Maximize Technicians’ Potential As Client CommunicatorsOctober 28, 2011 When technicians excel in the medical and communication components of their jobs, they can maximize revenue and encourage a more efficient practice. Consultants say, however, that many veterinarians aren’t delegating enough responsibility to technicians. Training is the biggest hurdle that keeps practitioners from using technicians fully, experts say, noting that members of a practice’s team should share responsibility for client communications. Technicians are often viewed by clients as easier to approach, perhaps less intimidating. “Years ago, veterinarians hired animal lovers and people haters and tried to make them technicians,” says Jim Guenther, DVM, MBA, MHA, CVPM, a consultant at Strategic Veterinary Consulting in Asheville, N.C. “Now with formal training for medical certification and client communication, technicians need to possess both skills to be effective. Technicians can be a practice’s biggest asset or handicap in regard to client loyalty and compliance.” Technicians need formal and in-house education before gaining access to clients, Dr. Guenther says. They also need to know veterinary expectations and restrictions regarding client interaction. Hire for Skills Efficiency in the practice starts with hiring, says Shannon Pignott, CVPM, ACC, owner and business director at 1-10 Pet Emergency and president of VetThink Inc., …
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Do you own a spleen?October 1, 2010BY PHIL ZELTZMAN, DVM, DACVS, CERTIFIED FEAR FREE Dr. M. is a funny woman. When she interviews potential technicians, she knows not to ask illegal questions, such as marital status, ethnic origin and age. Yet without blinking an eye, she asks possible hires if they have a spleen. This was so intriguing to me that of course I had to investigate. Our colleague explained: "I read once in a human morbidity and mortality review that if you do not have your spleen and you are bitten by a dog, the bite has the potential to be fatal. There have been reports of deaths in spleen-less people because of the organ's role in our immunity. Since I've read this article, I thought I should make sure any potential technician does own a spleen." Indeed, an old JAVMA article* describes dysgonic fermenter-2 infections. Since then, the "fastidious, gram-negative, opportunistic" bacterium was renamed Capnocytophaga canimorsus. More recently, Scott Weese, DVM, DACVIM, has written about this topic in his excellent blog (wormsandgermsblog.com). His is an associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph, Ontario. Simply said, our internist has become an infectious disease specialist. Here how …
Pain Management And The Dental TechApril 17, 2009 The magnitude of the role of veterinary dental technicians in the 21st century of oral medicine, oral surgery and dentistry has been largely ignored. The licensed, registered, and certified technicians with associate and/or bachelor's degrees need to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to patient care, pain management and quality of life. For years, dental technicians have been relegated to the role of "oral cleaning machine," with little respect for the total patient care they provide. Many non-licensed or certified technicians have taken continuing education to improve their skills in periodontal care and oral radiology. They are to be congratulated. Veterinary technology programs in the university setting are now beginning to address the need for these added skills with advanced oral care training programs. The dental specialist practicing "four-handed" dentistry relies on the veterinary dental technician in advanced oral pathology, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral oncology surgery and oral orthopedics. These highly skilled technicians can decrease patient anesthesia time by one third by anticipating the needs of the dentist or oral surgeon and providing an efficient material and instrument pathway in a logical sequence. Beyond all of these very important skills, the veterinary dental technician in …
A Memoir Of Travels To AustraliaJune 25, 2008HEARD IN AN AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY SURGERY: Hey Doc, I’ve got a problem with my moggy. I’ve been taking her to a different vet for yonks but I don’t think he’s much chop. He’s always been in real good nick but now he’s bloody crook. I think he’s cactus . . . TRANSLATION: Please Doctor, I have a problem with my domestic shorthair cat. I have been taking her to a different vet for quite some time, however, I am starting to have doubts as to his abilities. The cat has always been in good body condition, but is now extremely unwell. I am concerned she may not be able to be saved. The above comments are not unusual. Australians use slang like we Americans use acronyms. Last year, with Seminars at Sea, we spent two weeks going from Sydney to Auckland, including 12 exotic ports of call in Australia and New Zealand, with participants from three OZ (Australian) practices, two Kiwi (New Zealand) practices and about a dozen American practices. Sharing medical and surgical paradigms was an amazing experience, and having Dennis …
Substance Abuse: A Culture Of DenialJune 20, 2008Veterinary Practice News Managing Editor Somyr McLean contributed to this report. Veterinary medicine is the only U.S. medical profession that does not have a national monitoring program for substance abuse and mental health issues. Considering that medical professionals in general have a statistically higher incidence of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, many who are passionate about veterinary wellness are asking why DVMs are excluded. Authorities say they’re concerned not only for the health of those in the veterinary profession, but for the animals they treat as well. Even basic questions on the issue go unanswered, as no comprehensive, large-scale study of veterinarians and substance abuse has ever been conducted in the U.S. “Veterinarians in need of assistance fear losing their license and the stigma attached to suffering from an addiction or mental issue,” said Jeff Hall, DVM, a self-described recovering addict who formerly chaired the American Veterinary Medical Assn. Wellness Committee. “There isn’t an updated national support database of veterinarians, there isn’t a hotline. There isn’t a catalog of animals harmed by a compromised veterinarian or technician, there’s no statistic that shows veterinarians or staff who succumb to addictions or depression,” Dr. Hall said. “No one is expressing an interest …
