only mentioned these hard-working individuals but that I also applauded the awesome job they do.  In fact we will be recognizing one of our best Practice Managers this coming month as Employee of the Month, and that should speak to our recognition of this group.

The Practice Manager is the business leader of the practice.  In the past they he or she has been under the direction of the Operations Support Center (OSC) located in Wilton, NY.  There, the function was to support administration, human resources, accounting, purchasing, information technology and all questions from the practices, and there was a direct line to the Practice Managers.  With the continued growth this year and the plans to expand consistently into the future, we now turn to our four Regional Managers to be the direct conduit to the practices and their managers.  The OSC now supports the Regional Managers, and the success of our operations is supported and nurtured by our regional team.  This allows a closer and more concentrated communication to all aspects of the practices.  These Regional Managers also work with our veterinarians to help this professional group better understand how their medicine drives their business and how their medicine thrives on good business practices.

This past week, these Regional Managers met with me in our offices in Wilton and we worked hard to better understand the individual personalities and needs of our practices.  This group has united as a team to bring the best business practices to their individual hospitals, while allowing them the community identity they have always had.  The ongoing continuing education headed by Dr. Tom Butera and our colleagues compliments this in more ways than ever conceived.  Last week’s meetings, along with meetings with our strategic partners at IDEXX, Purina, Pfizer and Butler, comprised a great week of analyzing and planning for the rest of the year.  With our business better than expected in this economic climate, our Board of Directors was most complimentary of our approach and our results.  A morning with Fritz Wood, CPA, CFP proved enlightening, stimulating and right on the mark.  We welcome Fritz anytime to participate in our operations discussions. An afternoon at the Races at Saratoga culminated a full week of work, bonding and camaraderie.  I look forward to the weeks and months ahead.  What a great team of people!!!