Top vet practice tech picks for 2018January 18, 2018January may be the youngest month of the year but, sadly, it evokes adulthood as much as December does kid-dom. It’s time to do adult. And that’s not always so fun.
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What to do about growing stress in the veterinary professionJanuary 15, 2018Stress is an all-pervasive phenomenon in modern day societies and various professions, but the veterinary discipline suffers from the negative effects of stress and its sequelae at a troublingly disproportionate rate.
Why the Bureau of Health Care Services v. Dr. Pol is so importantJanuary 12, 2018Any time you have an aggrieved owner in your practice, you face the potential for a veterinary board investigation and immediate risk to your veterinary license. Veterinary boards represent the greatest threat to your right to practice your profession, which is why it’s vitally important that you do everything in your power to ensure that your state regulator conducts its proceedings to the highest standards of justice.
Are you protecting your passion for veterinary medicine?January 5, 2018 Compassion fatigue and burnout—everyone is talking about it. Try picking up any veterinary publication or attending any conference without seeing this subject appear at least once. There is a reason the subject is everywhere—it's because they are real and our colleagues are suffering. I wish to continue the conversation based on recent experiences. We've all seen the stats and certainly agree they are alarming. I do not claim to be an expert in these matters, but I have made the commitment to learn about it so that I can help my team and peers stay rooted in the passion that first brought them to the profession that they love. Veterinary professionals are kind, compassionate, and selfless people. It's a double-edged sword when that selflessness turns into fatigue and anxiety from pushing too hard, too long without enough self-care. I recently participated in a six-week online course called Compassion Fatigue RX. Hosted by Julie Squires, certified compassion fatigue specialist and certified life coach, this course was part of her efforts to help individuals and teams thrive in the midst of challenging and stressful work environments. I found this course to be an incredibly helpful and enlightening …
Securing a successful practice: E-myth part IIDecember 19, 2017I spoke with Michael Gerber, management guru and best-selling author of The E-Myth Revisited and the E-Myth book collection, and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, who co-wrote The E-Myth Veterinarian with Gerber.
Henry Schein acquires eVetPracticeDecember 19, 2017Henry Schein Inc. has acquired eVetPractice, a provider of cloud-based practice management solutions to veterinary clinics. The company will join Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions. "As the veterinary practice management software market expands into cloud-based solutions, we at Henry Schein understand that partnering with eVetPractice enhances our ability to power successful practices by providing our customers with the latest in value-added services and technology solutions," said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein. "Our distribution footprint and comprehensive technology offerings, which now include the cloud, ensure that veterinary professionals can continue to rely on us as a trusted advisor, as we endeavor to help them operate more efficient and successful practices while delivering quality care." Based in Athens, Ga., and founded in 2011, eVetPractice serves approximately 900 customers. The company was founded by Eddie Heinz, who will join the HSVS executive team and continue to lead the eVetPractice solution and customer support teams. Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions has North American offices in Oshkosh, Wis., Piedmont, Mo., and Trevose, Pa. Henry Schein Animal Health is based in Dublin, Ohio.
Industry roundtable: Done domesticallyDecember 18, 2017Veterinary Practice News: Please share whether all or part of your company’s products are manufactured in the USA. Are they assembled here with foreign materials/components in part or in full, are they assembled here with U.S.-made components, or a mix of both?
Dog and cat behavior myths debunkedDecember 15, 2017Veterinary behavior is a relatively new specialty in our profession. Unfortunately, as such, plenty of old wives tales persist. As veterinarians and veterinary nurses, we critically evaluate and use evidenced-based medicine for our patients on a daily basis, and this should apply to behavior and training, as well. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about our patient's behaviors that still are being propagated, despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Myth No. 1: Human dominance maintains proper structure and obedience Common things we hear: "Don't let your dog sleep on the bed or couch because you don't want them to think they're dominant." "You need to alpha roll your dog to show him who's boss." "Once I put him in his place, he behaved perfectly." "You need to always be the alpha." No species in the animal kingdom creates dominance hierarchies with another species. However, dogs do create dominance hierarchies among themselves. This fluid relationship is maintained primarily by the deferential dog and not the most assertive. Take, for example, two household dogs each given a rawhide. The two go to their respective corners. One dog finishes first, then approaches the other and takes the second chew for himself. …
What Veterinary Practice News readers loved in 2017December 15, 2017Another new year is upon us, but before we embrace 2018 and all it might have to offer veterinary professionals and the industry, let's recap Veterinary Practice News' 10 most-read features of 2017. 1. Canine influenza virus 2017: Beyond two show dogs 2. 10 secrets to keep your veterinary nurses happy 3. University of Minnesota develops cancer drug that helps dogs with hemangiosarcoma 4. Study: Cats eating dry food have increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes 5. Zoetis earns license for Cytopoint skin therapy 6. Raising greyhound health awareness 7. American Association of Feline Practitioners revises declawing position 8. The 7 top challenges facing veterinary medicine in 2017 9. Petco officially enters the veterinary hospital ring with Thrive 10. The strangest things vet techs have heard clients say
How veterinary social workers help clients, staffDecember 14, 2017After his canine partner was stabbed in the line of duty, an officer attached to a K-9 unit of the Knoxville Police Department carried the dog into the emergency room at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center (UTVMC).