Partner's Blog

With the days getting longer and spring in sight we look forward to snow turning to rain that does not require plows.  We have had more missed days on our calendar in the first 8 weeks of this year than I have seen combined in the past 8 years at Pet Partners.  The frustration has been that the areas that have received the most snow are areas that never get snow and do not know how to handle it.  Those areas that depend on snow for attracting people and their animals have had virtually no snow and they also have had business affected.  We seem to work through the recession with creative ease but weather is our virtual enemy.

But with all that said we are moving toward spring and it is apparent that the economy is not playing as heavily on the minds of our clients as it was one year ago.  Though I do not believe things are much different from a reality point of view the press is telling people that the economy is getting better and therefore it must be.  The acquisition trail is heating up and I am personally working with varied practice owners throughout the areas we desire and looking forward to a few additions to our affiliated hospitals over the next month or two.  Expansion to our hospital group is a major focus of 2010 with the continued influence of great business practices to support the level of medicine that is practiced in each hospital.  Though Pet Partners does not dictate medicine or drugs used it pleases me to be able to say that each of our practices provides a more comprehensive quality of medicine than they did before we purchased them.

On a lighter note I had the pleasure of vacationing just up the road from our hospital in Aurora, Colorado with my family on the mountain at Steamboat Springs.  My wife is an avid skier as are my two youngest children ages 9 & 12.  And I try to keep up and participate.  Falling is my greatest concern for it is not as much fun as it once was.  I am a big guy and we all know the “bigger they are the harder they fall”.  I have skied for years, had my tumbles on the mountains but quite enjoy the outdoors and especially the powder in the Rockies.  The entire week I had but one fall as I looked back to see where everyone was and taken down by what is referred to as a “snow mouse”.  They can be prevalent and must be watched for.  They jump out and grab you when you least expect it.  They are the source of much conversation and laughs with my kids.  My children have much more experience with “snow mice” than I do – fortunately!

On the fourth day as we walked from our bus ride from the mountain and approached our condo where we were staying for the week, I was attacked by the biggest “snow mouse” that I have ever witnessed.  Snow mice off the mountain are rare in fact I did not know they existed.  Ten feet from the door to removing boots and sitting in front of a fire I dropped like a bomb.  My unstrapped helmet exploded from my head onto the ice covered asphalt.  The skis I was carrying for my daughter went one direction and the poles in the other hand were gone.  The camera I was carrying around my neck bounced comfortably on my chest as my back and right elbow hit the snow covered ice.  My daughter and wife were frantic to find out if I was still breathing and OK.  My nine year old son (hopefully realizing I was OK) announced quickly that he had just witnessed the best “yard sale” he had ever seen.

This discussion caught my attention quickly as I discovered something I had never heard before.  A “yard sale” occurs when a skier falls and loses his/her skis and poles and they are scattered about the landscape.   My family had just experienced the “ultimate yard sale” with the loss of all the above plus the helmet.  I love the fact that I learn every day from my children and I love that every day I learn from the many great staff we have in our affiliated hospitals.  If we stay close to our clients and staff we will continue to learn how to provide value with the services we render.  That in my mind is the secret to success.

Best regards for an early spring,

Ted A Sprinkle, Jr. DVM

Chief Executive Officer

To Friends, Associates, Colleagues and Team Members,

With the toughest winter in decades dumping fresh white snow on all parts of the East coast and Mid Atlantic areas and with record low temperatures in Florida we are off to the greatest business challenges we have seen since I have been a veterinarian.  These are the times that teach our practice leaders how to create and execute new ways of communication and influence.  Trying to get pet owners through the news of and the reality of the weather is at this moment our greatest challenge.

In spite of these challenges the affiliated teams are doing a great job of keeping the practices open and making sure those pets with serious and even critical needs are being attended.  It is a pleasant experience to see the attitudes that our practice leadership demonstrate in these times compounded by the worst recession that any of us will likely see in our lifetimes.  In spite of all this our business is solid.

Our Leadership Meeting referenced in my blog last month has had profound responses from our teams and we are anxious to get going and apply what we have all learned together.  Dr. Tom Butera’s ongoing CE webinars are not affected by the current weather and our dental CE will predictably stimulate new and creative thoughts on how to better serve our clients.

On another note I reached out to all of our teams to direct me to practices in their locations that may be now or in the future for sale.  Pet Partners will be aggressive in the months ahead in selecting new affiliates to join our family of veterinary practices.  If you are reading this blog with the idea that you wish to sell your veterinary practice please contact me directly and I assure you that our communication will be confidential.

