Disinfection protocols: A clean startJanuary 24, 2018The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your disinfection protocols. Disinfection is vital to prevent the spread of infectious disease, but often, veterinary staff are either unaware or confused about proper sanitation.
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Ohio lawsuit shows importance of wage-and-hour planningJanuary 23, 2018Legal claims for unpaid overtime or other wages can be daunting. Under federal law, an employee who prevails on such a claim typically will be awarded double damages plus his or her court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
Profession trends: E-myth part IIIJanuary 22, 2018I 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. We talked about big trends in our profession such as corporate medicine and school debt.
How veterinarians cope with patient deathJanuary 22, 2018Every veterinarian experiences occasional complications, sad outcomes, or patient deaths, but some have developed coping skills and strategies that help them manage the emotional impact and learn and grow from these events, according to a study authored by Sara White, DVM, MSc. The study will appear in the February 2018 issue of the journal Anthrozoös. The study questioned 32 shelter and spay-neuter veterinarians about their experiences, thoughts, and reactions as they coped with life-threatening complications or death related to spay-neuter. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns in the responses of veterinarians who were successful in coping with these adverse events. In the aftermath of a patient death or serious complication, veterinarians who were surveyed described feelings of guilt, sadness, anxiety, and self-doubt, and felt deep empathy for their clients. Some said they never recovered from the trauma of these events, while others were able to transform the incidents into learning experiences and opportunities for growth in their technical and emotional skills. The veterinarians who coped most effectively were those who were able to talk openly with colleagues about the events, and who were able to learn and improve protocols. Further, successful veterinarians had learned to place the loss into perspective, and had developed expertise in how to handle and support themselves through the event's …
Taking the fear out of anesthesiaJanuary 19, 2018During a checkup, you identify dental disease in a senior pet and explain the need for treatment. The pet owner declines care. In situations like this, veterinarians often blame price as the obstacle when fear of anesthesia may be the culprit.
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.
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.
