Why mastering soft skills equals success in the veterinary fieldAugust 14, 2018In veterinary school, students learn hard skills, the tangible, technical assets that allow us to perform our jobs. Mastery of these skills is vital, but so is developing a complementary set of skills: soft skills.
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New-mover marketing makes a lasting bottom-line impactAugust 6, 2018Pursuing the entrepreneurial dream of small business ownership is a challenging but rewarding endeavor, particularly in the veterinary industry. Inevitably, there will be speed bumps along the path to success, not the least of which is attracting new clients. One of the best ways to gain the attention of potential customers is to capitalize on new movers. Successfully implementing new-mover marketing campaigns can make a notable difference in a veterinary clinic's long-term success. New-mover marketing professionals partner with local businesses to create an enticing welcome package for new movers. As a family settles into a new home, they will find a convenient collection of special offers delivered right to their door that encourage the family to patronize local businesses. Even in today's increasingly technological world, marketing offers for new movers that are delivered directly to mailboxes consistently outperform email and mobile offers. Market trends indicate Americans are on the move More than 40 million Americans will move this year alone, and one in three renters move at least once each year. Today's economy is quite robust—meaning companies are hiring and people are frequently moving to pursue new job opportunities. Boomerang buyers also are coming out in full force. Those …
Henry Schein launches new AVImark, ImproMed PMS versionsJuly 3, 2018Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions, a provider of practice management software programs, has launched new versions of its AVImark and ImproMed platforms. Based on feedback from veterinary professionals, the new versions "enhance the visibility of patient diagnostic information and improve the user experience and platform functionality," said the company in a statement. Among the new features is AXIS-Q LENS, a cloud-based open system that gathers trended diagnostics results from multiple point-of-care instruments or reference laboratories connected through Henry Schein's practice management software systems. This open architecture allows practices to use preferred diagnostic instruments and reference laboratories, as well as change equipment without losing patients' diagnostic histories. "The new AXIS-Q LENS is an excellent tool to help doctors see trending test results for patients," said Roger Riel, practice manager of Companion Pet Clinic in Klamath Falls, Oregon. "It gives you quick results and allows you to compare previous test values with current ones, even when the test results were imported from an outside lab. You are even able to filter the results down to just the abnormal values or pick and choose the tests you want to compare, making it easy to see only those specific values you …
5 questions with Dr. Susan KelleherJuly 3, 2018Whether they run, fly, crawl, or slither into Broward Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital in Deerfield Beach, Fla., clinic owner Susan Kelleher, DVM, and her team strive to give these species the care they need and deserve, and often perform heroic feats to save their patients and help their families.
Why annual screening for exposure to infected ticks is vitalJune 20, 2018It's important to remember that a single tick can transmit multiple infectious agents that may cause or contribute to serious illness, including kidney disease. And because dogs don't always show clinical signs, it can be challenging to understand the true harm of any given infection to a pet's health. This makes regularly screening of pets—including asymptomatic or seemingly healthy ones—to identify exposure to infected ticks all the more important. Here's a quick look at why regular, comprehensive screening is critical, and what veterinarians can do to help keep dogs healthy. All dogs need to be screened annually for exposure to infected ticks It's quite possible a patient could be fighting an infection without showing any signs of disease. That is why limiting screening to symptomatic pets and those known to have had a tick on them is too restrictive—it will miss infections. All dogs need to be tested, and pet owners need to be reminded that negative results are the goal in order to verify that preventive measures against ticks are working. A new study reinforces the importance of detecting exposure The study, found at idexx.com/ckdstudy, showed two key findings: 1) dogs with Ehrlichia antibodies …
AAVMC updates its Cost Comparison ToolJune 19, 2018The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has updated and enhanced its Cost Comparison Tool (CCT) for 2018. Introduced in 2016, the CCT web-based tool helps applicants and students more precisely estimate the cost of earning a DVM degree, according to AAVMC. Updates now allow users to research schools and use interactive filters to compare data related to tuition, projected cost-of-living, and the cost of financing one's education. The tool still features information on all 30 U.S. schools, but now includes 13 international members, up from 11. Five-year international programs are designated, and calculations have been adjusted for the differential. The tool demonstrates three levels of cost: tuition, tuition and living expenses, and total cost of attendance (TCA). The TCA includes the previous two categories as well as the cost of loan interest accruals on an assumed fully financed DVM education (the current interest rate for graduate students using the Federal Stafford Loan is 6 percent). The sorting feature has been enhanced so that programs generally are shown from higher costs to lower cost. The map includes resident, nonresident, and international total tuition (adjusted for colleges where residency may be established after the first year) …
