Veterinarians wanted: Half-dead or aliveFebruary 22, 2019Today, as a profession and as people who share our homes with pets for comfort or therapy, our ranches with horses for work or pleasure, or depend on animals for our livelihood or research, we face a looming crisis. Simply put, the glass isn’t half full or empty when it comes to veterinarians—it’s running dry.
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What veterinarians can learn from the Sears bankruptcyFebruary 20, 2019Sears, one of America's longest standing household names, recently raised the white flag and filed for bankruptcy. Started by Robert Sears in 1886, the company bearing his name clearly struggled in the past few years. The reasons are important and somewhat universal lessons to be applied. So how can veterinarians avoid mistakes that brought a 133-year-old iconic business to its knees? Adapt or die Sears was a pioneer in catalog sales, but slow to change with the times. More recently, it struggled to compete with Walmart and other big box stores. Similarly, veterinary practices face competition from multiple "players," including low-cost vaccine businesses (e.g. farm stores, feed stores, human pharmacies, pet stores), spay and neuter clinics, and even local family practices. This has profoundly affected the profitability of practices that relied heavily on "yearly shots," instead of focusing on the importance of (bi)yearly physical exams. Sadly, this philosophy made vaccines look like commodities, which means clients are likely to gravitate to the cheaper provider. Another factor that has historically affected revenue is the development of three-year vaccines. Again, those of us who didn't stress the value and importance of a (bi)annual exam are now facing clients who feel they …
Veterinary gender wage disparities—Why planet Venus pays less (and what to do about it)February 8, 2019Last July, the principal flutist at the Boston Symphony Orchestra filed a lawsuit alleging it had discriminated against her "by paying her an amount less than other comparable males." Though she records and performs more solos than the principal oboist (a comparable position in any symphony orchestra), she's paid 75 percent of what he makes. When I heard about this lawsuit, my brain veered directly toward veterinary medicine. Of course there's a wage gap, but surely there's more to it than that. As the French say, men and women are equal… yet different. No one can deny the biological, the cerebral, and the societal differences separating us. Our bodies differ, our brains vary, and our culture therefore perceives us in very disparate ways. This, it's clear, forms the basis for fundamental unfairness when it comes to compensation. Yet, there's more to it than that. This is what we'll have to grapple with if we're going to change things. And change them we must for our profession's sake. Mind the veterinary wage gap There's no arguing the fact of the gap. The 2013 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Report on Veterinary Compensation shows us that in 2011, female veterinarians in …
If I knew then what I know nowFebruary 8, 2019If you had the chance, what would you tell your younger self? For that matter, what would you tell an aspiring veterinarian or recent graduate? I asked several colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and niches one simple question: What do you wish you knew when you were younger? There were three categories of answers: personal advice, business advice, and medical advice. Here's what our panelists had to say. (See the box at the bottom right for who they are.) Personal advice Rebecca Tudor recommends finding people to whom you can delegate tasks. "You can't do it all, so find people who can help you run errands, shop, and do anything you need to get off your to-do list." Of course, you don't have to be a millionaire to do that. You can get just about anything delivered to your doorstep these days, from a book of stamps to prepared meals for a week. Peter Pelissier encourages you to "be willing, at the end of every day, to walk away and leave all the anxiety and frustration at the practice. Spend quality time with your family and friends, and be emotionally present. All the pressure will be waiting for you …
Ethical issues for today's veterinarian in the digital ageFebruary 7, 2019Have you thought about ethical issues in the new digital age? The world we live in is vastly different from just a few years ago. Remember the days when getting a taxi meant hoping to see one drive by on the street and waving frantically to get the driver's attention? Not so today, given the various apps available literally at our fingertips. This digital revolution seems to have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, including the way we practice veterinary medicine, which raises several ethical and legal questions. What type of world will we practice in as we evolve in the digital age and adopt new technology allowing unprecedented generation and access to digital data? Will it be one in which people in animal health just obey the law, or one where they are obedient to the unenforceable: honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect, caring for others, and courage2? These are the universal elements of ethics to consider, as we encounter specific challenges of embracing and using technology in practice. The whole veterinary community is responsible for upholding its ethical norm now that veterinarians can digitally support "pet parents" at home and in between visits. Playing catch up with innovation Veterinary medicine …
