Learn how IDEXX is enhancing the lives of animals, people, and the planet.

IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

Aside from his immense passion for the human-animal bond and helping to enhance the veterinarian-client-patient relationship, communication expert John Meyer, PhD, unveiled his hidden talent during an interview with 

of singing and how he uses this gift to sing acapella to patients living in retirement facilities. 

View the video below for the entire discussion. The following is a partial transcript

: One thing that I do is I go to retirement homes where there are 4 kinds of people: independent, nursing patients, assisted living, or memory care. I [visit] all 4 and I usually sing acapella...and I urge everyone to sing [along] with me. 

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In this video interview with dvm360®, John Meyer, PhD, revealed his secret desire to become a "song and dance man," plus shared how he uses this talent to sing acapella to patients in retirement homes. 

The gift of song: How one industry expert uses his voice to spread cheer

People, Pets & Vets (PPV) welcomes Penny Paws Animal Clinics, bringing them to 100 hospitals in their network. PPV was initially localized in the Pacific Northwest but has since spanned over the last few years along the West Coast, the South, and the Southeast serving patients in the local communities of 11 different states.

"It's been a wonderful, wild ride! Just 3 years ago, we had 15 hospitals. Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff at our hospitals and Service Centers, we have now grown to 100 amazing hospitals," said Chris Strong, People, Pets & Vets CEO. 

PPV's service center's main priority is supporting each hospital in a manner that retains its local identity and legacy by insisting upon medical autonomy. A partnership with PPV provides access to a greater network of collaborative veterinary professionals and resources.

Two critical factors to PPV's success include a major focus on their people and innovation. PPV respects veterinary professionals' commitment and compassion and its support teams have launched several programs and developed new resources to encourage professional and personal growth in the industry. 

Additionally, the optional programs are provided to relieve administrative work so veterinary staff can prioritize offering quality care to patients.

People, Pets, & Vets reaches 100 hospitals. News release. People, Pets, & Vets. November 30, 2021. Accessed November 30, 2021. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/people-pets--vets-reaches-100-hospitals-301434073.html

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The company has acquired Penny Paws Animal Clinics to reach this impressive milestone. 

People, Pets, & Vets welcomes its 100th hospital 

Hallmarq's revolutionary Standing Equine Leg CT (Photo courtesy of Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging). 

Hallmarq Advanced Veterinary Imaging will showcase its latest product—Standing Equine Leg CT (sICT)—at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Annual Convention from December 4-8, 2021, in Booth 401.

, the sICT system utilizes a unique dual-concentric ring design that allows the detector plate to remain close to the area of interest, thus optimizing image quality. Hallmarq is also among the few companies to also include motion correction technology to ensure high-quality, clear images in the standing patient.

In addition, Advanced cone beam (CB) technology collects high resolution, 3D images in just 60 seconds, by moving in concentric circles around the leg, according to the release. Sub-millimeter resolution makes CB technology ideal for fine bony detail essential in distal limb imaging and ideal for analyzing pathology in bony structures.

Though sICT is new to the United States, it has been through development and in clinical use in the United Kingdom since early 2021 and is already advantaging involved practices.

"The standing leg cone-beam CT system from Hallmarq provides a safe and convenient diagnostic modality to help produce a definitive diagnosis, and guide the best treatment plan for equine patients. It also provides us with a valuable complementary tool in surgical planning when used in conjunction with our standing MRI," said Jonathan Dixon, BVetMed, MVetMed, DECVDI, MRCVS, European specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, and radiologist from Rainbow Equine Hospital in the UK.

“The system was very straightforward to install and has a simple-to-use interface," he added. "Quick acquisition time and fine bone detail make surgical planning much easier.”

While using the sICT, the horse handler remains in the room throughout the process, positioned behind lead shielding to ensure patient safety. The open, low, flat platform allows easy entry and exit for the sedated patient. Since the patient is sedated and not anesthetized, any risk involving anesthesia is elimated when using this patented CT scanner, thus promoting peace of mind for the horse owner. 

