About IVG Canada
We are a CE and support organization run by vets for vets
We are not a corporate buying group. We are not interested in buying your practice nor employing you or your vets. Nor are we selling anything.
We are a group of independent practice owners working collaboratively to run our practices better. Together, we can leverage our experience and numbers to grow our practices and compete with the corporate veterinary groups.
Our goal is solely to add great members to our group to grow our network and knowledge, and to collaborate to stay relevant and successful in the face of corporate consolidation.
IVG Canada Overview
Independent Veterinary Group (IVG) is a Canadian offshoot of the American Veterinary Management Groups (VMG), which was founded in part by Dr. John Tait to help independent veterinary practices with business management through regular CE and peer discussions and support.
There are numerous VMG groups throughout the USA. Previously Canadian veterinary clinic owners needed to join a US group to get the benefits of VMG. In 2016, IVG Canada was started to bring the benefits of VMG to Canada along with our Canadian perspective and the unique challenges and opportunities that brings to our veterinary practices.
We gain all of the benefits of being affiliated with a large organization while keeping our unique Canadian identity. It's a win-win that will help you to grow and manage your practice in ways you may not have thought possible. Get in touch - it may be the best practice decision you will ever make.
How IVG Canada Works
Small Group
IVG groups are small: 10 to 15 members. This means you get personalized CE that's relevant to your practice. The IVG experience is far more effective than traditional "large group" CE.
Semi-Annual Meetings
We meet every six months for several days of intensive clinic and business management -focused CE. This includes peer discussions and sessions with world-class speakers.
Unparalleled Support
We are about support. Practice ownership can be lonely. Our members understand and collaborate continuously to help each other - both professionally and personally.
IVG Canada in a Nutshell
In Brief
IVG is a CE and support organization for non-corporate clinic owners. It was formed to allow non-corporate clinics to get the same support and buying power that the corporates get, but with a focus on independent ownership and management.
IVG is based on VMG, which was started in the USA and has numerous active groups. We are the first Canadian group, so we are leveraging the scale of VMG while ensuring we also address uniquely Canadian issues, perspectives, etc.
Each IVG group is no more than 15 members, so it's a very personal learning experience. As interest increases, additional groups are formed to ensure that each group remains small.
Structure
IVG is structured around our twice yearly meetings that bring all of the group members together to participate in interactive world-class CE and discuss issues, problems and successes that we are all having. The beauty of this structure is that each member is at a different stage of their ownership journey and has something unique to contribute.
Being a member of IVG means that we all support and help each other without reservation - we are truly there for each other. To ensure we can do this without reservation, IVG groups are based on trust: We all sign comprehensive NDAs which means that everything we share with each other remains completely confidential. We also work in an environment of respect: We speak freely, but never in a derogatory manner - we celebrate victories and we push members to succeed through unwavering support.
Meetings: Topics and Speakers
Our CE is world-class and is presented only to our group, making IVG CE intimate and interactive in a way no conference can match. Speakers and meeting topics vary from meeting to meeting, and depend on what was presented previously and the current state of the industry.
We also have managers' streams at some meetings, which optionally allows clinic managers to attend as well and have their own dedicated CE related to what we are learning. These streams help to build support for initiatives at the clinic, and also serve to include managers in the IVG family.
5 Pillars of IVG
The benefits of IVG are built on five pillars:
- Practice and Business Management: We get excellent education and resources - both formally and informally - to help with practice and business management. Every single IVG member has become better at managing their practices
- Data and Benchmarking: We share our business metrics, such as financial data, with each other to benchmark ourselves and identify opportunities to improve revenue and EBITDA. Data is at the heart of how we improve our clinics
- Support and Collaboration: Leadership is lonely. IVG is a group of leaders who understand and help to support each other both in meetings and throughout the year. This is not something that can be found anywhere else and is game-changing for clinic owners
- Group Rebates and Promotions: IVG clinics are some of the most successful, and industry knows it. As a result, we get excellent rebates and promotions extended to our clinics beyond what similar non-IVG clinics are offered
- Networking and Friendship: IVG members become life-long friends. The network you gain with IVG is unparalleled, not just for the success of your clinics, but also personally
Come See For Yourself
In the end, it's really hard to explain the benefits of IVG without seeing it. If you think IVG may offer value, the first step is to attend one of our meetings to see IVG in action. There is no obligation - we think being at a meeting will convince you and, if it doesn't, then there's no hard feelings - we're just happy for the chance to gain another perspective and meet our colleagues.
Member Testimonials
“IVG is a group of the most supportive like-minded leaders in our community. I love all the ideas I receive during the meetings. Most of them are quite easily implementable with almost immediate results. Being a IVG member for a couple years now, I've completely changed the culture in my hospital and I was able not only to increase my revenue, but also increase my bottom line! IVG leaves me inspired after each meeting!"
Dr. Jinni Demine
“There are so many wonderful things about joining IVG ... I really appreciate the ability to compare my individual data against other people in Canada and in North America."
Dr. Katrin Schmidt
“[IVG] enabled me to get the top dollar that I did for the practices that I sold."
Dr. Kathy Hrinivich
“It was clear to me from my very first meeting that I was surrounded by very bright minds with innovative ideas and that I was going to get the mentorship and support that I needed as a new practice owner."
Dr. Karley Seagrist
“IVG represented a safe and secure environment to learn from shared experiences, while collaborating over intellectual property to improve my standard of care, service to my clients and ultimately the success of my business."
Dr. Mark A. de Wolde
“What I learned far exceeded my expectations."
