The latest, greatest resource on veterinarian communicationOctober 31, 2016I had the pleasure of meeting authors Cindy Adams and Suzanne Kurtz several years ago when I presented a workshop at the International Conference on Communication in Veterinary Medicine (ICCVM), which they founded and organized to advance training in communication, particularly in veterinary schools.
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How to make better vet client callsOctober 19, 2016Imagine your dog was just diagnosed with cancer. The news has numbed you. On your drive home, you rehearse how you’ll break the news to your children, and you prepare for tears and tough questions.
Why good communication is key to good veterinary practiceSeptember 27, 2016Good communication underpins every aspect of good veterinary practice. It can increase after-care compliance, enhance pet owner satisfaction and most importantly better pet health outcomes. Yet investigations into unprofessional conduct in the veterinary profession are often the result of communication breakdown.
Practice manager overwhelmed by new leadership roleSeptember 7, 2016I was promoted to practice manager about 6 months ago. I have been with this employer for less than 12 months in total, so I’m pretty stoked about getting this promotion! We’re an established group of practices, and each location has a PM. The requirements of the role are the same for everyone, so I’m not sure why I’m finding it quite difficult to fit into this new role and the expectations.
How to talk to clients about pet cancerAugust 31, 2016Client communication is an important part of what we do daily as veterinarians. When a cancer diagnosis has been made, this communication can be challenging in many respects due to the emotional shock of diagnosis, preconceived notions about cancer and cancer therapy, and difficulty with end-of-life discussions.
Why is it so hard for veterinarians to say, "I don't know?"August 11, 2016Why is it so hard for us to say, “I don’t know”? As veterinarians, we’ve studied for 19 years or more. We’re highly educated, trained and experienced. We have to make critical calculations for medication dosages, or where and what to cut in surgery.
Assessing your veterinary practice's leadershipAugust 3, 2016Alongside the importance of your expertise in veterinary medicine is your ability to lead and manage a well-run business. I was recently reviewing Karen Parker’s book “A Practical Guide to Performance Appraisals,” which is about performance appraisals for veterinary practice employees.
An employee called in sick, then posted photo on FacebookJune 27, 2016One of my vet techs called in sick on two occasions over the past six months, and each time posted photos of herself on Facebook on the day she was sick. Most of the staff are ‘Facebook friends,’ so I saw the post in my newsfeed the day it was posted, and other team members ‘liked’ it.
How do I tell an employee she has bad body odor?May 23, 2016How do I tell an employee she has bad body odor? I have a direct report who is absolutely awesome at her job, is professional and has a lovely personality, but unfortunately for the rest of us, she has really poor personal hygiene and bad body odor.
