Today's Veterinary Practice provides comprehensive information to keep every small animal practitioner up to date on companion animal medicine and surgery as well as practice building and management.
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| PRACTICE BUILDING Invest in Technology Incorporating new technologies in and around your renovation can greatly improve your efficiency and give you the opportunity to provide new services to your clients while decreasing the amount of time specific tasks take. This also gives your staff more flexibility. t 1BQFSMFTT 1SBDUJDF There are many new technologies— from tablet PCs to wireless credit card technology—that can readily enable you to take your practice paperless. If your receptionist is wired with Bluetooth and carries a tablet, he or she can easily schedule appointments, check patients in and out, and provide mobile assistance anywhere in the hospital. t %JHJUBM 3BEJPMPHZ Extra space for a darkroom is eliminated, you will no longer need to use, dispose of, and purchase chemicals; in addition, the extra space needed to file and store radiology images is no longer needed. t .POJUPSJOH &RVJQNFOU; Install video monitoring and wireless telemetry to monitor patient status. A large, flat screen monitor can be centrally placed in treatment where staff can easily track patient progress and respond when necessary. t %FOUBM 4UBUJPO Build a two-table dental station that makes use of one centered dental radiology machine. t *NBHJOH Consider investing in better imaging, such as digital radiology, computed tomography, and ultrasound. Better diagnostic capability can give you an edge in providing better and less invasive medicine. t 5IJOLJOH "IFBE Look ahead to the future. Minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopic surgery, are becoming increasingly common in veterinary medicine. You can set your practice apart by thinking ahead and accommodating space for new ways of providing this type of service to your clients. Heather E. Lewis, AIA, NCARB, is a principal of Animal Arts (animalarts. biz), an archi- tectural firm that has exclusively designed veteri- nary hospitals and animal care facili- ties since 1979. The firm has designed projects ranging in size from 2400 to 85,000 square feet in 40 states, Canada, Australia, and Japan and has earned 32 awards for architectural excellence from Veterinary Economics magazine. Ms. Lewis is a regular contributor to various veterinary industry magazines. She has spoken about practical and innovative design solutions at the CVC Hospital Design Conference, Wild West Veterinary Conference, American Association of Feline Practitioners Conference, and Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo. 72 Today’s Veterinary Practice July/August 2011 Go Green Many sustainable design solutions can be included in your hospital easily and at minimal expense, thus helping you reduce long-term energy needs and showing your clients that you are committed to the preserving the environment. t 3FOFXBCMF .BUFSJBMT Use products made from renewable materials. For flooring in medical areas consider linoleum instead of sheet vinyl. Consider a recycled glass top for reception desks and walls in bathrooms. Some floor tiles have 50% or more recycled content. t 4BGF 1BJOU: Use low or no VOC paint to keep hospital air free of volatile organic compounds. t )FBU 3FDPWFSZ Incorporate a heat recovery system as part of your HVAC system. These systems, which can be installed as separate units, provide fresh air, improved climate control, and save energy by reducing the heating/cooling requirements of your building. t -JHIUJOH Enhance lighting in your hospital. Put in skylights to add natural light to interior spaces. Consult with a lighting expert to choose high- efficiency fixtures that produce light in the same color range as sunlight, which will improve the building’s atmosphere for your staff and patients. t 1MVNCJOH Install low water-use plumbing fixtures as well as on-demand water heaters at your sinks in lieu of an oversized and constantly running water heater. t -BOETDBQJOH Try incorporating xeriscape and/or low water-use plants in your landscape. t -PDBM Use locally produced materials. Focus Your Remodel t 'JOJTIFT If you are planning to retire in a few years or if you want to increase practice appeal without incurring a huge expense or disruption, focus on updating finishes. Renewing a tired appearance will dramatically improve the perception of the quality and success of the practice. t 3FWFOVF If you are remodeling to increase revenue, focus on expand- ing services that earn the most and renovate areas that no longer work toward building your bottom line. For example, many older hospitals have too much ward or hospital space for today’s wellness-focused medicine. If some “back of house space” can be converted to medical procedure space without moving a lot of plumbing, this investment will pay off. t "EEJUJPOBM 3PPNT Many hospitals are short on examination rooms. The rule of thumb is that you should have two to three examination rooms per doctor and about an equal number of procedural spaces. This rule can vary based on the type of practice you have, but it will give you an idea as to whether or not you are maximizing your potential. t $MJFOU 4VQQPSU Help your clients buy in to your remodel by explaining how these improvements enhance the quality of care provided to their pets. It is important for them to understand that your goal is to improve the way that you care for and house their pets, which promotes wellness and prevents stress. Any combination of these renovation ideas can improve the client experience and create a more efficient workflow, with the final result being a successful practice, satisfied clients, productive employees, and an improved bottom line. Review your practice philosophy, compare it to how your facility is matching up, and look at renovation options that can help you achieve your goals. Q