The client
For Tristan Wilhelm, DVM, and Lori Mildrew, DVM, a chance meeting at a seminar in the summer of 2015 set them on the path to veterinary practice ownership. That's where they met the owner of Susquehanna Trail Animal Hospital, who was contemplating selling the practice and retiring. Recognizing the opportunity of a lifetime, Dr. Wilhelm purchased the Watsontown, Pennsylvania hospital in 2016, with Dr. Mildrew becoming a co-owner in 2017.
The challenge
Although they were experienced clinicians, Drs. Wilhelm and Mildrew were new to the business side of the veterinary industry. With no exposure to practice management in veterinary school, they needed guidance on the financial, operational, and staffing decisions required to manage and grow the hospital.
The solution
Engaging with an industry-specific accounting firm was important to Drs. Wilhelm and Mildrew. A referral to BerryDunn, formerly Burzenski & Company, connected them with the insight, leadership, and staff support they needed as they embraced their new role as practice owners.
BerryDunn's team provided a variety of professional accounting and operational consulting services, including:
- Veterinary practice management
- Back-office bookkeeping and accounting
- Financial management
- Staffing and payroll assistance
- Inventory pricing and equipment purchases
- Expansion planning
BerryDunn's support gave the new owners the confidence and knowledge to make effective decisions while establishing sound processes and systems. From making appropriate purchases for the practice to guidance on local and regional pricing and national trends, the new owners gained valuable insights from BerryDunn's expert consultants.
The outcome
With financial and operational guidance in place, Drs. Wilhelm and Mildrew were able to focus on strengthening the patient and client experience. That meant preserving the high-quality care patients had always received while building on that foundation in meaningful ways. They implemented positive changes to further enhance the experience of patients and their owners. These include ensuring patients and owners are taken to an exam room upon arrival at the hospital, providing patients with thorough, individualized 30-minute appointments, and emphasizing education.
As a result of these changes, word has spread about the practice and the exceptional care provided by Drs. Wilhelm and Mildrew, and their staff. The practice now attracts most new clients through referrals and has tripled its staff since Drs. Wilhelm and Mildrew purchased it. With a focus on quality of care, the practice continues to grow as a trusted veterinary hospital.
BerryDunn helps practice owners and their staff navigate whatever simple or complex steps and risks are necessary. As a veterinary accounting and financial management and operational consulting firm, our proactive approach to client service, ability to anticipate potential problems and tax burdens, use of cutting-edge technology, and focus on industry trends clearly demonstrates our commitment to providing the best quality services for our clients, without geographic limitation. Learn more about our team and services.