Why you should keep your pharmacy

It may seem like a hassle to devote team members' time and your practice's space to inventory, dispensing, and bottles. But Mark Opperman, CVPM, won't rest until he has a chance to make three arguments for your in-house pharmacy:

Mark Opperman

• It's better for the pet. You and your staff members know the drugs the pet's taking and what's contraindicated, you know what the tests show, and you know that the drugs you prescribe are licensed for sale in the United States. The pets are better off in your care, says Opperman.

• It's better for the owner. When Opperman gets veterinarians to check prices, they often find their clinics' prices are the same or cheaper on many medications. And some clinics, like Dr. Fred Metzger's, ship medications to clients. You can offer the same convenience as Internet pharmacies.

• It's better for you. You're providing excellent medical advice and careful decisions about what, when, and how to dispense drugs. And Opperman has found that the pharmacy is the most profitable area per square foot in veterinary clinics. So, will you devote some time, space, and team effort to yield the profits from markups?

If you're willing to take the time to educate clients on the benefits of buying pet drugs from you—and you can spend a little time and money on inventory—Opperman is convinced you can turn around any troubles you're seeing with pharmacy revenue.