What vet medicine can take out of a military playbookMarch 20, 2024Over the past decade or so I've witnessed the rising popularity of a practice style I've snarkily termed "frogmarched" vet care; To force (someone) to walk forward by holding and pinning their arms from behind. In its most effective manifestation, clients are shuttled through a scripted process involving rapid-fire assessments and minimal human interaction. The goal is to increase productivity and maximize profitability by minimizing time-consuming client-staff interactions. In this way, patients are attended more quickly, and clients' wait times are curtailed. Here is how it works in emergency care settings, where it is most often employed: Upon presentation, receptionists immediately convey basic client and patient details to triage technicians, who then assess the patient, confer with the attending veterinarian, devise a plan, present it to the client (via vet or tech), and provide an estimate (via reception or tech). Reception will collect payment or ensure a quick AMA kiss-off if the client is unable or unwilling to comply with the terms proposed. This way, clients are effectively vetted for financial enthusiasm and capacity up front with minimal in-person interaction, so the clinic avoids unduly expending limited space and personnel resources on less profitable cases. When deployed to perfection, this …
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Practicing a spectrum of careMarch 11, 2024This approach ensures patients receive care that improves their quality of life, within the constraints of the pet family, while allowing veterinary teams to uphold their moral, ethical, ad legal obligations.
Four mistakes conference goers makeMarch 11, 2024Your investment of the registration fee, travel, meals, and time away from your practice could be costly if you make these post-conference mistakes
Shared expectations of veterinarians and owners outlined in new equine care guideMarch 8, 2024The resource follows recent American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) data showing nine out of 10 veterinarians faced negative or escalated client interactions in the past year
Talking clients into prioritizing pet dental healthFebruary 1, 2024Explaining what goes on in an initial examination and then taking the time to discuss necessary next steps could help you advocate for your patients’ dental health.
Technology can help attract millennials to your practiceJanuary 26, 2024Offering a tech-forward veterinary experience—one that is convenient, responsive, and individualized—is a good way to serve this segment of pet owners.
Euthanasia: Not the worst part of the jobJanuary 22, 2024"The biggest threat to the veterinary psyche is not over the death of animals. It has more to do with their humans."
Using a team approach to help overcome preventive care barriersJanuary 10, 2024Preventive care benefits not only the patients, but also pet owners, veterinary team members, and the practice.
The power of emotional intelligenceJanuary 8, 2024Every veterinary team member is a brand in and among themselves, interacting with clients and colleagues in person and digitally. In that context, possessing some measure of emotional intelligence holds remarkable significance.
Navigating caregiver burdensJanuary 3, 2024Addressing and reducing the numerous burdens associated with long-term care plan can help improve the quality of life of the owner, the pet, and the veterinarian involved.
