When to shift from veterinary clinician to counselorMarch 29, 2017Loyalty is a firm and consistent allegiance and a lasting faithfulness. That is what we all want with our valued clients. Because end-of-life circumstances are supercharged with emotions, almost everything you do or say at this time either deepens client loyalty or causes the opposite reaction—which you certainly do not want.
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Why pet insurance is a win for vets and petsMarch 28, 2017Europe loves pet health insurance. North America? Not so much. Even though the North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s latest survey showed record growth in the number of insured pets—1.6 million as of 2015—that accounts for less than 1 percent of the total population of owned dogs and cats in the United States and Canada.
10 inventory myths and mistakesMarch 27, 2017Pop quiz 1: What’s a clinic’s highest expense? No cheating or peeking. If you answered payroll or labor, you are correct. Pop quiz 2: What’s a clinic’s second-highest expense? Think about it. Think some more. If you answered inventory, you are in the minority of people who aced both questions. In a well-managed practice, inventory might make up about 20 percent of revenue.
5 reasons why you should think like your vet clientsMarch 21, 2017They say it’s true for all doctors. After we start practicing medicine, we lose sight of the view from the other side of the exam room table. Whether we’ve been practicing 20 years or two weeks, docs have a way of forgetting what it feels like to need the help of a medical professional. This, too often, lays the groundwork for us-and-them-style thinking.
Why vets need to change with the timesMarch 21, 2017I believe that many pets visiting veterinary offices think they are going to die. Imagine being hung by your suspenders halfway out of a 30th-floor window, or being held up at gunpoint.
What not to ask veterinary applicantsMarch 20, 2017Today’s labor and employment laws provide a wide range of protections for job applicants. This is most apparent in the area of discrimination. Under federal, state and local laws, it is unlawful to discriminate against job applicants on the basis of numerous characteristics.
Understaffed? How to stay productive in the vet practiceMarch 20, 2017A veterinary technician moved out of state when her husband’s job was transferred. A receptionist cut hours to be home with her new baby. Worse yet, you’ve had a vacant technician job for six months because you can’t find qualified candidates.
How to help clients when pets are diagnosed with life-ending diseaseMarch 1, 2017Sadly, the veterinary medical care team often is faced with patients that have been diagnosed with a life-ending disease. With pets having such a high rate of severe osteoarthritis, cancer, renal disease and heart failure, care teams frequently will be confronted with clients who must come to grips with the news that their beloved pet has limited time left.
Why practicing best medicine helps pets and vetsFebruary 28, 2017The concerned pet owner—let’s call her Reagan—had a 15-pound, 6-year-old female poodle named Sassy. I almost always ask the genesis of a pet’s name, and Sassy was short for Sassafras, which happened to be this gourmet cook’s favorite spice.
The 7 top challenges facing veterinary medicine in 2017February 27, 2017Dear fellow veterinarians and devoted industry insiders: As I write this, Jan. 1 is dawning. It’s a beautiful day here in Miami and a great time to reflect on how prosperous a year veterinary medicine has enjoyed. Despite our many challenges, soon to be outlined below, our profession is flourishing. I, for one, am grateful to be a veterinarian in 2017. Please do not interpret anything below as evidence otherwise.
