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Veterinary technicians are integral to a practice’s success, especially amid pandemic times. From delivering the highest quality of care to patients to providing exceptional customer service—it’s no question that these team members deserve recognition for the work they curate each and every day. Here are a few ways to thank your technician staff for the vital role they play in maintaining a thriving practice.

After a long day at the clinic, it’s common to seek out ways to decompress. Pay attention to how each staff member destresses. Maybe they prefer to unwind and order food or maybe they’re more inclined to treat themselves to a shopping spree. Make sure to take note of each member’s favorite restaurant or store and reward them with a gift card. The personal touch will go a long way.

Who doesn’t love their very own personalized gift? There are a plethora of veterinary technician-themed items available for purchase on the web including coffee mugs, apparel, stethoscope name tags, tote bags, key chains, and even face masks to sport. You can also stray away from veterinary medicine-specific gifts and buy them a present based on their personality. For example, if they love 

, maybe get them a name tag featuring Yoda or if they are a fan of tie-dye, gift them an item with this design.

It’s no secret COVID-19 has made veterinary technicians’ jobs challenging and overwhelming at times. Your team will be grateful for the additional time off to spend with their family and friends or to participate in activities and hobbies they enjoy during their leisure. In turn, this will strengthen your relationship with them by prioritizing their mental health and personal goals.

Veterinary tools are always useful around the clinic and help your technicians achieve their daily tasks. This can consist of providing your team members new stethoscopes, bandage scissors, surgical and suture emergency kits, pouches and toolbelts, and more. Offering updated materials for patient care will also help lessen veterinary technicians’ stress by streamlining appointments and displaying they deserve the best equipment.

Finally, what’s the No.1 way to show appreciation for your technicians that doesn’t come with a price tag and can be instilled daily? Reminding them just how grateful you are for their efforts and reinforcing that you are proud of their accomplishments. Words of encouragement not only make a difference but can also help nourish a cohesive and healthy workplace for everyone.

Editors note: All veterinary technician content for this month is supported by Banfield Pet Hospital.

Articles

National Veterinary Technician Week is next month so check out these creative methods for demonstrating your appreciation for all the hard work and commitment veterinary technicians contribute to the practice.

4 ways to honor your veterinary technicians

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has released the “

,” a set of comprehensive new online tools to help veterinarians effectively communicate to pet parents about the value of pet preventive care and the importance of wellness visits.

According to an organizational release, these resources stress personal connections and improved communication by enabling veterinary professionals to use “language that works” when conversing with clients about why and when they should go to the veterinarian, the various services available, and addressing the costs of care.

“Pet owners want to do what’s best for their animals,” said José Arce, DVM, president of the AVMA, in the release. “Our goal is to help our members better engage with their clients so pet owners bring their animals in for regular check-ups and follow their veterinarians’ recommendations. Improved communications can also help alleviate some of the pressures that veterinarians, clinic staffs, and pet owners are currently experiencing because of the pandemic.”

Though a majority of pet parents receive regular veterinary care and have confidence in their veterinarian, research conducted by the AVMA discovered that many owners still do not obtain regular veterinary care for their pets; the main reasons cited involved affordability and value perception challenges, according to the release.

To help combat these hurdles, the AVMA teamed up with a language strategy firm to investigate how veterinary teams can better connect with clients. The research offered insight from pet owners regarding their preference of communication and what resonates most with them during visits—finding its valued relationships and personalized care. With assistance from 

, the AVMA is currently developing a series of content pieces available to its members for translating this research into actionable information for veterinary use. 

“Language matters and we are excited to support this initiative to help veterinarians communicate the importance of wellness care in ways that resonate with pet owners,” said Boo Larsen, general manager of veterinary medicine at Synchrony.

“We are thrilled to sponsor this groundbreaking study because of its emphasis on building stronger communication between veterinarians and their clients to support personalized recommendations and trusted relationships. This meshes perfectly with our commitment to strengthening the veterinary/client/patient bond by weaving cost and financial choices into the relationship to keep the focus on the pet’s care,” he added.