What's more, the compact system offers equine practices with access to rapid 3D imaging for enhanced evaluation of daily lameness cases. It provides safe, convenient and affordable advanced imaging for the standing, sedated horse—aligning with its mission to improve the lives of animals and the people who care for them. Further, it comes with comprehensive system support backed by Q-Care—Hallmarq’s unique customer care program created to assist veterinarians with advanced imaging.

“Our sICT system creates an incredible business opportunity for equine veterinarians, who can now offer advanced imaging to more horse owners,” said Mick Crosthwaite, CEO of Hallmarq. “Profitability can be achieved in as few as 10 cases per month.”

Indivduals attending AAEP can hear Dixon’s positive experiences using the Standing Equine Leg CT, plus also talk with key members of Hallmarq’s executive team responsible for its creation and launch:

Jos Belgrave, BVSc, MRCVS – Former Hallmarq CEO and current non-exec board member/director

Nick Bolas, D. Phil, MBA – Founding Director and the inventor of Hallmarq’s slCT

Holly Johnson, BVSc – UK Account Manager

Additionally, Hallmarq is sponsoring 1 of AAEP’s educational sessions—the 

—which will run from 8:00–10:45 am on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, featuring talks from field experts.

Hallmarq launches Standing Equine Leg CT (sICT) at 2021 AAEP Convention. News release. Hallmarq Advanced Veterinary Imaging. November 29, 2021. Accessed November 30, 2021.https://equimanagement.com/products/hallmarq-launches-standing-equine-leg-ct-sict-at-2021-aaep-convention

The breakthrough product provides safe, convenient and affordable advanced imaging for the standing, sedated horse. 

Standing Equine Leg CT (sICT) will debut at 2021 AAEP Convention

Pathway Vet alliance announced today that it is now 

, demonstrating its commitment to cultivating a more connected and innovative pet healthcare ecosystem within the veterinary sector.

According to a company release, this transition is designed to foster a strong community of hospitals and a thriving destination for veterinary practitioners. Additionally, pet parents can utilize a network of care options to support any healthcare needs that may emerge throughout their pet’s lifetime along with a membership program that helps make this care more accessible and streamlined.

“We believe that the pets that bring so much wellness and joy to all of our lives deserve exceptional care from people and professionals who are respected and thriving as well,” shared Stephen Hadley, DVM, MS, CEO of Thrive Pet Healthcare, in the release. “We wanted our name to reflect our holistic view of delivering care—to pets, pet parents, and the veterinary professionals who care for them.”

Thrive Pet Healthcare has a network of over 400 acute, primary, and specialty care providers nationwide. What’s more, the company operates Veterinary Growth Partners—a value-added management system—and Vetspire—a cloud-native platform spearheading hospital management software-as-a-service to the veterinary industry.

“Practicing veterinary medicine has become incredibly challenging for a variety of reasons,” said Scott Schatzberg, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology), chief medical officer at Thrive Pet Healthcare, in the release.

“This strategic evolution shows our commitment to removing barriers for veterinary care providers, so they feel enabled and inspired to succeed in their mission to provide the best pet care possible while also caring for themselves,” Schatzberg continued.

In addition, Thrive Pet Healthcare renders comprehensive programs tailored to veterinary care providers that support their individual, financial, emotional, and physical well-being including:

A Veterinarian Incentive Plan (VIP) with up to $450,000 in incentive opportunities accessible to all Thrive Pet Healthcare doctors.

Fully funded tuition for obtaining a Vet Tech Associates degree through Penn Foster.

Fundamental family support with industry-first paid parental and “purr-ental” leave, that over 300 Thrive Pet Healthcare team members have taken advantage of to welcome new additions to their families within the past year.

Career opportunities and programs nationwide throughout the network of hospitals to experience different disciplines of veterinary medicine.

“Our collective purpose is to nurture pets and people through meaningful relationships and exceptional care. We ensure these principles are well reflected in every initiative we roll out,” said Kelly Cairns, DVM, DACVIM, MS, vice president of medical excellence and education at Thrive Pet Healthcare.

“Our medical excellence platform, which encompasses all aspects of training, professional standards, and innovation, is intentionally designed to empower individual development and effective collaboration within our medical community,” added Cairns.

