Frequently Asked Questions
A: Yes. Outside of the simple case of document review, we typically need to see the facility and speak to key people in order to properly provide service. We also work with you to determine what services we can provide from our office, as that is a less expensive option for you. After gaining an understanding of the organization, its work and capabilities, many services can be met through distance correspondence. The balance of the 2 options is negotiated to suit your needs.
A: We can meet that need but it is not a stipulation of our consulting. We are happy to work with and provide support to an existing Attending Veterinarian. Many small organizations are well served by a local practitioner functioning as the Attending Veterinarian and providing a convenient nearby contact. Those facilities (and veterinarians) often find access to the expertise of trained and experienced veterinarians invaluable. We also can fill in workload gaps for facilities staffed with other Board Certified veterinarians.
A: The cost is highly individualized according to the needs of your organization. We do not typically work at a true hourly or daily rate but, rather, develop a package rate structure for the project at hand. Thus, the cost for services is negotiated on a case-by case basis so you know what the cost will be for the services you need.
An hourly rate could be used for a project of limited scope such as policy and procedure development or 3rd party review of IACUC protocols.
Package rates are influenced by several considerations, such as what regulatory agencies are involved (e.g. USDA species or not) and level of responsibility (e.g. “Attending Veterinarian” or not). On-site work at your facility would typically involve a project rate plus re-imbursement for actual travel and housing expenses. Responsibilities requiring fewer hours or other considerations would make the "daily" rate lower. Work responsibilities that practically limit the veterinarian from working on concurrent contracts would make the rate higher. Consultant travel time may be charged depending on distance and how productively the travel time can be used. Project examples provide an overview of our processes.
A lot of key laboratory animal veterinary work can be completed remotely by highly experienced veterinarians with support from phone and electronic communication. This saves your organization travel costs and us overhead expenses allowing package rate reductions.
Contact us for more information tailored to your needs.
A: Most contract research organizations (CRO) provide outstanding service; however, your company should audit their activities to ensure they are meeting your needs. Many professionals in your circumstances do not feel comfortable with their knowledge of animal care and research facilities and wish they could get a third party opinion of the CRO. We can help you assess the animal care program in which your research is being conducted either as your representative on a site visit or through review of animal care-related documents.
We can also help you explore developing your own animal research resource.
A: Yes. Meeting temporary and short-term veterinary care need is available from Lab Animal Veterinary Consulting. The term "locum tenens" service is often used in the human medical field for these temporary assignments. We believe that you will be best served by a regular employee veterinarian; however, we also recognize that filling these positions can be challenging and that there are often gaps in qualified coverage. We provide a level of expertise that you can trust until that regular veterinarian is available.
A: This is a common scenario for small organizations; a local interested practitioner can provide basic veterinary care services very economically. We can provide assistance to your organization and veterinarian with specialized knowledge that can be challenging for the veterinarian with typical training and experience.