Ultrasound Remains A Sound InvestmentJune 15, 2012The way Danny W. Dutton, DVM, sees it, “If precision is the placement of several darts on a dart board, and accuracy is the placement of those darts in the bull’s-eye, ultrasound is the nexus of accuracy and precision in diagnosis and treatment for a large number of equine veterinary problems.” Dr. Dutton, chief of staff for Frontera Division – Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery in Sunland Park, N.M., says ultrasound has allowed him to detect arthritis and osteochondromas missed on radiographs. He’s also able to follow up with increasing precision the recovery of horses from a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. “With improved detail and technique, we are now putting our finger right on the problem instead of addressing a ‘general area,’ ” Dutton says. “Having the ability to look under the skin greatly enhances success, perception of ability and accuracy of prognosis.” Carol Gillis, DVM, of Vacaville, Calif., says she was one of the first equine practitioner to use musculoskeletal ultrasound. Before 1984, Dr. Gillis says, ultrasound was used only in reproductive modalities. Today, practitioners use CT and MRI scans, but she still likes to use ultrasound for lame horses. “Ultrasound can evaluate damage from inflammation and swelling as …
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Surprise! The OSHA Inspector Is Here!June 13, 2012 If the Occupational Health and Safety Adminstration made a surprise inspection of veterinary clinics, most would fail to be in compliance, says Chery F. Kendrick, DVM, of Kendrick Technical Services in Knoxville, Tenn. One common violation she sees as a provider of OSHA-compliance services for veterinarians is lack of or insufficient labeling of secondary containers—those used to hold chemicals in other than their original containers. These can include spray bottles of disinfectant and cold sterile soak for instruments. Another sticking point: If inspectors find that even one employee doesn’t know how to access the clinic’s Material Safety Data Sheets, it is a violation. The fine for potentially harming the health of your employees is $7,000 per incident. “If you have 25 unlabeled containers, that’s 25 times $7,000, or $175,000,” Dr. Kendrick says. “Even if you appeal and get your fines reduced by 95 percent, $8,750 is still a significant amount of money.” Inspectors may use formulas of comparative risk-taking and take into account the number of employees and the number of days they were at risk by using the unlabeled containers. OSHA’s stringent documentation requires practice-specific safety manuals and training records, as …
6 Ways To Win In BusinessJune 4, 2012In a recent interview*, John C. Maxwell described eight ways to lose in business. Rather than paraphrasing what the leadership expert and best-selling author wrote, I thought it would be more positive to describe six ways to win in business. Fair warning: the points made may sound like common sense, yet experience shows that “common sense is not common.” 1. Take Risks Risk is an inherent part of business. If you stop taking risks, there is a good chance your friendly competitor down the road will be willing to take some risks. This doesn’t mean that those risks should be crazy, random or not well thought-out. On the opposite, risks should be weighed, reasoned and discussed with colleagues, a mentor or your team. For example, should you stay open until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. on Wednesdays? Should you invest in digital radiography? Should you hire an office manager or an ordering person? 2. Think for Yourself Maxwell recommends using experts and consultants wisely. Their knowledge and experience should be tapped, not followed blindly. This applies to non-experts as well. Acting on their recommendation could be a recipe for disaster. Maxwell, quoting author Gordon MacDonald, recommends staying away from “mental …
Veterinary Practice Management Software Made EasyMay 29, 2012 Practice management software is designed to help veterinary clinics run smoothly and efficiently, but clinics may experience an unintended headache when the new or upgraded system doesn’t work as expected. Debbie Kanter, communications coordinator at Blum Animal Hospital in Chicago, recalls trying to get the clinic’s practice management software to interface with the X-ray system. Over the years of upgrades, the connection between the two sometimes got lost, she says. “Although it wasn’t something that shut our whole hospital down, from a duplication of effort and an efficacy standpoint, it was an irritation,” Kanter says. Part of the issue was having separate companies for each system, she says—ImproMed for the practice management software and an undisclosed competitor of ImproMed’s for the X-ray system. (The competitor also has practice management software.) The problem has since been resolved, thanks in large part to ImproMed taking steps to make sure the two systems are compatible during upgrades, according to Kanter. Ron Detjen, president of Oshkosh, Wis.-based ImproMed, acknowledges the frustration factor when things don’t go according to plan. “Software is very invasive,” he says. “It does such a good job of running a vet’s business that …
Do Homework Before Making A Software CommitmentMay 29, 2012 Matthew Huhn, director of business development at ImproMed Inc., admits that changing practice management software is a painful process. But what’s most important, he says, is the long-term payoff. “Veterinarians and their staff are naturally resistant to software conversations,” Huhn says. “The right vendor is flexible to the practice’s needs and makes the process as easy as possible, ultimately saving time, increasing revenue and helping to reduce human error.” Selecting the right software can mean the difference between a smooth transition and daily frustration. Eighty to 90 percent of veterinary practices use management software, and more than half of the users switch their provider at least once. “There are so many possibilities with the right software,” says Matthew Russell, director of technology at IntraVet, a veterinary software developer located in Effington, Ill. “You can track inventory, make sure you don’t overbook boarding and transfer digital radiographs directly into patient records, to name a few.” Practice management software can be a significant upfront investment, one that may top $30,000 when add-on modules, hardware and peripherals are factored in. Software sleuths say practice owners and managers should think about current and future goals and choose …
