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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveAbuse: What veterinarians should know, what they can doNovember 5, 2020Veterinarians are on the front lines of seeing abuse in both pets and people. What can they do? What should they do? And how has determining abuse or neglect in animals changed in a world of COVID?
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+ ExclusiveLighten the financial load—Why debt consolidation may be the answerOctober 20, 2020Debt is a burden many veterinarians carry. The average 2019 graduate owes roughly $150,000 in educational debt, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Veterinary professionals also often juggle credit card, loan, and real estate debt from multiple creditors and lenders throughout their careers. The amount of debt you carry can affect everything from your credit score and borrowing power to your bank account and mental health. While some borrowers sought deferment or forbearance on payments due to the pandemic, this only provides temporary relief. A longer-lasting solution is needed to truly gain more control of your financial situation. If your obligations have you feeling overwhelmed, consolidation may be the answer for you. Debt consolidation is when you use one loan to pay off your other debts in full. Benefits of this include: simplifying and taking control of your finances, improving your credit profile, and providing easier management of your money. Examining what you owe It's nearly impossible to run a veterinary business without taking on some level of debt. As owners open new lines of credit and take out loans to help cover their costs, it's easy to lose sight of the cumulative amount owed, which can be …
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+ ExclusivePaper versus paperless: What is best for your practice?October 6, 2020I've taken my pets to see a veterinarian more times than I can count. When I check in at the front desk, I usually can't help but notice if the practice has rows of manila file folders lined up neatly on shelves. Bright color-coded tabs representing an alphabetic order of patient names protrude slightly from the long shelves and cabinets. I often wonder why that practice has decided to stick with paper files rather than switching to a paperless system. The answer is typically based on several factors. Going paperless in a digital world We do nearly everything online now—appointments, reservations, banking, and, as of 2020, we even work and learn online. Does that mean the end of paper, folders, and color-coded files? For some, yes. For others, no. And for many, it's somewhere in between. Today, practices generally fall within three categories as they relate to paperless systems: 100 percent paperless practices Some practices have already made the switch and conduct every task, update every record, and communicate with every client in some digital capacity. They are not only using software for their medical records, but are also using digital images, online inventory, vendor management systems, …
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, …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFood is love—So why is nutrition a problem area for veterinarians?September 29, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAs a child, I was a big fan of the Peanuts cartoons. One of my favorite characters was Snoopy, a suave, bipedal beagle who wrote novels and engaged in breathtaking aerial combat with his nemesis, the Red Baron. Though Snoopy was unlike most other beagles I have known, he had one characteristic in common to others of his breed, and indeed most dogs. When suppertime arrived, all other activities were forgotten, and he often launched into an exuberant, joyful, food-induced dance. Every feeding was a celebration for Snoopy, not only of food but of the bond between dog and owner. Few subjects generate the same intensity of emotion in pet owners as the question of what to feed our animal companions. Feeding our pets is the quintessential act of caring and love. And based on how most dogs and cats act at feeding time, it certainly seems like a highlight of the relationship for them. There is also a deep sense in most pet owners that choosing a pet food has tremendous significance for the health and well-being of their pets. Everyone wants to give their pets the "best" food that will keep them active and happy and prevent illness …
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 …
