Veterinary Practice Consultants and Catanzaro & Associates, Inc. began in May 1991 when Thomas E. Catanzaro, DVM, MHA, FACHE, and Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT, decided that a full-time veterinary practice management firm was needed.  In 2007, Dr. Tom Cat broke off and initiated Veterinary Consulting International, to better serve the electronic demands and GEN-X and GEN-Y desires. All of these firms have been based on a total commitment to quality consulting that is tailored to individual practices and built on leadership and the power of team-based healthcare delivery teams.

Because of our professional ethics and standards, we found it necessary to publish our values and beliefs in the three volume textbook series, Building the Successful Veterinary Practice (ISUP, later Blackwell, now Wiley & Sons), so that the profession could have a "yardstick" for practice management. We followed that with eleven additional books through four respected publishers; No other consulting firm has done this. We are the only consulting firm to share this many "no strings attached" information resources with the profession. We have built a diverse team of professionals - some who are still in daily clinical settings, others who concentrate on consulting as a full-time job. We are proud that we built the largest veterinary-exclusive, diplomate-led consulting support team available (VPC). We have the skills and capabilities to help any individual, practice, or organization in this profession. Our Signature Series Monographs (available from he VIN Bookstore, www.vin.com) come with an electronic tool kit for personal tailoring for those who wish to "do it themselves." Our approach is a partnership for change, not a "magic bullet" or a simple fee increase solution.

In order to initiate consulting support, we require a signed "Statement of Agreement" (SOA) and retainer. If you wish to commit to a consulting relationship, let us know what service you desire and we will fashion a proposal letter and corresponding Statement of Agreement specifically for your engagement. Any on-site services require a travel retainer before we can reserve the consultation dates; The retainer is applied against the total bill for services, which is due and payable upon receipt. After 30 days, any outstanding balance will accrue a 1.5% monthly service charge until paid in full. All payments will be applied first to service charges and then to the oldest outstanding invoice. We'll bill our work against the retainer until it is expended, then you will receive a convenient monthly statement to pay for any subsequent support.

Since we sincerely believe in our ability to help you succeed, we offer this guarantee: you may stop any consulting engagement if you sense we can't work together for the betterment of your hospital. If this happens while we are on-site, you will incur no charges for our time. Only direct trip expenses will be billed. Likewise, we reserve the right to disengage if we feel we cannot help you. Again, only the direct trip expenses will be billed if this occurs while the consultant is on-site.

Whether your practice is at its glass ceiling, a start-up operation, an affiliation of specialists, or a mature one that needs to be taken to the next level, we can help. We prefer to help you on-site so we can meet your team, get a feel for your operation, and build on your strengths. If this is not what you want, we honor that perspective by providing off-site and "do-it-yourself" tools. As you utilize this monograph, please remember that you're still not alone. Any time you decide you might like further consulting assistance, call for a courtesy phone consultation to discuss how we can tailor a program to meet your needs!