The secret lives of vet techsOctober 6, 2017Veterinary technicians are dedicated professionals that possess very special sets of skills. However, in honor of National Technician Week, Oct. 15-21, I wanted to highlight several technicians who have developed skills well beyond those they display daily at their small animal practices. Veterinary technicians' work and personal lives run the gamut: some work in the pharmaceutical industry, for associations, and in the army. Others work at human hospitals, in journalism, and in startup businesses. Some are avid collectors or are obsessed with popular culture, and others have culinary skills impressive enough to compete on national television. Here, though, I chose to focus on a few veterinary techs who enjoy more physical hobbies. One would never guess at their passions upon first meeting them—they are humble in spite of their surprising and extreme skills. Here are their fascinating stories. Kerri "I'm very active outside of work. I gained interest in weight training about three years ago, initially as a means to get in better shape. But the more I did it, the more I enjoyed it. Eventually, it turned into a passion. I don't see it as a chore—I looked forward to it. "I've learned a lot along the way, not …
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Ask yes or yes questions for positive resultsOctober 5, 2017If you’re tired of negotiating with clients over professional service and product pricing, it’s time to change your approach. Sales professionals guide their process with the “two-yes-options” technique; let’s look at how your team can turn “no” answers into “yes” decisions.
VitusVet adds direct appointment booking to suite of servicesOctober 4, 2017VitusVet, a pay-for-performance digital solution for veterinary practices, added direct appointment booking to its suite of services available to practices in North America.
5 considerations when choosing veterinary flooringSeptember 29, 2017Modern veterinary facilities and animal shelters face the same weighty challenges as human healthcare settings, with the added concerns of zoonotic pathogens, odor control, and managing patients of different species. Biosecurity ranks high on the list of priorities, as does overall patient comfort, both of which can significantly influence treatment outcomes.
First and lasting impressionsSeptember 26, 2017Research shows that a first impression—the initial feeling or opinion about something or someone—usually takes place within seconds of an encounter. First and ongoing impressions can possibly make or break whether someone revisits a particular place, including a veterinary hospital.
Reducing the fear factorSeptember 25, 2017Not even her owner could handle her, and he told his veterinarian, Jonathan Bloom, DVM, of Willowdale Animal Hospital in Toronto, that he just wasn’t going to bring Dakota in anymore.
Under constructionSeptember 22, 2017Thirty months (and counting), two furiously determined women, a forbearing team, and a whole lot of Cuban coffee. That’s what it took to make our practice’s long-overdue remodel-slash-expansion happen.
How a clear mission can spur purposeSeptember 20, 2017You and your team members may feel like hamsters on a wheel, constantly spinning, with no vision beyond the daily routine. I imagine you are satisfied with providing daily care to patients, because that’s what we do as veterinary professionals.
Many happy returnsSeptember 19, 2017The task of determining the best return on investment (ROI) on veterinary clinic equipment isn’t easy. Myriad variables enter into purchasing decisions, including cost and tax savings from depreciation; whether to pay cash or finance; operating costs, maintenance, and service plans; personnel costs to operate the equipment; staff training; projected frequency of use; and client charge structure.
Clients on the criminal docket: The Lakeville lettersSeptember 18, 2017As a practice owner, you surely have encountered difficult clients. Some are argumentative, some are irrational, and some, you suspect, are downright crazy. While we all have client horror stories to share, the nightmare endured by Southfork Animal Hospital in Lakeville, Minn., may be hard to top.
