Beef practice model

One practice's perspective and view forward

Abstract

Rural mixed animal and beef practices are rapidly and continually being challenged to change and meet the needs of rural communities. Cross Timbers Veterinary Hospital (CTVH) in North Texas has attempted to meet this challenge by recognizing, addressing and overcoming five "road blocks" to adaptation. The "road blocks" are self-imposed by most rural practitioners and include "vapor-locking", "clairvoyance", "failing to fail", "blue-lighting" and "not sharing". These limitations lock practices into a cycle of non-adaptation leading to eventual failure. CTVH addressed these problems in a systematic approach determining what the clinicians wanted, what the livestock producers wanted and finding what services could be offered for each to make a profit. The practice continues to move forward, not always smoothly, by expanding and changing services, modernizing their fee schedule and adapting to their new role in the livestock industry.