Local veterinarian expands office hours, adds to staff and will offer new technology for treating pets
Dr. William Falcheck’s animal clinic is located in Union Ridge plaza near the busy corner of Route 259 and Ridge Road West in Spencerport. That’s where the suburban atmosphere ends and the country hospitality begins. The comfortable, homelike surroundings and time he takes with each patient and its owner are the foundation on which Falcheck has built his practice.
A Kendall native, Falcheck graduated from Cornell University in 1988. After interning in Lockport for a short time, he opened his practice in Hilton and in 2001, he joined Hilton Veterinary Hospital. In 2007, Falcheck ventured out on his own again opening The Country Veterinarian in Spencerport. “I’ve taken everything I’ve learned over the years and put it into this clinic,” he said.
Falcheck’s client base has grown so much over the years that he began looking for an associate three years ago. It took him until July to find the perfect match – someone who could share his vision and take on the challenge of expanding the practice to include new technology.
Dr. Kevin Coughlin, a University of Michigan graduate, spent two years in Juneau, Alaska working for the largest veterinary hospital in the area – Southeast Alaska Animal Medical Center. “In veterinary school, you’re trained in a lot of areas that many vets never use,” said Coughlin. “I had the opportunity to use many of these skills because we had animals flown in from all over to be treated.”
Coughlin was the only vet on call within a 500-mile radius and saw a variety of animals with an equally wide variety of ailments, such as repairing the limb of a dog that had been kicked by a moose. He became well versed in more advanced orthopaedic and reconstructive surgeries as well as emergency medicine and critical care.
After two years in Alaska, Coughlin, a Greece Athena graduate, moved back to the area and began working for Stone Ridge Veterinary Hospital. He and Falcheck were introduced at a meeting of area veterinarians. “Dr. Coughlin’s experience really showed his ability to take on a challenge,” said Falcheck.
The partnership has provided an opportunity for extended hours. The Country Veterinarian is now open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “In the average pet household, both people work, so it’s important that we have later hours,” said Falcheck. The practice has also been expanded to include veterinary technicians and four receptionists.
In addition to a larger staff and longer hours, The Country Veterinarian is adding another 600 square feet of space thanks to a vacant storefront in the plaza. The 1,300 square foot clinic will grow to 1,900 square feet which will provide dedicated rooms for the additional services that will be offered – therapy laser treatment, an orthopaedic surgical suite, digital radiology and a full-service in-house lab.
“Therapy laser treatment,” Falcheck explained, “is in the forefront of human sports medicine. You’re using a low broad beam laser, not a cutting laser.” Unique in veterinary medicine, the laser is used to reduce inflammation, speed healing and relieve pain.
Most vets refer their patients to another facility for orthopaedic surgery, but Falcheck sees a need in the community and has already ordered some basic equipment to begin the process of making an orthopaedic surgical suite a reality. Because orthopaedic surgeries, such fracture repair, need another level of sterilization, a dedicated area with special air filtration, flooring, lighting, etc. is necessary.
Falcheck plans to begin offering digital radiology by January 1. The process uses x-ray equipment with a cassette system. The cassette with imaging plate is placed under the animal and information downloads onto a computer in great detail, eliminating the need for chemical processing.
Along with the digital radiology, an in-house lab will provide quicker results to clients and ultimately quicker treatment for pets, explained Falcheck. “For example, when an animal ingests a toxin or we’re worried about its glucose level, we can test and treat the same day,” he said.
To further meet the needs of all animals brought through its doors, the clinic already stocks some special diets for cats and dogs, but will gradually expand their offerings. “As diets are developed for specialized conditions, we’ll carry them,” said Falcheck.
While plenty is changing at The Country Veterinarian, Falcheck said he has no plans to change the style of veterinary services he and his associates provide. “We’re supplementing what we’re doing here, not changing it,” he said. “We offer friendliness combined with the latest and best in veterinary medicine.”
Photo by Walter Horylev
10/6/13
