It's not uncommon in American veterinary medicine for a veterinary practice to be part of a larger group. Though single-location clinics are the norm, multi-location practices are not rare. The number of locations can vary from 2-3 in a network within a single town or county to a practice with hundreds of locations such as Banfield Pet Hospitals and VCA.
My own practice has multiple locations, as I've mentioned before, and I've found many benefits to such an arrangement. I have a network of many doctors that I can talk to as colleagues, bouncing cases off them and sharing opinions. It's a lot more interactive than online resources such as Veterinary Information Network. It's also easier to get coverage when I'm sick or want to take time off, since we can switch locations easily; I haven't had to worry about hiring a relief vet in a very long time. We're large enough that we have help with business and payroll management beyond what I've seen in single-owner practices.
Now there are some down sides to such a practice. We have a process by which we decide which products and pharmaceuticals we will carry, so I can't just order something I saw in a journal. Change in practice policies and habits happens slowly since there's not a single person making the decisions. And I sometimes find that I get asked to go to a location not my own in order to help out.
I manage the location where I work, and am responsible for both business and medical supervision. I have a great staff and clientele, and prefer to be in that clinic since I'm used to it. Tomorrow I have to go to a different location because they had a doctor call out and are short-handed. As one of the main leaders in the practice, I feel an obligation to help out and make sure the larger practice succeeds, not just my own little corner of it. And since I always hope to get help when I need time off, it's a bit of tit-for-tat. I don't really look forward to it since it's a longer drive, but at the same time I don't feel that I can say no.
In the end, despite the problems I may face I really like working at my practice. I've been here for 13 years (other than a 9 month stint teaching) and believe that I've found my niche. It's something that many vets don't experience, but it's a good fit for me.
