7/23/2019 Journal of Small Animal Practice Volume 54 issue 11 2013 [doi 10.1111%2Fjsap.12091] Girotti, Ray -- BSAVA Manu

1/1

Journal of Small Animal Practice Vol 54 November 2013 2013 British Small Animal Veterinary Association 615

BOOK REVIEW

BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Practice Management andDevelopment

Edited by Carole Clarke and Marion Chapman

Published by the BSAVA, 2012, paperback, 544 pages, Price 85.00(BSAVA members 55.00), ISBN-13 978-1-905319-40-4

The foreword sets out the objectives of this book: [to support]practice owners and managers in improving the clinical standardsof their practice through better design and management. Is thisa valid objective to be achieved from such broad-based aspect ofpractice?

How can a book address broad, intangible, esoteric conceptssuch as strategy along with specific, narrow-scope, tangibleaspects of practice developments such as, say, floor coverings? Itdoes this by giving a taster and an introduction. In doing this itis successful.

The first half of the book is a practical guide to small animal

hospital management. It walks through a practice from before asite is even chosen through to the point that the practice decidesto develop specific interests.

This is a very valuable part of the book. It is well-illustratedwith an appropriate level of detail in each chapter and on eachconcept. It will be a natural part of anyones preparation beforecommencing the build or redevelopment of a practice and shouldbe a staple on a practice managers bookshelf. The photographsare clear and relevant and the context is such that the book canremain current.

The second half of the book is an introduction to more gen-eral aspects of generic management, and covers everything from

leadership and communication to employment law and healthand safety.

While the authors have all dealt admirably with their respectivechapters, it is a tough ask to provide even a simple explanation offinance or about managing people in 30-50 pages. The chapterheadings the editors chose are a reasonably comprehensive intro-duction to the general management topics that a practice man-ager or owner should know about. The authors introduce someuseful information and theories, and as a taster and introductionin terms of what more is required, it serves its purpose.

The weakness is with the chapters dedicated to niche areasof practice development. Why endoscopy, electrocardiographyand ultrasonography and why not, say, orthopaedics, physio-therapy and exotics? Some, more specific areas of practice devel-opment, such as dentistry and lab, deserve inclusion as theyare not really niche and feature as part of the RCVS practicestandards scheme. The inclusion of many of the others almostinvites consideration of another manual for the developmentof specific interests as part of practice development and, aswell-written and informative as they are, make the book a littletoo long.

The editors and chapter authors deal well with dynamicconcepts such as IT and employment law. The editors must haverealised that the specific content of both chapters would be obso-lete by the time the book came to press, but were equally aware ofthe necessity of inclusion due to their importance for the day-to-day operations of a veterinary practice. Both chapters deal withthe topics sympathetically providing more guidance than specificcontent and gave the reader a framework which should remainrelevant.

This is a valuable book and one that fills a necessary gap on thebookshelf. That it tries to cover so many topics is not a weakness,but a demonstration of just how comprehensive and interlinkedpractice management and development is.

The book is well-written, informative and a valuable resourcefor any small animal practice.

Ray Girotti

Ray is the Practice Manager at Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey.He received his MBA in 2002 and his CVPM in 1997. He hasa special interest in practice development and referral practice.

p:w

ww

.sava.com