Create an employee wellness plan for the winAugust 23, 2018The mental health of veterinary professionals is the topic at all of our professional meetings and in all the publications. I'm so thankful that it has transitioned from a taboo topic to a mainstream one. While attending the July 2018 AVMA and VetPartners meetings in Denver, I had the pleasure of meeting and learning from several esteemed people who are teaching and coaching on the topic. As a practice management consultant, I am always looking for ways to help my clients improve their practices. So, in evaluating all that I learned about this topic, I began to wonder… all of this talk is fantastic, but what are clinics doing to turn these conversations into action? Veterinary practice leaders need help creating and executing a wellness plan that fits their practice and and their team. Daily practice is hard and busy, and despite your best intentions, the demands of patients and clients fill your days, leaving bigger projects such as an employee wellness plan on the back burner. I turned to certified compassion fatigue coach Julie Squires for guidance. Julie is with Rekindle (rekindlesolutions.com) and is known nationwide …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe Case for Year-Round Heartworm Prevention and Affordable OptionsVeterinarians are often more than just clinicians - they’re advisors, educators, and, increasingly, financial counselors. In today’s economy, pet owners may hesitate to invest in year-round prevention due to budget constraints; but, skipping even a few months of heartworm protection can have serious consequences. + Learn More
BabelBark gains $4.5 million Series A funding to spur growthAugust 20, 2018BabelBark Inc., a pet related software developer, has announced the completion of its Series A funding target, reaching a sum of $4.5 million. Launched in 2016, BabelBark connects pets with pet care businesses (i.e. veterinary practices, trainers, shelters, groomers, walkers, pet sitters, boarding kennels, and more) through a digital platform with a mobile application. It offers activity monitoring as well as connection to primary care and emergency veterinary services, medical records and medication reminders, regional/local pet service providers, and products designed to help pet parents monitor and manage their pet's unique needs. Since the beginning of 2018 the company has seen a 300 percent growth in the number of dogs connected to the multifaceted platform resulting in additional funding that surpassed the original target of $2.9 million. The surplus will be used toward the company's global expansion as well as more marketing resources and recruiting top talent. "We are excited for this strong financial support from both of our new and existing investors who share our vision to connect everyone in a pet's life," said Roy Stein, founder and CEO. "We are ahead of our targets in every parameter and this funding expansion will help us reach more than …
Will death do you part?July 7, 2018There’s an underlying expectation among pet owners that veterinarians understand the human-animal bond is everlasting. As such, how a veterinarian handles this end-of-life process can determine the client’s future relationship with the practice.
Are small-town clinics on the way out?July 6, 2018Veterinary practice ownership, like the continental drift, is gradually moving and shifting across our time. The trend now points toward increased corporate ownership and practice consolidators, whereas previously there were more private, solo-owned practices.
Four steps to improved veterinary client complianceJuly 6, 2018Approaching veterinary client compliance is a multipronged process that includes determining who your client is, assessing your team, assessing the practice, and more. As a veterinary practice management consultant, I regularly meet veterinary professionals who struggle with client compliance. Why won't they accept our recommendations? Why don't they get it? How can I make them understand? They just don't want to pay. These are all common problems I am asked to help solve. Determine who your client is Before you attempt to increase client compliance, you have to figure out who your clients are. What does your target audience look like? What demographic are you serving? How does that compare to the mission and goal of the practice? If there is a disconnect between the type of pet owner coming in to your practice and what your practice is trying to deliver, success is going to be harder to achieve. Assess your team The second part of increasing client compliance is having a team that is well trained in interpersonal skills, communication styles, and fostering relationships with clients, pets, and each other. Creating a supportive culture and fostering comradery are the first two steps to having team members who …
Mission: Possible?July 5, 2018In the U.S., roughly 179 million households include pets. With the addition of 2.05 million U.S. farming operations and the millions of livestock being raised, the growing demand for veterinary services is a no-brainer.
10 pitfalls of an incomplete handbookJuly 4, 2018The employee handbook is an important tool for veterinary employers, yet many veterinary employers still do not have one, and those that do often have one that is outdated or inadequate.
Find a culture crush, not a culture clashJuly 2, 2018Veterinary hospitals employ many talented medical professionals, but it’s an establishment’s culture that really sets it apart. When applying for a position within a veterinary practice, will any job do or are you looking for the best long-term fit?
Patterson Veterinary, Cure Partners, launch NaVetor cloud-based PMSJune 28, 2018Patterson Veterinary and Cure Partners have formed a new business, Technology Partner Innovations LLC, which is launching a cloud-based practice management software, NaVetor. "NaVetor was designed to be beautifully easy," said Ali Hashmat, CEO of Cure Partners. "The software was created uniquely for veterinary practices to follow veterinary professionals' work day and workflow." NaVetor's features include: Quick-view dashboard – Important information consolidated into a single view Appointment calendar – Customizable display to quickly schedule or reschedule appointments Whiteboard – Snapshot view of everything happening in the veterinary practice Electronic medical records – Create and maintain paperless medical records for each patient Billing and financial management – Streamline administrative processes and easily manage the business side of practice Inventory – Manage inventory electronically to take the guesswork out of ordering and reordering Reporting – Manage the business and identify growth areas Conversion and training – Onboarding and support Visit navetor.com for more information.
Does your clinic's entrance frighten pets?June 27, 2018If you want to see first-hand one of the problems our profession faces, spend a couple of hours on a clinic stakeout. Park your car outside a couple of veterinary hospitals and watch pet owners enter the practice.