Petplan releases Pet Insurance 101 guideJune 14, 2018Petplan pet insurance data shows that one in three pets will need emergency veterinary care each year, and with average costs in the thousands of dollars (see "Petplan's top 10 most common claims and costs" below), pet insurance can be more beneficial than a savings account, which may not have enough money to cover the most common ailments. Some pet owners may be aware of pet insurance, but they may not understand how it can help keep pets healthy and budgets intact. Written specifically to help pet owners understand the growing pet insurance industry, Petplan's Pet Insurance 101 guide is available now at insurance.gopetplan.com/pet-insurance-101. The free guide walks pet owners through a pet insurance personality quiz and a checklist to determine what kind of pet coverage best suits their pets' needs. Facts, figures, and FAQs provide benchmarks to help consumers make the best choice for their unique situation. "About 95 percent of pet parents consider their pets to be part of the family,"* said Keith Guse, Petplan's director of content. "Even though two million cats and dogs are protected by pet insurance in North America, it's estimated that 99 percent of pets are still uninsured.** We created …
OVMA, VHMA to host Great Ideas ConferenceJune 13, 2018The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association in association with the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association will host the Great Ideas Conference in Collingwood, Ont., June 20-22. The event includes "how-to" sessions on a range of practice and life management topics, including human resources management, communication, marketing, and more. Mary Gardner, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, is among this year's speakers. In her lecture series, Dr. Gardner will explore the unique care of aging and geriatric patients, and discuss the role veterinarians play in preparing a client for the loss of their pet. The first installment of a three-part series by Dr. Gardner was recently featured in Veterinary Practice News ("Caring for the Geriatric Pet" can be found online here.) Other speakers include Jason Coe, DVM, Ph.D., who will discuss issues surrounding communication in the clinic, and offer strategies for how to navigate difficult conversations with clients and communicate effectively with staff, as well as Kimberly Pope-Robinson, DVM, who will host a series related to personal health and wellness, including advice on how to avoid career burnout and maintain a proper work-life balance. New this year, the …
Kent State University Trumbull invests $250K in surgical suiteJune 13, 2018Veterinary technology students at Kent State University at Trumbull will soon have access to a new medical and surgical suite at the Animal Welfare League (AWL) of Trumbull County, a local shelter, thanks to a $250,000 investment from the university. The monies will fund equipment and supplies for a wing of AWL's site in Vienna, Ohio, where students will be able to complete their course clinical requirements. Slated to open in time for the fall semester, the space will include an up-to-date laboratory, surgical suite, recovery and treatment area, radiology room, and pharmacy. It will also offer AWL added isolation room for its quarantine and processing services. "The partnership we have with the AWL really sets our program apart," said Melissa Best, program coordinator. "Our students will be working in a state-of-the-art facility and the AWL will be able to enhance its ability to care for our animals." Graduates can serve as technicians performing support functions in local veterinary clinics, with coursework applied toward a bachelor's degree in technical and applied studies for students pursuing a career in veterinary management.
ACVIM, VetBloom partner to build elearning platformJune 13, 2018The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is partnering with VetBloom, the digital learning ecosystem from Ethos Veterinary Health, to create a virtual learning environment for ACVIM and its members. Also, VetBloom will develop an integrated online portal for tracking and reporting of data related to the Maintenance of Credential (MOC) program for ACVIM Diplomates, as well as for tracking of resident specialty training and credentials. Key aspects of the partnership include: A fully branded ACVIM learning site with custom resources for members Paperless, online, automated MOC and resident specialty tracking An ACVIM eCommerce portal for nonmembers Ongoing digital access to ACVIM events Access to curated education from VetBloom and other members of the VetBloom learning community "Both ACVIM and VetBloom bring rich and complementary knowledge and experience to the relationship, and this presents us with a synergistic opportunity to develop a learning ecosystem that creates tremendous benefit for a number of audiences," said Patrick Welch, DVM, MBA, DACVO, chief knowledge officer of Ethos Veterinary Health. "VetBloom is a trusted resource in the veterinary field," said Veronica Muñoz, ACVIM CEO. "We look forward to combining VetBloom's expertise in developing veterinary education …
