No such thing as a free exam

Clients complain about our $100 consultation fee for specialty dental care. Could I have a veterinary assistant do a less thorough estimate exam for $25? We would avoid the hassle of creating a medical record and providing a communication letter to the referring doctor.

Dr. Jim Wilson

"I love creative problem-solving, but your proposed solution is not legally viable," says Dr. James Wilson, JD, of Priority Veterinary Management Consultants in Yardley, Pa., with research from Elizabeth Lovett, a University of Tennessee veterinary extern. Dr. Wilson says most states' regulations allow only veterinarians to make diagnoses, perform surgery, and prescribe treatment. Most states also require that veterinarians keep records of the care they provide to patients, even if it's free and involves nothing more than a tentative diagnosis and treatment estimate, he says.

"If you were to pursue this idea, you would be placing your technician's certification in jeopardy for practicing veterinary medicine without a license," Dr. Wilson says. "Equally worrisome, your license might be challenged for aiding and abetting the unlawful practice of veterinary medicine."

Wilson's alternative: Offer lower-cost options. For example, you could charge $25 for a tentative diagnosis that takes you less than 10 minutes, $50 for 10 to 20 minutes, and $100 plus sedation costs for more than 20 minutes. Schedule three to four clients in one hour on a particular day each week. Let clients know others are sharing that hour of your time. They'll better understand when you have to move on to the next.