Choosing the right PIMS for your practiceFebruary 5, 2019Love 'em or hate 'em, all veterinary practices need one: a practice information management system (PIMS). There are so many factors to consider when researching which PIMS is the best fit for your clinic. They include practice efficiency, integrations, data security and backup, and impact to the client experience. No doubt, change can be complicated, especially when transitioning to a new PIMS. It can often feel a bit overwhelming for veterinary teams that are already stretched thin. However, choosing a PIMS that works for your practice is possible, resulting in overall improvements to practice workflow, productivity, and even team satisfaction. Understand your workflow needs—now and in the future A good PIMS should provide the foundation and infrastructure for a smooth workflow today and five years from now, but you must know what you're looking for at the outset to ensure a successful outcome. Remember, you can't buy software to improve your internal processes if you do not first understand them, as well as your pain points. For example, if your practice is looking to go paperless, consider how a system manages client and patient information, how it monitors inpatient care, and how its mobile functionality works. Not ready for paperless? …
Building trust with pet parents through digital marketingFebruary 5, 2019Pet parents come in all shapes and sizes, ages and genders, backgrounds and income levels. Yet, they all share a few common concerns that guide them as they choose a veterinarian. In addition to a convenient location and budget considerations, such as pricing and the availability of financing, pet parents put a high premium on finding a veterinarian they can trust. Why is trust so important to today's pet parents? Today's pet owners live in a world that tells them they shouldn't trust anybody. The combination of claims of "fake news," well-loved celebrities and politicians acting badly, or major corporations indulging in unethical behavior results in a public wary to take anything on faith. The benefit of the doubt has evaporated, leaving veterinarians forced to market themselves in an environment where customers do research before committing to even the smallest purchase. (Think sports drinks and snack foods.) Choosing to get health care for a pet is a high-consequence decision. Seventy-eight percent of pet owners agree a pet is a member of the family.1 In July 2018, a survey conducted by Pew Internet and American Life found more than one in five people research specific physicians and hospitals before seeking …
Not planning an exit strategy? You shouldFebruary 4, 2019The average baby boomer today is approximately 63 years of age, and in seven years, all of them will be over the age of 60. Obviously, this has implications on the number of veterinary practice owners exiting their business. Baby boomers are unique. Unlike generation Xers who value time, traditionalists who value community/family, and millennials who value individuality, baby boomers value success. They are also known for their 60-hour work week. These two attributes—working hard and being successful—should also play a role in how baby boomers approach their exit strategy. The Exit Planning Institute (EPI) estimates 50 per cent of business exits are involuntary, meaning they are unplanned and/or unexpected. If you are fortunate, you will experience an unplanned exit because you received an offer for your practice you did not expect; if you do receive an offer, we would advise you not accept the first offer without seeking professional advice. Why's that? Well, it is likely neither the only offer available nor is it likely to be the best offer. The reality, however, is most involuntary exits are due to death, disability, divorce, or disputes. Avoiding regret and preparing for an unexpected exit Engaging in an exit planning …
Five reasons clients will love your dental experienceFebruary 4, 2019What if clients loved their pets' dental experiences at your veterinary hospital? As most dogs and cats have periodontal disease by age three, you will speak with clients multiple times about dental treatments over their pets' lifetimes. Creating a positive experience for the first dental procedure can set you up for success when you need to present future care. Here are five strategies for creating stellar client satisfaction through your dental services. 1) Tackle paperwork in advance. Don't wait until the morning of procedures to get signatures. Clients may have experienced road rage while driving to your clinic, chased the cat for 45 minutes trying to get it into the carrier, and were late for work. Instead, have clients sign treatment plans and anesthetic consent forms on the day of diagnosis when they book procedures. At my recent seminar in Reno, Nev., a technician testified this tactic reduced a 20-minute surgical admission to seven minutes. A backup plan is to use text and email together. Two days before the procedure, text the client to confirm the admission appointment: "See you tomorrow at 8 a.m. for <pet name's> dental admission. No food after 10 p.m. Water is OK. We emailed …
Why a happy veterinary profession needs independent practicesJanuary 21, 2019Does it seem so unlikely we might suffer from an epidemic of unhappy veterinarians?