VPN Plus+ Exclusive10 lessons veterinary medicine can learn from human healthcare's biggest challengesMarch 27, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAHuman healthcare has a lot to teach us, especially since its challenges tend to precede ours. The industry serves as a reliable sentinel for up-and-coming concerns we are likely to confront in the near future, which is what this post is all about. Although these scary prospects don’t yet keep us up all night, they are well worth contemplating as we head into the second half of the decade.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhat's fair when it comes to noncompete agreements?July 5, 2024By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAWhile the FTC's decision to ban noncompete agreements has already been appealed and the ban is by no means a certainty, veterinary practices have been widely contemplating the potential demise of this practice and what it means for both veterinary associates and practice owners alike.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveLighten the financial load—Why debt consolidation may be the answerOctober 20, 2020Debt is a burden many veterinarians carry. The average 2019 graduate owes roughly $150,000 in educational debt, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Veterinary professionals also often juggle credit card, loan, and real estate debt from multiple creditors and lenders throughout their careers. The amount of debt you carry can affect everything from your credit score and borrowing power to your bank account and mental health. While some borrowers sought deferment or forbearance on payments due to the pandemic, this only provides temporary relief. A longer-lasting solution is needed to truly gain more control of your financial situation. If your obligations have you feeling overwhelmed, consolidation may be the answer for you. Debt consolidation is when you use one loan to pay off your other debts in full. Benefits of this include: simplifying and taking control of your finances, improving your credit profile, and providing easier management of your money. Examining what you owe It's nearly impossible to run a veterinary business without taking on some level of debt. As owners open new lines of credit and take out loans to help cover their costs, it's easy to lose sight of the cumulative amount owed, which can be …
VPN Plus+ ExclusivePaper versus paperless: What is best for your practice?October 6, 2020I've taken my pets to see a veterinarian more times than I can count. When I check in at the front desk, I usually can't help but notice if the practice has rows of manila file folders lined up neatly on shelves. Bright color-coded tabs representing an alphabetic order of patient names protrude slightly from the long shelves and cabinets. I often wonder why that practice has decided to stick with paper files rather than switching to a paperless system. The answer is typically based on several factors. Going paperless in a digital world We do nearly everything online now—appointments, reservations, banking, and, as of 2020, we even work and learn online. Does that mean the end of paper, folders, and color-coded files? For some, yes. For others, no. And for many, it's somewhere in between. Today, practices generally fall within three categories as they relate to paperless systems: 100 percent paperless practices Some practices have already made the switch and conduct every task, update every record, and communicate with every client in some digital capacity. They are not only using software for their medical records, but are also using digital images, online inventory, vendor management systems, …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveHow to service a mixed-demographic clienteleOctober 1, 2020 It should go without saying, not all veterinary practices are alike. Not all regions of the country are alike. Not all communities are homogeneous. Not all clients have unlimited resources to devote to the care of their pets. Yet, over the years, we have found ourselves frequently confronted with opinion pieces, written by practice management "experts" whose advice may be distilled down to one catchy phrase: "Charge what you're worth." Those of us who have been doing this for a while know things aren't always quite that simple. My practice of 27 years was a good example. We were located equidistant from million-dollar homes and Section-8 housing. The former group of clients appreciated the fact we kept our pricing under control, the latter group absolutely required it, and we serviced every demographic group in between. The real cost of treatment A litany of very good reasons is always advanced for raising prices, including the rising debt-to-income ratios of our newer veterinarians, the need to attract skilled support staff into our clinics, and the overall rising cost of doing business, which always seems to exceed the rate of inflation. None of this is disputed; nevertheless, …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBest practices for managing part-time clinicians at multidoctor practicesSeptember 22, 2020 Veterinary practice is a team effort, requiring commitment and dedication from all staff members to provide optimal care for each pet, keep clients happy, and maintain profitability. Within a multidoctor practice, this team effort can be put to the test when some of the clinicians work part-time. Why choose part-time? Veterinarians who choose to work part-time do so for a variety of reasons, such as pursuing a second career. Laura Hoffman, DVM, who works as the sole part-time veterinarian in a multidoctor practice and teaches in the pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology department at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., knew full-time veterinary practice was not for her. Doing part-time veterinary work gave her "the ability to have another career while staying current with medicines, treatments, and diagnostics in veterinary medicine," says Dr. Hoffman. Karen Todd-Jenkins, VMD, who works as a part-time veterinarian at two veterinary practices and is a medical writer, has been doing relief and part-time veterinary work for more than 15 years. This type of work "gives me the variety and schedule flexibility I need," she says. "I don't think I'd be nearly as happy or fulfilled working full-time." Other reasons veterinarians choose part-time work include raising …
