ST. LOUIS, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Purina PetCare Company's subsidiary, PurinaCare® Insurance Services Inc. and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. announce a collaborative agreement to provide an effective tool for veterinary practices to help improve patient care, increase client value and drive profitability. Developed and supported by PurinaCare, Partners in Wellness is a turnkey system that enables vet practitioners to offer their own customized preventive-care plans, while PurinaCare handles client billing and administrative requirements.
PurinaCare and IDEXX will work cooperatively to promote Partners in Wellness to veterinary practices across the United States that wish to establish preventive-care plans. IDEXX work-flow consultants are available to consult with practices on developing diagnostic protocols and practice work flow.
"According to the 2011 Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study, the veterinary industry has experienced a steady decline in patient visits over the last 10 years," said Dr. David Goodnight, President and COO of PurinaCare Insurance Services Inc. "Partners in Wellness enables veterinarians to create a preventive-care program for their clients. Routine exams, screenings and services are bundled into a simple, affordable monthly payment plan."
The Bayer study further indicates that nearly half of all dog and cat owners surveyed would take their pet to the veterinarian more often if practices offered annual preventive-care plans, billed monthly.
"IDEXX offers a wide range of resources to assist veterinary practices who wish to enhance their relationships with their clients," said George Fennell, Corporate Vice President, Companion Animal Group, IDEXX Laboratories. "Partners in Wellness is a natural extension of our goal to help veterinary practices improve the health and well-being of pets. Other tools recently introduced to support this goal include the web-based resource STEPs - Simple Tools for Effective Protocols and the Pet Health Network®."
For more information or to get started with Partners in Wellness, visit http://www.partners-n-wellness.com/clinic.
About PurinaCare:
PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc. is dedicated to providing pet owners with a Lifetime of Care® for their pets. A wholly owned subsidiary of Nestle Purina PetCare Company, PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc. also offers PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance to pet owners in most states and promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement, and the positive bond between people and their pets. For more information about PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance, visit http://www.purinacare.com.
About IDEXX Laboratories, Inc:
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a leader in pet healthcare innovation, serving practicing veterinarians around the world with a broad range of diagnostic and information technology-based products and services. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency and to build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing livestock and poultry diagnostic tests and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX Laboratories employs more than 5,000 people and offers products to customers in over 100 countries.
SOURCE Nestle Purina PetCare Company