Pathway vet alliance becomes Thrive Pet Healthcare, centering continuum of care for both pets and people. Business Wire. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211130005107/en. Published November 30, 2021. Accessed November 30, 2021.

This move mirrors the company’s dedication to innovative solutions for both veterinary practices and patients.

Pathway Vet Alliance revamps to Thrive Pet Healthcare

Priscilla Cherry, vice president of operations at Blue River Pet Care, cited that a staggering 23 million households added a pet amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In this video interview with 

, Cherry elaborated on this topic, plus revealed the lengths Blue River Pet Care has gone to accommodate these "pandemic puppies."

Priscilla Cherry, vice president of operations at Blue River Pet Care

: A lot of things that we did, revolved around communication because that's the most important thing. I think a lot of...our clients understood everybody [has] new pets, everybody wants to see the doctor right away, but when we communicated to them, 'We're doing our best guys,' 'We're trying to keep you safe,' 'We're trying to keep your pet safe,' they understood...so we just made our communication much more efficient and effective when dealing with our clients and our communities. 

In an interview with dvm360®, the vice president of operations at Blue River Pet Care divulged her secret to success when faced with an influx of patients that emerged since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Pandemic puppies and adapting practice operations

Let’s talk about your practice website. When was the last time you visited your own site? Clicked through the pages? Updated the content?

If it has been a while, let this be your reminder to give your website some much-deserved attention. It can be a powerful marketing tool, if done correctly. Conversely, an outdated, slow, poorly designed site will turn away more patients than you may believe. In fact, 89% of surveyed dental patients said they began doing business with a competitor because of a poor online experience.

Will a website be the sole reason more business comes to you? Not entirely, but an updated, user-friendly site will drive more prospects to your practice, at which point your expertise and your staff’s customer service skills should be able to turn them into patients. Here are 5 signs that your website is outdated.

Your website does not perform well when viewed from a mobile device. 

It used to be that all websites were designed for a desktop, but because smartphone usage has overtaken traditional desktop usage, websites now must be optimized for mobile devices. They ideally employ mobile-first design and can accommodate a range of screen sizes, ensuring that your website will be easily accessible, readable, and clickable, no matter what device a patient may be using. Another important point is that Google rewards mobile-friendly websites, so it’s important that your website must be optimized for mobile.

Anyone who has had to wait for a web page to load can understand how frustrating that delay can be. Today, 47% of users expect a website to load in 2 seconds or less. If your website is not loading quickly, there are likely other competitors with up-to-speed sites that patients will visit. Do not let that happen. Several factors could be slowing your website, so contact your web designer to see what needs to be done to resolve this. You do not want users to navigate away because it is too slow.

Switching to an HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) from an HTTP site may not seem like a top concern. However, for any business whose website has a patient login feature, keeping patient information secure is critical. An HTTPS provides a secure connection for users of your website and involves installing an SSL (Secured Socket Layer) certificate. In layman’s terms, it encrypts the data so that if a hacker should get into your website, none of your patients’ information will be compromised.

Your website is not serving your current patients. 

Your website should appeal to prospective patients, but many features also can be added to streamline communication with current patients. More businesses are adding online appointment features so patients can schedule and change upcoming visits on the go, from the convenience of their smartphones. Accepting online payments is another convenient addition that can help boost collections and decrease the front desk’s workload. Allowing patients to complete and submit their health history updates and other forms online is another time-saver that they’ll appreciate.

Your website is not attracting new patients.

Did you know that most patients will go online to research a practitioner, even after getting a referral? That means your website will be front and center in their search for a new dentist, so the site needs to make the best first impression possible.

Your website should also have elements that today’s patients are looking for, including easy-to-find hours of operation and location/contact information (readable without having to pinch or zoom in), an updated “About Us” page with photos of the team, and links to social media and online review profiles. Live chat, online scheduling, and online patient forms and payments are other features sure to impress new and existing patients.

This story was originally published in our sister publication 

And why now is the perfect time to give this powerful tool the attention it deserves. 