Overbooked? How to fix your scheduleOctober 2, 2020A two-doctor practice typically sees 300 patients per month for preventive checkups. With a backlog of three months, you face up to 900 overdue patients.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveHow to service a mixed-demographic clienteleOctober 1, 2020 It should go without saying, not all veterinary practices are alike. Not all regions of the country are alike. Not all communities are homogeneous. Not all clients have unlimited resources to devote to the care of their pets. Yet, over the years, we have found ourselves frequently confronted with opinion pieces, written by practice management "experts" whose advice may be distilled down to one catchy phrase: "Charge what you're worth." Those of us who have been doing this for a while know things aren't always quite that simple. My practice of 27 years was a good example. We were located equidistant from million-dollar homes and Section-8 housing. The former group of clients appreciated the fact we kept our pricing under control, the latter group absolutely required it, and we serviced every demographic group in between. The real cost of treatment A litany of very good reasons is always advanced for raising prices, including the rising debt-to-income ratios of our newer veterinarians, the need to attract skilled support staff into our clinics, and the overall rising cost of doing business, which always seems to exceed the rate of inflation. None of this is disputed; nevertheless, …
Mindful breathing: 10 minutes a day can lead to better healthSeptember 30, 2020Who knew the simple act of sitting quietly, focusing on breathing through the nose and out the mouth, and oxygenating the body could make such a world of difference?
Simplified retirement plan alleviates burden of paperworkSeptember 30, 2020Veterinary professionals who have yet to arrange retirement or succession plans might appreciate the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA’s) latest offering.
"Postvention" can be central in suicide preventionSeptember 29, 2020Saving the lives of animal health professionals and reducing instances of veterinary suicide is central to a new complimentary industry resource.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFood is love—So why is nutrition a problem area for veterinarians?September 29, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAs a child, I was a big fan of the Peanuts cartoons. One of my favorite characters was Snoopy, a suave, bipedal beagle who wrote novels and engaged in breathtaking aerial combat with his nemesis, the Red Baron. Though Snoopy was unlike most other beagles I have known, he had one characteristic in common to others of his breed, and indeed most dogs. When suppertime arrived, all other activities were forgotten, and he often launched into an exuberant, joyful, food-induced dance. Every feeding was a celebration for Snoopy, not only of food but of the bond between dog and owner. Few subjects generate the same intensity of emotion in pet owners as the question of what to feed our animal companions. Feeding our pets is the quintessential act of caring and love. And based on how most dogs and cats act at feeding time, it certainly seems like a highlight of the relationship for them. There is also a deep sense in most pet owners that choosing a pet food has tremendous significance for the health and well-being of their pets. Everyone wants to give their pets the "best" food that will keep them active and happy and prevent illness …
Diversity in veterinary medicine: No longer the whitest, but still the biggest loserSeptember 25, 2020Veterinary medicine is no longer the whitest profession in the country. Speech pathologists and dental hygienists beat us out this time. Still, 90 percent white (down from 92 percent in 2013) is nothing to celebrate. As our country convulses anew over the ingrained effects of slavery, bigotry, and racism, the thoughtful veterinarian should probably question how these cultural forces affect our profession and what we should be doing to address its persistent homogeneity. Risks and rewards of homogeneity It can always be argued that, as in milk production, homogenization has its benefits. And it's true—we're somewhat more insulated against controversy, dissent, and unproductive infighting this way. But we're also lacking in diversity of thoughts, opinions, interests, ideas, and experiences. Oh… and don't forget the flavor. I mean, we're really quite bland (as our conferences' musical events continue to demonstrate). As a consequence of our composition, veterinarians don't argue much about race or diversity. We all seem to agree on one thing: Most of us appear to believe the ideal demographic composition of the veterinary profession should reflect the diversity of its entire community. We intuitively understand we can't adequately serve a nation as diverse as ours without graduating veterinarians …
Clear communication key when leading amidst uncertaintySeptember 23, 2020When guiding a team, clear communication and a sense of understanding is key, regardless of the landscape.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBest practices for managing part-time clinicians at multidoctor practicesSeptember 22, 2020 Veterinary practice is a team effort, requiring commitment and dedication from all staff members to provide optimal care for each pet, keep clients happy, and maintain profitability. Within a multidoctor practice, this team effort can be put to the test when some of the clinicians work part-time. Why choose part-time? Veterinarians who choose to work part-time do so for a variety of reasons, such as pursuing a second career. Laura Hoffman, DVM, who works as the sole part-time veterinarian in a multidoctor practice and teaches in the pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology department at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., knew full-time veterinary practice was not for her. Doing part-time veterinary work gave her "the ability to have another career while staying current with medicines, treatments, and diagnostics in veterinary medicine," says Dr. Hoffman. Karen Todd-Jenkins, VMD, who works as a part-time veterinarian at two veterinary practices and is a medical writer, has been doing relief and part-time veterinary work for more than 15 years. This type of work "gives me the variety and schedule flexibility I need," she says. "I don't think I'd be nearly as happy or fulfilled working full-time." Other reasons veterinarians choose part-time work include raising …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe muzzling of science and the veterinarian's roleSeptember 16, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAAn acceptance of “un-science” is happening despite the fact most of us carry the bulk of this planet’s available information on our person at all times. The facts are literally at our fingertips.
