VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFrom the trenches: How life has changed since COVID-19 came into our livesApril 23, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAThe hospital is quiet as I walk in at the start of my shift. The usual bustle of clients, staff, and animals has been replaced by empty hallways and only a few masked doctors and nurses going about their work quietly, careful to keep their distance from each other. I stop at the screening table and start my day by taking my temperature. It is under 100.4 F, and I have no cough or other respiratory symptoms, which means I can work today. I set down my belongings at my desk and go to change my clothes. I wear scrubs every day now, and I have a pair of dedicated work shoes that stay at the hospital. I also have a collection of beautiful cloth face masks sewn by one of our employees—I wear a clean one every day. At the end of my shift, all of my work clothes go into the laundry. When I get home, everything I took to work stays in the garage. I pass quickly through the house and take a shower before I greet my family. I am especially mindful to keep my distance from my elderly mother, who lives with us, and …
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The long-term service contract dilemmaApril 23, 2020Imagine this… After many, many years of practice, you've sold your three-doctor clinic, Four Legged Friends Veterinary Hospital, to an associate who had been with you for several years, leaving you and your spouse able to retire to the sunny coast of Florida. One day you go to the mailbox and find an ominous-looking letter sent by an out-of-state law firm. Its contents inform you the firm represents the outside laboratory company your practice used for many years. It also advises you that since Four Legged Friends Veterinary Hospital has not been using their client's services for the last several months, you are in breach of contract. Not only that, but there are three years remaining on your contract. Since you agreed to the contract and signed it personally, the lab is expecting $60,000 in compensation from you for its loss of business. The letter states the money will go toward repayment of the loan you were given by the lab when you signed the contract. Wait, what? You thought the $60,000 was a signing bonus. The company wants to be paid within 30 days or it will proceed with collection by filing legal action against you for breach …
Pay it forward: Four ways you can be generousApril 23, 2020When it comes to giving back, there are different ways to run a generous business in veterinary medicine that can benefit others.
Telehealth platform signs deal with WSVMAApril 8, 2020More than 1,800 clinics in the Evergreen State will soon be able to treat patients remotely, thanks to a new partnership.
The best exam we almost never do—and why we shouldApril 2, 2020One of the best ways to support your practice team and show them you care is to provide their pets with the best exams possible.
Incorporating telemedicine in the age of COVID-19April 1, 2020With the novel coronavirus and the need for social distancing defining our existence today, veterinarians must get creative and adapt because this won't be a one-month headache. Instead, how we reduce our direct and indirect contact with clients and their pets will serve as a defining moment for our profession. Telemedicine is one tool many veterinarians have turned to as a way to continue to assess and treat patients, while keeping staff safe. The need is real. On March 15, the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) published guidelines regarding the use of telemedicine as a method of practicing social distancing. And just a few days ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) temporarily lifted some of its federal requirements for telemedicine. Several digital platforms have emerged for assessing household pets' health symptoms and providing other clinical data; recommending options; and enabling pet owners to alert and correspond with their veterinarian. While telemedicine isn't meant to replace clinical exams, it does allow veterinarians to assess and treat their patients while keeping themselves, their staff, and their clients safe. For practitioners mulling telemedicine for the first time, consider the following tips: Look for a telemedicine platform, of which there are several, …
Cannabis and its role in the endocannabinoid biomeMarch 31, 2020With the recent interest and rapid growth of the cannabis industry, an understanding of the ECB is the first step toward developing a foundation in cannabis science.
Telemedicine provider's footprint expands with partnershipMarch 31, 2020A new partnership between a B2B telehealth company, Petriage, and Miller Veterinary Supply, a wholesale distributor, emphasizes the increased demand for connected care services in the animal health industry.
Tips for purchasing your first therapy laserMarch 30, 2020Here are the lessons I learned that you might find useful if you’re on the verge of bringing laser therapy into your practice.
How to use technicians as physician assistantsMarch 30, 2020Established in the mid-1960s, physician assistants are licensed to help deliver primary medical care under the supervision of a physician.
