Constructive Criticism

Chemotherapy drugs and other hazardous medications require special handling and containment to protect hospital staff and patients from dangerous exposure. C-PEC? PPE? USP 800? You have a lot to learn.

Readers might recall Ronak Kadakia’s excellent article “Are You Ready for USP 800?” in the June/July 2019 issue of Today’s Veterinary Business. As of Dec. 1, 2019, the USP <800> standard for the safe handling of hazardous drugs applies to veterinary practices and other health care facilities. My firm has been busy working with veterinary […]

Planning a top-notch surgery suite requires attention to detail. Only after you figure out what you truly need can you fine-tune the budget, complete the design and start construction.

Just about every veterinary hospital does surgery, yet there is no-one-size-fits-all surgery suite design. This article will assume you are constructing a new surgery suite, though most of my advice will apply to a renovation or expansion. As with any construction project, the first step is defining the what, where, how much and how long. […]

When carving out space for alternative medicine treatments, your goal should be to create a calming atmosphere by reducing noise, odors and other distractions.

I’ve witnessed many changes in animal care over my almost 25 years of designing veterinary hospitals, from technology and standards of care to treatment options and growing awareness of preventive and wellness care, to name a few. To me, the biggest change has involved pet owners and their mindset that pets are no longer merely […]

A room dedicated to ultrasound or endoscopy — or both — requires thoughtful layout and certain fixtures to ensure efficiency.

Some diagnostic and treatment procedures once found only in specialist facilities are turning up in a wider range of practices because of greater equipment options and higher standards of care. In the last issue of Today’s Veterinary Business, I discussed planning a dedicated dental procedures space. This month, I will cover how to design rooms […]

A well-equipped and well-situated suite will help a hospital capitalize on the fast-growing service of oral care.

Veterinary medicine has enjoyed healthy growth for a number of years in the range of services offered. For many general practices and specialty hospitals, income and caseload growth are powered by expanded diagnostic and treatment modalities. Carving out space for special procedures has become standard in both new and existing clinics. Clients are looking to […]

Adjust your thinking and your hospital to appeal to millennials.

“Millennials are killing the ___________ industry!” Headlines like that are all over social media and in the news. Every day, it seems, another business model is being threatened by millennials’ way of doing things. The fact is, young people act, buy and are focused differently compared with older generations. My grown children are of the […]

Single- and multistory buildings have their pros and cons. Do you know which design is generally the best?

A reader question came up regarding the viability of multistory hospitals. Given a choice, is it better for a clinic to be on a single floor or on multiple levels? Practice owners, of course, have nowhere to go but up in some instances. Think small sites and locations in dense urban areas where ground floors […]

Environmentally friendly hospitals help pay for themselves through lower energy costs. The right light fixtures and appliances and even the building’s orientation are major factors.

When it comes to a project’s environmental impact, much is made about building-rating programs such as LEED and Green Globes. People equate a high rating with a good environmentally sound design and assume that no other steps can be taken. While LEED and Green Globes are legitimate rating programs, many people don’t know that nonprofit […]

The smart use of natural illumination supports the health and happiness of patients, employees and clients. Artificial light has its place, too, but you should be selective.

What if I told you about a simple strategy that would make team members feel more alert, improve their attitude and attendance, and help them achieve higher goals? It also would help clients feel more relaxed and, most importantly, reduce patient stress. When implemented during a hospital’s construction or renovation, it would cost very little […]

A practice owner had a tough decision to make about her growing but cramped hospital: tear up the inside, knock down some walls or move.

I fielded a call from a client who was trying to decide whether renovating her clinic would make sense. Her caseload was growing, and she had hired another associate veterinarian. Her hospital was in a professional strip center. Adjacent space that was coming available would allow her to expand the clinic by 50 percent. Coincidentally, […]