National Benchmarking Database announced
Pfizer Animal Health and Central Veterinary Services are joining forces in a unique venture to create a unified National Benchmarking Database that is open to all veterinary practices. In an unprecedented move, Pfizer Animal Health will integrate 15 years’ worth of data from its Performance Index practice benchmarking service (formerly known as the Fort Dodge Index) with that of the Central Veterinary Services’ Management Analysis Indices (MAI). This will provide a much bigger, and therefore more accurate and relevant, benchmarking of UK companion animal practice performance. The first combined reports from this new National Database will be available in May providing a comprehensive analysis for the first quarter of 2012. For Performance Index practices, this will be available via a new and significantly improved web portal.
These two benchmarking services have been in co-existence for a number of years, each utilising different databases. By combining the data from the participating practices within each benchmarking service, a database of almost 300 practices will be created overnight providing a critical mass of in excess of 10% of all UK companion animal and mixed practices.
Participating practices will continue to access their reports and services independently via their respective portals for PI and MAI, but will instantly benefit from the larger database providing greater accuracy, granularity and relevance of exactly who a practice chooses to benchmark itself against. This, in turn, will provide all participating practices with an even better understanding of both their critical success factors and where there are clear opportunities for growth. As ever, practice data confidentiality will be guaranteed for all subscribing practices.
Welcoming the launch, Director of Business Innovation at Pfizer Animal Health Ned Flaxman said “To ensure practices have accurate and relevant data from which to make informed decisions to grow and thrive in these turbulent conditions, the creation of a single national benchmarking database is the only sensible solution. Although we are effectively levelling the playing field by enabling other veterinary suppliers to offer benchmarking, we believe it is the right thing to do for veterinary practices and the market as a whole. For Pfizer Animal Health, the needs of our veterinary clients are the driving force for our business decisions, veterinary support services and product development.”
Practices are urged to subscribe to the PI or MAI services either independently or through one of their practice development partners. Although run from a common database each service will continue to be provided with its own unique features. The real benefits of benchmarking remains the full utilisation of the reports generated by the service.
For further information on the Performance Index, practices should contact their Pfizer Account Manager or email Pfizer at Vetsupportplusuk@pfizer.com. For further information on MAI, practices should contact Central Veterinary Services at mai@centralvet.com or telephone 01359 245310.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