Key Performance Indicators: What You Don’t Know Can HurtMay 29, 2012 You may have heard the saying “You can’t modify what you don’t measure,” but that’s not an accurate statement. The fact is you can modify all you want as often as you want, but without good data behind these changes it is similar to driving a car with a blindfold on—you have absolutely no idea if you are headed in the right direction! More often than not, the result of this haphazard business approach can lead to less than optimal decision making. The good news is that most people are aware that driving blind is not an option and make it a priority to monitor and measure key performance indicators (KPIs). Too often, though, a lack of training and guidance in the area of KPIs can lead to errors in judgment that are as significant as those made when not measuring data at all. The purpose of KPIs is to reduce the complex nature of performance to a small number of valuable indicators in order to recognize trends and make appropriate business decisions. In reality, though, the term is often overused to describe any form of measurement data and performance metrics, regardless of their actual value. …
Wanted: Strategic ThinkersMay 29, 2012 With the introduction of off-the-shelf wellness-plan solutions, the veterinary industry has been hard at work creating products for small animal practices to manage declining patient visits, and more of these products undoubtedly will be available in the future. In many ways, the situation qualifies as a phenomenon. A year ago, interest in wellness plans was a mere whisper, and 12 months later it is commonly referred to as a hot topic. I can’t think of a time when a broad solution for improving the business was made available in this format. Yes, the veterinary industry has engaged in notable campaigns to improve care—dentistry and three-year vaccine protocols come to mind—but these drivers did not take the shape of “boxed” solutions. In those cases, articles, media attention and AAHA guidelines assisted with the practice of higher quality medicine. This time, because of the more critical economic nature of the problem, practitioners are being offered greater assistance. And this is a good thing. Considerations to Ponder I think a word of caution is required. Don’t misunderstand me. I have promoted monthly billed wellness plans and will continue to do so because they can be a great …
Understanding, Treating Chronic Kidney DiseaseMay 25, 2012 Chronic kidney disease, one of the most common diseases among dogs and cats, involves the loss of functional renal tissue due to a prolonged, usually progressive process. But thanks to both traditional and cutting-edge methods for diagnosing and treating the condition, veterinarians have more options than ever for helping these animals enjoy longer lives. Causes, Signs and Symptoms In most cases of chronic kidney disease, the underlying cause is unknown, says Mark Acierno, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, MBA, an associate professor and dialysis service coordinator at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge. “It’s likely a combination of environmental and congenital factors, but we’re really not sure in most cases,” Dr. Acierno says. “Sometimes there’s a defining event, but often there isn’t.” The causes can be categorized in different ways, adds Anthony Ishak, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, Fla. “There are acute insults that destroy enough renal parenchyma in an irreversible manner and result in decreased functional renal mass,” Dr. Ishak says, citing leptospirosis, pyelonephritis, lilly intoxication, ethylene glycol intoxication, hypovolemia/hypotension, pancreatitis and sepsis as examples. “There are also chronic diseases that result in progressive loss in renal …
How To Manage Your Animal Hospital's Online ReputationMay 25, 2012 Just type your or your hospital’s name into Google and all sorts of stuff shows up, some good, some bad and maybe some really awful. In this world of universal, instant and fairly anonymous communication using the Internet and especially social media, both good and bad things can happen. The good, of course, includes much greater reach to potential clients, existing clients and very inexpensive marketing and professional education. The visual nature of the Internet also makes photos and video an outstanding way to tell your story and allow you to stand out. Unfortunately, some people will, fairly or not, use this medium to complain about your service or facility to the same huge audience. On your business site or social media pages you have good control, and this is fairly easy to contain. But on other large commercial ratings sites such as Yelp, City Search or Yahoo Local, it appears you are at the mercy of some unreasonable people. When an angry client decides to exact revenge against your hospital, he can appear to have the upper hand and lots of undeserved control. That is a scary prospect for a business owner. Instead …
How To Manage Your Animal Hospital's Online Reputation: Part 2May 25, 2012 Building on last month’s article, let’s look at the steps to take to remove or push down negative or malicious reviews. Step 1: Claim Ownership Each online review site has an option for the business owner to “claim” ownership of the business. In claiming ownership, you can write comments next to each review. The key is to respond to the review in a timely, professional and respectful manner. Step 2: Remove Malicious Reviews An offensive review might contain harsh language, a harsh overtone or hatred comments. For example: “This business or hospital is a joke,” “The technician was an idiot,” “This business or hospital will screw you,” etc. A falsified review is tougher to prove, but if a past employee or competitor is posting negative reviews and one can prove they are not from actual customers, the reviews can be disputed. Clear indicators include anonymous reviews or reviewer accounts that don’t have any history of other reviews in that website. First, find the reviews. Perform a search on the major search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo) for your name and hospital domain …
