How to Design a Safe OfficeApril 17, 2009Mark Crootof, DVM, has more than 30 years of practical veterinary experience and has brought his expertise to the business of consulting. With Strategic Veterinary Consulting of Asheville, N.C., Dr. Crootof walks veterinarians through all aspects of the veterinary business, from practice startup to expansion. He says his clients often call on him for office planning to ensure a less hazardous work environment for staff, pet owners and patients alike. Crootof provides some basic tips to keep your practice accident-free. Traffic Flow Crootof says efficient traffic flow throughout the practice decreases injury. Many veterinary facilities segregate dog and cat waiting areas. “Most separate cat owners from dog owners,” Crootof says. Separation keeps animals calmer and helps prevent biting and scratching behavior problems during examination. Crootof recommends using “entrance” doors for moving clients from waiting areas to exam rooms and using different “exit” doors for moving clients back out to the reception and bill-pay areas. “Eliminate congestion by going in and out of different doors,” Crootof says. He explains that some facilities have even started cashing clients out in exam rooms to further reduce reception-area congestion. Less reception-area traffic significantly reduces the likelihood of animals interfacing with one another and ultimately …
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After Retiring, Give Work Another TryDecember 1, 2008America’s baby boomers are starting to retire—or at least they’re daydreaming about it. While the economy is discussed at every turn, some veterinarians are wondering if they’re in for surprises once they take the plunge into retirement. But seasoned retirees say, “Come on in, the water’s fine.” Some retired veterinarians say they suspect the media are making matters worse by keeping economic talk in high profile. They say retirement is still the same–it’s all common sense. “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,” says Everett Macomber, DVM, a Centralia, Wash., native and a 2006 retiree. “Eliminate all debts and try living on the budget you’ll rely on once your earnings have decreased. If you can survive financially, the rest will smooth itself out.” All the veterinarians contacted for this story said the mental preparation of retirement is more important than financial concerns. Veterinarians, known to be wise financial planners, probably have all their ducks lined up. The big surprises will come once the traveling and golfing envisioned during long workdays gets old and the retiree needs to find something more structured and feasible to fill daily life. The American Assn. of Retired Veterinarians (AARV) helps new retirees transition …
