Words of wisdom to use or loseAugust 7, 2020In the spirit of sharing is caring, here are 37 pieces of advice to use or lose. Feel free to take what you find meaningful or helpful and leave the rest!
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Employers, job-seekers connected through digital platformAugust 6, 2020Veterinary professionals looking to boost their network are in luck, thanks to a new offering from VetMedTeam.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveA gentle rant on medical infantilization and the "pet parent" trapAugust 6, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBASmack in the thick of Miami's COVID spike, I had to have minor surgery to correct a bony defect caused by Rottweiler skull-induced trauma to my nose. The timing was technically elective. It needed to be done eventually, but the sooner the better, cosmetically speaking. I chose vanity over safety weeks in advance, not knowing my zip code would zoom to the top of COVID's bell curve of casualties on that exact day. At least it was an excuse to test myself ($350 for a 24-hour "concierge" negative) and take a much-needed mental break––a two-week staycation––after powering through the first full half of 2020 without so much as one whole day off (Sundays included). Despite the pain I anticipated, and the unsightly bruising, I was looking forward to the propofol and midazolam. Sweet, medically sanctioned oblivion! Sadly, I suffered a rough night during my required stay at the surgical center. The food was inedible, the meds made me vomit, and the nurse was on my case. Let's just say I wouldn't wish her on anyone. Among other transgressions, she blamed me for vomiting on my blankets when she didn't lift a finger to bring me a receptacle, constantly woke me …
Frontline animal care workers get $1.8M boostAugust 5, 2020Eighty animal care organizations across the U.S. are better equipped to handle pandemic-related challenges, thanks to a COVID-19 grant-matching campaign by Petco Foundation.
Is more debt good for your financial future?July 28, 2020If you're hoping to buy or expand a practice, you may think your educational debt means you won't be able to get a business loan. Even if you could get funded, the very idea of adding a few hundred thousand dollars in debt may give you what is commonly, if not medically, described as the heebie-jeebies. It's time to change your thinking. Not only are you likely to be overwhelmed with lenders happy to do business with you, but owning a profitable practice is also one of the best ways to pay down your student loans in less time. That will leave you able to do things you'd like better than servicing personal debt. Think buying a home, saving for retirement or your kids' college fund, or going on real vacations. "Being in business for yourself and growing that business makes sense," says Greg O'Brien. He and his wife, Emily, own O'Brien Veterinary Group in the greater Chicago area. "Getting your mind set to do that can be challenging, even for a group of people as intelligent as veterinarians. Often, the first thing so many veterinarians need to do is examine and reprogram their relationship with money." Understanding the number …
New resource keeps COVID out of the workplaceJuly 21, 2020As part of an ongoing effort to ensure the health and safety of veterinary teams amidst the pandemic, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has shared a new resource for veterinarians and practice managers.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy offering a 401(k) plan is a good ideaJuly 16, 2020As a veterinary practice owner, taking care of your employees is paramount to hiring and keeping wonderful staff around. By offering great benefits, you are showing they matter to you both in and out of the office. One extremely valuable benefit to offer is a 401(k), which allows your employees to put away money for retirement. In the past, practice owners may have felt a 401(k) was too costly or complex for small veterinary clinics to provide, but that's no longer the case. With the modern 401(k), you don't need to worry about having extensive investment knowledge, or even a lot of time to manage the plan. You'll get access to features that can make it both easier and less expensive for both you and your employees. How a modern 401(k) can help your practice According to a recent survey by Capital One, 94 percent of small business owners who offer a 401(k) plan say it helps with their recruitment and retention of employees. By providing this benefit, you show you value their contribution and want to help them invest in their future. Setting up a 401(k) can sound daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here's what you can …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhat is website accessibility and could you be at risk for a lawsuit?July 14, 2020Most business owners are familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the requirements this law imposes on them to make their facilities accessible to those with disabilities. For businesses that are "places of public accommodation" (e.g. veterinary practices), access includes providing on-site features including wheelchair ramps, handicap accessible bathrooms, and parking spots. In the past few years, there has been increasing debate around whether a company's website is an extension of a place of business and must be accessible just like its physical counterpart. The ADA does not speak directly to this question and the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is responsible for interpreting the act, has not weighed in on the matter. This ambiguity in the law has led to a wave of litigation, suggesting businesses with "inaccessible websites" are violating the ADA and are subject to penalties. While it is difficult to identify out-of-court settlements, according to the ADA, the maximum civil penalty for a first violation under title III ranges from $55,000 to $75,000. For a subsequent violation, the new maximum is $150,000. In 2019, there were thousands of lawsuits filed against businesses and tens of thousands of legal demand letters. In the fall of …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe pee line: How to plan for and respond to leg lifters in your practiceJuly 9, 2020As industry professionals, you do everything you can to keep your clinic sparkling clean. However, there is one particular situation that poses a unique challenge... dealing with those notorious little leg lifters! Everybody knows accidents happen, but whether the patient is large or small, urine of any kind is still extremely damaging to certain materials, interacting negatively with your floors, walls, and other areas. This article provides tips, tricks, and methods on how you can protect your clinic against the damages of pet urine... because let's face it, when you've got to go, you've got to go! A smelly situation Dog urine poses a significant threat to surfaces due to its chemical makeup. While all urine is primarily water (with inorganic salts and nitrogen-rich by-products, such as uric acid and creatine), dog urine is highly concentrated, and therefore, much more destructive. (Did you know dog urine can even etch stone?). To make things worse, pee can soak through wall and floor materials, and get trapped out of reach of your cleaning efforts. Through absorption, it penetrates the core of porous surfaces, and that is where the real problem begins. As urine breaks down and dries, it becomes more challenging to …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveIs it time to upgrade your payment system?July 7, 2020Many veterinarians are content using outdated payment systems in their practices, rather than dive into the unknown of adopting a new platform. However, using older technology (i.e. legacy systems) can negatively impact your bottom line, putting your practice or hospital at a competitive disadvantage and preventing you from optimizing efficiencies and/or growing your business. Not only that, but given the current situation with COVID, ensuring your system encourages contactless payment is critical to maintaining a safe workplace environment. Legacy systems can be costly to your practice, as hardware or software requires regular maintenance. Most IT experts will tell you that providing adequate support for outdated platforms is expensive, and in some cases, impossible. There also is the issue of security. When systems enter legacy territory, companies stop supporting and updating them. This can put your veterinary practice at higher risk for costly and disastrous data breaches. Despite these concerns, there is still reluctance among veterinary practices to update their payment systems. How do you know when it is time to turn in your old equipment? How do you select the right system for your practice? If your clinic is experiencing any of the following issues, it may be time to …