As stated throughout our website the Pet Partners operating model is different and we are all proud of that.  Unlike the branded model used by VCA Antech and Banfield we retain the community brand that the hospital was before our purchase.  We do not change name, signage or in any way associate the name Pet Partners with the client side of the hospital.  It is our thinking based on results in human medicine that this is important to the client.  Though every one of our practices provide better levels of care now than they did at purchase this comes from within the practice by the influence of our CE and awareness initiatives.  Pet Partners does not dictate the medicine, the protocols or the drugs used.  What we do is influence the back office systems, the administrative and management aspects of the practice and allow more contact with the client and more time and attention paid to the pet.  We are a medicine first Company with business and profits a product of good medicine.

We place high value on the goodwill of the practice and this goodwill points directly to the people, especially those who serve on the support teams.  In all our purchases we value the people the most.  I have stated over and over that we are in the “people business” and happen to provide veterinary care.  So if you are in the mindset of selling your veterinary clinic, of selling your veterinary practice, of selling your veterinary hospital please contact me directly and we will see if Pet Partners is right for you.  You will definitely find this veterinary directed organization a breath of fresh air.

Best regards as we work toward Spring,

Ted A Sprinkle, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer

Friends, Associates, Colleagues and Team Members,

Welcome to 2010 and Happy New Year to all.  I am personally anticipating a great 2010 and hopeful that all business in the veterinary space picks up to previous levels.  With that said, we are blessed that people are caring for their pets and supporting our business better than other businesses.  Our consolidated year at Pet Partners was an amazing success in all areas.  We consider ourselves blessed!

This past week we assembled all of our Medical Directors and Practice Managers for a leadership conference at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.  Weather cooperated with travel last week and even the teams from the Chicago area got in and out without difficulty.  This was our sixth year assembling the leadership teams and it was by all measurements the best meeting we have had.  It was a general kickoff for 2010 and the attendance demonstrated how much our teams enjoy this activity.  This meeting was created at the response and desires of our leaders from last year’s meeting.

We had a great assemblage of medical CE with credits that were dedicated to our mantra of top class veterinary medicine.  Lectures on Thoracic Radiography and Pulmonary Pattern Recognition, multiple disorders in the same patient along with discussions regarding canine pancreatitis and then more on internal and external parasites satiated our doctor leaders and stimulated a lot of passionate discussion.  Dr. Tom Butera did a fantastic job of providing a comprehensive program of medical CE. I do need to salute our strategic partners at IDEXX, Purina Veterinary Diets and Pfizer for their support in this very important conference.

While our doctor leaders were absorbing the latest thoughts from speakers such as Dr. Chris Kunze, Dr. Jennifer McClellan and Dr. Melissa Beall, the practice managers were meeting next door in an open forum of activities that allowed them to assemble to gain more confidence in their styles, knowledge and expertise as managers.  It serves to remind everyone that the Pet Partners affiliated hospitals are all individual and are led by individuals who understand the cultural makeup of their unique staff, clientele and community.  This session for the practice managers allowed them to gain comfort in their efforts and dealt with topics such as conflict among employees, hiring and interview approaches and basics of business.  The dinner at Cinghiale on the first night provided a great opportunity for all leaders to match notes and gain better respect for the effort the Company was making to facilitate their great medical outcomes.  They are an amazing group!!

On the second day we focused on the client.  This is something I believe is not considered enough.  Dr. Amanda Donnelly spoke on valuing our services and client service and Dr. Judy Martin spoke to “Frank”.  We won’t go into “Frank” in this communication but if you would like to know more contact Dr. Tom Butera at 508-450-7323 and he will introduce you to the world of “Frank” and all that goes with it.  It is an incredible program created by Pfizer Animal Health and one every veterinarian should acquaint with.  It is powerful.

But the best came from within.  Dr. Robert Pierce, our medical director at North Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Madison, Ohio, combined a general history of veterinary medicine from prehistoric times to today along with the incentive programs he has developed and used in Ohio to bring his staff into the business and to align them with performing at top levels.  Bob is a great leader but I never dreamed he was a comedian.  He sure proved me wrong.

Lance Sprinkle (related) provided seat edge information on the metrics that serve as a frame of reference for aligning the practice of medicine with the business of medicine.  Doctors and managers combined to direct questions that demonstrated the level of business acumen that pervades this Company.  For me it was a warm and positive alert.  We have come a long way in a short time.  Cudos to the entire team at all levels.

I could go on at length about my feelings in regard to this meeting.  In short it was nothing but positive and emulates the changes that are occurring in our profession.  Keep in touch and if you know of any top class veterinary practices that are in need of new ownership – we are interested.  I am most interested.

Best regards in 2010,

Ted A Sprinkle, Jr. DVM

Chief Executive Officer