iVET360 2018 report analyzes key veterinary clinic marketing metricsOctober 8, 2018 iVET360 veterinary services company released its annual Veterinary Marketing Benchmark Report, revealing statistics and trends in veterinary marketing for 2018. In the report, the company analyzed the marketing metrics of 1,000 accredited hospitals and covered approximately 27,000 data points to highlight crucial new information for practices regarding their marketing efforts. Topics covered in the report include introducing Nextdoor as a marketing tool, stressing the importance of Google (specifically highlighting the power of Google Ads—a tool only being used by 10 percent of hospitals), proper SEO usage, all things Google My Business, and the average number of reviews a practice has across their most dependable social channels. "Along with providing marketing assistance to veterinary hospitals, our goal is to lead the way and educate the industry on the most current and relevant marketing methods," said Justin Vandeberghe, managing director of creative services at iVET360. "Hospitals often contact us looking for industry benchmarks while asking us what they should be doing, and this report outlines what that average veterinary hospital hopes to achieve." Veterinary practices can download the report and receive a complimentary digital report of their business (within 24 hours) by contacting iVET360 and providing their …
SPONSORED CONTENTThis new food helps puppies with digestive issuesHill's Prescription Diet i/d Kitten helps ease digestive upsets with food specialized for kittens, including our ActivBiome+ Digestion formula. + Learn More
What the future may hold for televeterinary practiceOctober 4, 2018As a veterinary futurist, it seems to me the rate of change in our profession is increasing, which could lead to an economic boon for practically every segment of the veterinary profession. I believe the greatest opportunity for the profession in the coming decades is providing veterinary education, experience, and expertise remotely to pet owners in the emerging middle class in developing countries. Remote teleconsulting regarding food and nondomestic animals will likely increase, but in light of the human-animal bond, I believe the explosive growth will be in helping inexperienced pet owners access companion animal health care.
Four ways to use forward-bookingOctober 4, 2018Forward booking, or scheduling all patients’ future appointments before they leave the practice after their current visit, can provide timely patient care and dramatically improve your bottom line. However, industry research shows only five percent of veterinarians use forward booking compared to 80 percent of dentists. Increasing forward-booked exams by 10 percent would add $40,000 in annual revenue for a typical veterinary hospital. Here are a few tips on how to forward book four appointment types.
How to listen... and truly hearOctober 2, 2018There are several advantages to being a great listener, and not all of them are purely altruistic. Here are some of my experiences with the power of listening.
AVMA economist shares findings on antibiotics, sustainabilityOctober 1, 2018Matthew J. Salois, chief economist for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), presented to the New York Academy of Sciences on the implications of raising animals without antibiotics. The presentation, "Sustainability and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Agriculture," calls for nuanced and evidence-based antibiotic policies that consider a holistic view of antibiotics' impacts on animal welfare, the environment, and economics. In recent years, some companies and consumers have embraced raising animals without antibiotics; today, nearly half of all broiler chickens are raised without antibiotics, according to the AVMA. During his presentation, Dr. Salois cautioned that reduced use of antibiotics in farm animals can have negative implications for animal welfare and the overall sustainability of animal agriculture, if not accompanied by appropriate changes in management practices. For example, the average mortality rate for broiler chickens raised without antibiotics can be 25 to 50 percent higher than for conventionally raised broiler chickens, he said. Additionally, birds raised without antibiotics are much more likely to suffer from painful medical conditions, such as being more than three times as likely to experience ammonia burns in their eyes, Salois added. The higher incidences of disease and mortality for birds raised without antibiotics, …
Tips for improving medication compliance among cat ownersSeptember 28, 2018When dispensing medication for in-home treatment of feline patients, owner compliance is a concern due to the unique challenges of administering medication to cats, according to Kindred Biosciences Inc. "Cats have natural behaviors that may make medication administration challenging, and this can be complicated in ill cats that are also anorexic, nauseated, or vomiting," said Christina Fernandez, DVM, MRCVS, DACVECC, professional services veterinarian with Kindred. "Palatability is also a huge factor, and most cats are finicky when it comes to food." To improve compliance, Dr. Fernandez shares five tips veterinarians can focus on: Communication Written information Frequency of veterinary visits Veterinarian continuity Selection of medications Communication is essential, said Fernandez. Veterinarians or veterinary nurses can demonstrate to cat owners how to administer a medication while still in the office. This helps avoid complications and promotes active discussion with the client. If possible, written instructions can be provided. "Follow-up calls from the veterinary clinic staff can help increase owner compliance," said Fernandez. "This can facilitate identification of issues to be addressed with the clinical state of the patient and concerns with the treatment plan while offering an opportunity to set up a follow-up appointment if one isn't already on the books." …
WSAVA releases first global guidelines for companion animal practitionersSeptember 26, 2018The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is highlighting the key role of veterinarians as animal welfare advocates with the launch of its Animal Welfare Global Guidelines for Companion Animal Practitioners and the Veterinary Team. The guidelines, introduced during WSAVA World Congress 2018 in Singapore, aim to bridge differing perceptions of welfare around the world and help veterinarians to tackle the ethical questions and moral issues that impact welfare. They offer guidance to ensure that veterinarians can advocate for animals' psychological, social, and environmental well-being. WSAVA currently offers Global Guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including pain management, vaccination, nutrition, and dentistry. "As veterinarians, our responsibility extends far beyond the physical health of our patients," said Shane Ryan, BVSc, MVC, CVA, MRCVS, incoming president of WSAVA and former chair of the WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee. "Animal welfare as a science is a new and rapidly developing discipline and veterinarians need current, evidence-based information to enable them to maintain the highest welfare standards and to provide knowledgeable, accurate advice for pet owners and communities. "Our new guidelines provide recommendations, checklists, and other tools to promote optimal levels of welfare throughout the veterinary visit. They also offer guidance …
The dedicated referralist's handbookSeptember 24, 2018Want to know the secret to a win-win-win relationship among you, your clients, and your local ER or specialist? It should come as a surprise to no one that clear, unambiguous communication, mutual respect, and a principled approach to achieving what’s best for each individual patient is the key to healthy relationships between referrings (most of you), ERs and specialists (fewer of you), and our clients. Because it’s what’s best for our patients, after all.
How infographics boost veterinary practices' public relations and marketingSeptember 19, 2018Although infographics have been around for a while, many people aren't clear on what they are and how to use them. An infographic is a graphic display of data, information, facts, opinions, etc., intended to organize information in a visual, easy-to-digest manner to quickly and clearly help viewers understand the message. Often, infographics include photos, illustrations, statistics, and facts. Infographics actually have been around for centuries. No doubt you've seen them throughout your lifetime, you probably just didn't realize you were looking at one. One important infographic you likely encountered during your school years is the Periodic Table of Elements. Today, many businesses use infographics to share important information. They are ideal for the veterinary industry. Several of my Chicago-area clients used an infographic to help spread the word about the highly-contagious H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus when it first hit the United States in 2015. It was used by multiple veterinary clinics, local shelters, and news media, and was shared in print and via social media. It reached an estimated 100,000 people. This infographic was so popular that one of my colleagues discovered it at a local dog park. Someone, unknown to us, had likely come across the infographic …
Stop hiding patient care "in back"September 12, 2018While consulting at one practice, I observed client after client challenge receptionists over fees for exams and other professional services. The high-volume hospital performed exams, gave vaccines, and delivered other services in the treatment area in the interest of efficiency. Conducting professional services behind closed doors left pet owners questioning charges. Some even wondered whether their pets were really vaccinated.
