VPN Plus+ ExclusiveReducing HAIs in the practiceDecember 11, 2020Animal patients are also at risk for hospital-acquired infections after surgery. Keys to prevention include cleaning and disinfecting common areas around the clinic, not just exam rooms and surgery tables.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusivePlaying monopoly with real money: How veterinarians are losing the price warOctober 30, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBACompetition is alive and well in veterinary medicine. But as our industry confronts increased corporatization and consolidation, the word has acquired a new resonance for many of us.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveA captive audience: The power of digital communicationOctober 20, 2020I usually get the same answer when I ask what the biggest issue in the veterinary practice is: Communication. Most, if not all, problems within a practice or any business really stems from poor communication. Poor team, poor client, or poor owner/manager communication. The effects COVID has had on communication between clients and the practice has been dramatic to say the least. So how can we connect to our disconnected clients and improve communication? How can we use our social media platforms to bring our clients into the fold of the practice all while being online? Social media can be bittersweet for many veterinary practices. The time and effort it takes to plan and post good quality content is generally the biggest and most common hurdle. Some practices have turned to keeping clients informed on changes and updates by posting to their website, but often overlook their social media pages. Last March, everyone faced a major communication hurdle and in a lot of ways, digital communication was the primary method people used to stay in touch. Veterinary practices had to pivot quickly and adopt lots of new ways of delivering patient care and good client communication. They turned to video, …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhen bad reviews happen to good veterinariansOctober 14, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAEveryone reacts differently, but there’s no getting away from the fact negative reviews hurt, which is exactly what the reviewer is trying to achieve.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveHow to service a mixed-demographic clienteleOctober 1, 2020 It should go without saying, not all veterinary practices are alike. Not all regions of the country are alike. Not all communities are homogeneous. Not all clients have unlimited resources to devote to the care of their pets. Yet, over the years, we have found ourselves frequently confronted with opinion pieces, written by practice management "experts" whose advice may be distilled down to one catchy phrase: "Charge what you're worth." Those of us who have been doing this for a while know things aren't always quite that simple. My practice of 27 years was a good example. We were located equidistant from million-dollar homes and Section-8 housing. The former group of clients appreciated the fact we kept our pricing under control, the latter group absolutely required it, and we serviced every demographic group in between. The real cost of treatment A litany of very good reasons is always advanced for raising prices, including the rising debt-to-income ratios of our newer veterinarians, the need to attract skilled support staff into our clinics, and the overall rising cost of doing business, which always seems to exceed the rate of inflation. None of this is disputed; nevertheless, …
Clear communication key when leading amidst uncertaintySeptember 23, 2020When guiding a team, clear communication and a sense of understanding is key, regardless of the landscape.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBest practices for managing part-time clinicians at multidoctor practicesSeptember 22, 2020 Veterinary practice is a team effort, requiring commitment and dedication from all staff members to provide optimal care for each pet, keep clients happy, and maintain profitability. Within a multidoctor practice, this team effort can be put to the test when some of the clinicians work part-time. Why choose part-time? Veterinarians who choose to work part-time do so for a variety of reasons, such as pursuing a second career. Laura Hoffman, DVM, who works as the sole part-time veterinarian in a multidoctor practice and teaches in the pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology department at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., knew full-time veterinary practice was not for her. Doing part-time veterinary work gave her "the ability to have another career while staying current with medicines, treatments, and diagnostics in veterinary medicine," says Dr. Hoffman. Karen Todd-Jenkins, VMD, who works as a part-time veterinarian at two veterinary practices and is a medical writer, has been doing relief and part-time veterinary work for more than 15 years. This type of work "gives me the variety and schedule flexibility I need," she says. "I don't think I'd be nearly as happy or fulfilled working full-time." Other reasons veterinarians choose part-time work include raising …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe muzzling of science and the veterinarian's roleSeptember 16, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAAn acceptance of “un-science” is happening despite the fact most of us carry the bulk of this planet’s available information on our person at all times. The facts are literally at our fingertips.
Figuring out controlled substances regulations: Where do I start?September 11, 2020Finding answers to questions regarding controlled substances can be overwhelming, confusing, and time-consuming. It is difficult to know where to look for regulations and to determine which ones to should follow.
What kind of impostor are you?September 11, 2020Despite the kudos, the high fives, and the congrats, do you feel like you fooled everybody into thinking you’re better than you are? Like you don’t deserve the praise?
