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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Progress in tackling mental health issues evident among veterinary teams, study showsJanuary 17, 2024Merck Animal Health’s 4th Veterinary Wellbeing Study indicates an increase in clinics supporting their team’s mental health and emotional well-being
Supporting veterinary mentors focus of new certification programJanuary 12, 2024MentorVet Lift will launch on Jan. 28th, and will consist of self-paced online learning, monthly facilitated peer support meetings, and a culminating project
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: A clinic without strong leadership is in troubleJanuary 11, 2024By Jamie Rauscher, LVTIf your clinic is lacking in leadership, developing a plan on how to build up the leaders in your clinic should be a number one priority in your life. There are direct and indirect impacts to having less leadership in your clinic than what is ideal. Some direct impacts of not having structured leadership are gossip, turnover, stress on current team members, and a negative culture.
Tech disrespect and the rise of unionsDecember 26, 2023This month's column discusses the systematic ways in which our über-hierarchical profession too often relegates veterinary nurses-slash-technicians to roles several rungs below their veterinary-degreed colleagues.
How to grow your own practice managerDecember 20, 2023Too often, a superstar employee is promoted to manager and has no idea where to begin. Help new team leaders and managers succeed in their new roles with these strategies.
Humanizing your practice digitallySeptember 13, 2023As more pet owners turn to the internet to find and research veterinary clinics, your practice's online presence is crucial in creating a positive and lasting impression.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveNine affordable ideas to recognize your staffMarch 30, 2023Fortunately, showing your team how valuable they are doesn’t have to cost much to be meaningful. Here are some ideas that will put smiles on their faces, and warm their hearts, while having a gentle impact on the reality of your bottom line.
Vet techs' expertise, opinions sought by AAHAMarch 14, 2023Veterinary technicians interested in having a say in the development of industry-wide standards, guidelines, and other resources are invited to apply for a newly created leadership position at the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Communication strategies for delivering bad newsDecember 17, 2022While there’s no good time for conversations around complicated diagnoses, the holidays can bring emotions to a higher pitch with the added stress, worry, and pressure that comes this time of year–for pet owners and veterinary care teams alike.
