How to talk to owners of obese pets for better patient resultsAugust 9, 2017A common misperception exists among veterinary professionals that addressing a pet’s obesity will offend a pet owner with obesity. This falsehood prevents many veterinarians from initiating a vital medical conversation, resulting in the avoidable suffering of untold millions of pets and owners spending countless millions in preventable pet care costs.
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Conversation starters for the shy and introverted vet, vet techJune 14, 2017According to various personality tests, most vets (and techs) are introverts. After all, most vets (and techs) secretly prefer animals to people (shocking). Little did we know that we would have to interact with clients, colleagues, coworkers, receptionists and vendors far more than with animals.
How to be a role model for your vet team and yourselfApril 28, 2017I often find myself having conversations about staff development and clinic culture. These conversations usually go the same way: The veterinary practice manager, or owner, is frustrated and overwhelmed with all the work they have to do.
How to help clients when pets are diagnosed with life-ending diseaseMarch 1, 2017Sadly, the veterinary medical care team often is faced with patients that have been diagnosed with a life-ending disease. With pets having such a high rate of severe osteoarthritis, cancer, renal disease and heart failure, care teams frequently will be confronted with clients who must come to grips with the news that their beloved pet has limited time left.
How to talk about end-of-life care for petsFebruary 13, 2017Helping a client decide when it is time to euthanize their pet may appear to be straightforward. As medical professionals, we often view end-of-life cases from a purely clinical standpoint, but we may not take into account many nonmedical factors such as emotions, social issues, financial pressures or physical limitations.
Why a lack of focus can ruin communication in the vet practiceFebruary 1, 2017A client is explaining her dog Crazy Doodle’s latest antics, which led to today’s visit for stitches. You nod and type detailed notes into the electronic medical record as the pet owner shares her story.
How can I get my vet staff to come to work after-hours events?January 2, 2017My veterinary practice participates in lots of community events throughout the year. We’re at the local dog park, at pet shows, charity events and basically anything we find where we can promote responsible pet ownership and at the same time raise awareness of our practice.
Veterinary Confessions: I had no idea what my employees were telling clientsDecember 13, 2016Because veterinarians go from one patient to the next, few understand the quality of service that their front-line team provides to clients.
How do I deal with a negative employee?November 11, 2016I have a negative employee in my practice. She is a good vet tech, but she is very critical of everything in the practice, from equipment, to the condition of the building, to some clients and our processes.
My practice manager lied on her resumeNovember 2, 2016I had a fantastic practice manager working with me for many years. She went on maternity leave and decided to stay at home with her kids for longer than anticipated, so I had to replace her.
