2015 RURAL VETERINARY TASK FORCE
Survey for Clinic Owners, Associates or other Clinic Employees
Background
The 2015 Rural Veterinary Task Force was developed to evaluate Manitoba’s rural veterinary
services by focusing on: sustainability of rural veterinary services, trends in the livestock and
veterinary service industry, and the current status of Manitoba’s veterinary services.
The Task Force is inviting input from interested stakeholders through a variety of methods, so
its members can hear priorities and provide recommendations to government on how to
enhance this important service for livestock, the equine industry, and pet owners in rural
Manitoba.
Your input will provide important information to assist the Task Force in achieving its goal of
strengthening and encouraging rural veterinary services.
All responses are appreciated and will be kept confidential.
To fill out survey: Save this Word document to your own computer. Fill out the form, using the
tab key to forward through the questions. Once you have completed the survey, please send
to: Chairman.ruralvettaskforce@gmail.com by November 6, 2015.
1. Where in Manitoba is your clinic located? (Please mark X in appropriate boxes)
Northern
Central
Parkland
Eastern
Midwestern
Interlake
Western
2. What is your role within the veterinary practice?
Clinic owner
Associate veterinarian
Veterinary animal technologist
Other
Partner
Contract veterinarian
Administrator/receptionist
3. What year did you graduate?
4. How long have you been in your current practice?
5. From which institution did you graduate?
6. Is this practice one of the Veterinary Service District Clinics?
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Yes
No
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2015 RURAL VETERINARY TASK FORCE
If you are comfortable doing so, please identify the district.
7. What is your definition of a rural veterinary practice?
8. What do you think are the main needs and wants of veterinary services clients in rural
Manitoba?
9. How long do you plan to stay at this clinic?
10. How do you see the role and relevance of:
The Veterinary Services Boards
The Veterinary Services Commission
The Veterinary Services Act
11. Why did you choose your current practice or career? (list as many reasons as come to
mind):
12. What percentage of your billable hours come from:
percentage
Livestock
Equine
Companion
animals
don’t know
Emergency
Herd Health
Speciality
procedures, e.g.
embryo transfer
Emergency
Animal Health
Specialty
Procedures
Consulting re
regulatory
requirements
Emergency
Routine procedures
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13. What percentage of the clinic caseload is currently for the following animal types, and what
percentage increase or decrease do you foresee for each of these animal types in the next 5
years?
percentage
clinic caseload
percentage
change in next 5 years
Beef
Dairy
Swine
Commercial horse
Pleasure horse
Sheep
Goat
Poultry meat
Poultry Eggs
Bison
Farmed exotics
Dogs, cats, exotic pets
14. Is the number of veterinarians in the clinic in proportion to the clinic caseload?
Yes
No
15. If you are the clinic owner or manager, do you have any challenges in attracting and
retaining clinic staff?
Yes
No
If yes, please explain:
16. What are the challenges or issues facing this practice?
17. What changes do you think could be made to make this clinic a better business?
18. What role do should the veterinary services have in the following areas?
Rural economy
Animal health
Animal welfare
Food safety
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Biosecurity
19. Do you think the above issues play a role in mentorship of new veterinarians, technologists
and /or other clinic employees?
Yes
No
Please explain:
20. Are you active in any related public education workshops or programs?
Yes
No
If yes, in what area(s):
Customer advice/consultation
Print resources
Educational workshops
Social media
Other:
Comments:
21. What changes do you see over the next five years in livestock production?
22. Do you see the veterinary services growing in your area?
Yes
No
Why or why not?
23. What could be done to increase the number of qualified veterinarians (students or new
Manitobans) working in rural areas?
24. Rural veterinary services receive support through government funding. In your opinion, how
can this funding best be used?
25. What do you think is the ideal business model for a rural veterinary practice?
Please consider things like: who should own a vet clinic; how should the veterinarian or other
clinic employees be compensated; how much should the veterinarian or other clinic employees
receive; what is the maximum geographical area that one clinic should serve; could a clinic form
business alliances/partnerships with other vet clinics or other rural businesses; other.
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Thank you for completing this survey – your input is valuable!
A written submission can be sent to:
2015 Rural Veterinary Task Force Chairman
75 Christie Road
Winnipeg MB R2N 4A4
(Chairman.ruralvettaskforce@gmail.com)
You may also choose to participate in one of the fall Public Consultations held: October 20,
2015 in Dauphin, October 21, 2015 in Brandon, and October 22, 2015 in Stonewall.
For further assistance, contact the 2015 Rural Task Force members directly at:
Dr. Paul Schneider Chairman.ruralvettaskforce@gmail.com or 204-371-2573
Merv Starzyk, mcstarzyk@inetlink.ca
Bertha Russell-Langan, B.Sc. counter@xplornet.com
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