Spotlight on laser therapyApril 4, 2018Some say not as many practices are using therapeutic lasers as there could or should be. But as new research continues to emerge, laser therapy becomes more accepted and is no longer viewed as an alternative approach.
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Why practice owners should copy hotels for inspirationApril 4, 2018You've probably had the experience of eating out at a restaurant where the food was great but the overall experience was terrible. You were seated 30 minutes after your reservation time, the server was aloof and, at times, rude, and the kitchen got your original order wrong—and then stuck it on the bill before you pointed out the error. It doesn't matter that the steak you ended up eating—the offering you actually paid for—was cooked and seasoned to perfection, tender to the bone, and delicious; at the end of the meal, you walked away feeling like you'd had an extremely negative experience and, chances are, you thought twice about ever returning to that restaurant again. The veterinary service you provide your patients is, in many ways, no different from the service you get when you eat at a restaurant—at least when it comes to customer experience. While your patients come to you for a specific service (veterinary care), just like you went to that restaurant for a steak, their overall judgment of the value of that service will be determined just as much by their overall experience and the way they were treated as by the quality of care they …
The future of veterinary inventory managementMarch 23, 2018Running a veterinary hospital is no easy task—managing staff, client experience, finances, and marketing, not to mention delivering quality medical care to patients, are top of mind. In general, inventory management gets pushed aside. Having managed veterinary hospitals large and small, I certainly understand how inventory can be neglected. During my career, the priority in managing inventory was to keep the hospital stocked, with little regard to controlling costs. If we ran out of a medication or a product, I would get an earful. Over the past five years, veterinary medicine has changed. The cost of goods, overhead expenses, and, especially, wages are increasing at an unstainable rate. Minimum wage laws and "living wage" campaigns across the county are touching every aspect of veterinary medicine. These costs will continue to rise. Human healthcare went through a similar transition two decades ago. The answer to reducing costs was process improvement. Today most large healthcare systems have invested in Lean, Six Sigma, or some other form of Kaizen (continuous improvement) programs. The veterinary industry would be wise to follow this lead. Although change is difficult, the good news is human healthcare has already started this journey. Most of the methods, processes, …
Why AAHA accreditation is a big dealMarch 23, 2018Becoming an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited veterinary practice isn't about prestige—it's about operating at a higher level, according to an article at consumersadvocate.org. The accreditation process is challenging, rigorous, voluntary, and not guaranteed. When a veterinary facility steps up to become accredited, it's making a proclamation that the organization is committed to excellence, the article stated. That's not to say unaccredited practices are engaging in sub-par animal health care. However, it "raises the question of how much more successful they would be if they truly reached for their full potential by obtaining accreditation," said Darren Taul, DVM, AAHA president elect. Since 1933, the association has charted the course for approximately 3,700 practices to achieve accreditation. "Accreditation is a way to force yourself to be the best you can be," said Bo Williamson, DVM, owner of the Tennessee Avenue Hospital in Cincinnati, the oldest continuously accredited AAHA animal hospital in the world. "Owners and employees of accredited hospitals constantly look to make things better." Currently, only 12 to 15 percent of animal hospitals are accredited; the association wants more practices to make the commitment to achieve accreditation. Accreditation serves two purposes. First, …
5 secrets to success and happinessMarch 21, 2018Humans are strange animals, and one of the few capable of self-destruction. Here are five common roadblocks that may very well prevent you from reaching your full potential.
Why sole proprietorship practices should be organized as business entitiesMarch 20, 2018A recent case from the Nebraska Court of Appeals gives veterinarians who operate as sole proprietors much to think about. The case involves Paul M. Dritley, DVM, a sole proprietor who was “doing business as” Elkhorn Animal Hospital in Douglas County, Neb.
AAHA releases new edition of Veterinary Fee ReferenceMarch 20, 2018Discover how to remain profitable and competitive within your unique market with the 20th anniversary edition of the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) statistical book, Veterinary Fee Reference. The new edition includes U.S. veterinary fees for more than 530 services and cases and more than 640 tables with data on discounts, vaccination services, and time scheduled for procedures. The reference's evidence-based fee setting data allows veterinarians to confidently price services correctly for per market (accounting for median household income of clients, metropolitan status of the practice, etc.) and practice philosophy, age, and size. New and updated data include: Fees for acupuncture and in-home euthanasia Reasons practices elected to change fees Gross annual revenue of survey respondents Information on in-home euthanasia services Frequency of preventive care exams, rabies vaccines, FVRCP vaccines, and other services Veterinary Fee Reference, Tenth Edition American Animal Hospital Association Pages: 460 Product Code: VFRE10 ISBN: 978-1-58326-027-2 Publication Year: 2018 Edition: Tenth Format: Paperback Member: $154.95 Nonmember: $259.95
The art of managingMarch 19, 2018"Where do you draw the line between managing and micromanaging?” was the question asked recently at the Colorado Veterinary Hospital Managers meeting during a presentation on culture in the hospital setting.
Are you missing pet health communication opportunities with your clients?March 19, 2018Pet owners don't always get the full message that veterinary teams think they're communicating, according to a Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP) study presented during an American Animal Hospital Association session at VMX Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Fla. The study compiled responses from surveys of 1,193 practice staff members, 833 dog owners, and 527 cat owners from April 2012 through June 2017. Practices have an opportunity to better communicate not only what is being done during a preventive examination but also how the examination benefits the pet, according to the study. Among the findings About 45 percent of dog owners and 30 percent of cat owners believed that a pain assessment was discussed or performed at their pet's most recent checkup When staff members were asked whether a pain assessment is typically performed at every examination during a visit for preventive care, 73 percent said yes for dogs, and 68 percent said yes for cats About 95 percent of staff members indicated that a dental exam is typically performed at every preventive care visit About 77 percent of dog owners and 78 percent of cat owners believed a dental examination was discussed …
Make Facebook social media work for your veterinary clinicMarch 15, 2018Social media is an important tool for any business today, including veterinary medicine. According to Statista, more than 81 percent of the U.S. population has at least one social media account. Importantly, 68 percent of U.S. adults use Facebook, and of that group, 74 percent of them access Facebook daily. When Americans access their Facebook accounts, they spend nearly 20 minutes per session on the platform. Facebook continues to dominate the social media space. Here are the numbers of users on popular social media platform as reported by Statista: Facebook: 2.1 billion YouTube: 1.5 billion Instagram: 800 million Twitter: 330 million LinkedIn: 260 million SnapChat: 255 million Pinterest: 200 million Approximately 90 percent of the people who use many of these other social media platforms also use Facebook. As most veterinary practices have limited time and resources to devote to their communications and marketing efforts, Facebook should be their social media platform of choice. Communications/marketing plans To be most effective, Facebook and other social media activities should be just one part of a comprehensive communications and marketing plan. Other tools should include electronic newsletters, brochures, community activities, an engaging website, and more. All of these …