“We are very grateful to Synchrony for helping to bring this far-reaching and thorough research into the spotlight, and for supporting these path-breaking new initiatives that will benefit animals, clients and veterinarians alike,” remarked Arce.

 research finds that pet owners value relationship and personalized care when interacting with veterinary teams. News release. September 20, 2021; American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed September 20, 2021. [email].

These resources will enhance the personal connections and communication between veterinary professionals and clients, educate pet owners on the need to prioritize wellness visits, and much more.

 AVMA unveils new “Language of Veterinary Care” online tools and breakthrough research 

According to David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, a few signs that may indicate a soft tissue type injury are often noticed when veterinarians are manipulating the dog and recognize areas of tension, spasm, or resistance rather than joints with a fluid-like feel. 

“There shouldn’t be any fighting or resistance for us to manipulate and if we encounter tension or resistance, that needs to be a red flag that perhaps something is going on,” Dycus emphasized in a recent dvm360

He then noted some additional subtle signs to look out for during the orthopedic examination involving a dog’s body language and history.

“[Veterinary professionals] can also look at the body language of the dog. If the dog happens to be panting and then holds their breath or starts licking their lips or maybe looks around or, your technician says, ‘Hey, they’re kind of leaning into me, they’re trying to get away from [me],' those can be subtle hints that you’re hitting an area that’s causing some discomfort," explained Dycus. 

“The other thing is from the history. Many times we’re thinking about dogs being lame all the time, but some of the very subtleties are going to be stiffness upon rising or after heavy play…we really shouldn’t blow those signs off especially in very young dogs," he added. 

Watch the full video below for more of Dycus's expert input on the topic.

Videos

In a recent dvm360® interview, David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, highlighted common subtle signs veterinary professionals can look for that may indicate an orthopedic concern during an examination.

Subtle signs indicative of an orthopedic issue

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Running a veterinary clinic is no easy feat and as a practice manager, your onus is to do just that every day. From dealing with a robust mix of personalities to maintaining the highest quality of patient care and client service, finding a routine that works best for you and your practice can pose a challenge. To help, we've selected 3 articles chock full of creative initiatives to help streamline staff efficacy, amplify the volume of clients, and beyond.

From 8 reasons to reconsider implementing a same-day surcharge to tips and tricks on keeping client phone calls to 2 minutes—there’s something for everyone. Happy reading!

: Bash Halow, LVT, CVPM, suggests making these considerations before raising prices on same-day appointments, walk-ins, new clients, or urgent cases.

: Discover the benefits of wellness plans, plus learn tips on choosing the best plan for your practice as they are offered at various levels and price points.

: Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, CVBL, shares 4 simple tips for coaching your team on the “2-minute phone call” to increase the number of calls to your clinic while enhancing client service.

Are you a practice manager? Check out these 3 informative articles highlighting various aspects of veterinary practice management. 

3 Must-reads on veterinary practice management 

Wendell Animal Hospital is opening in just a few days in Wendell, North Carolina (Photo courtesy of Vets Pets). 

Vets Pets—a North Carolina cooperative group of veterinary hospitals—is expanding with the opening of Wendell Animal Hospital on September 20, 2021, at 2961 Wendell Boulevard in Wendell, North Carolina.

This small and exotic veterinary clinic will offer care to a range of pets from dogs to cats to pocket pets in Wendell and surrounding areas. According to a company 

, the free-standing facility with open featuring Kimberly Foca, DVM, MS, as the primary veterinarian.

"I'm beyond excited! It's an honor to serve this wonderful community and its pets," said Foca in the release. "It has always been my dream to open up on a hospital, and I can't wait for Wendell to see our new home."

Foca is a New Jersey native who began working as a veterinary technician in 2003. She completed her Bachelor’s in biology at Rutgers University and received a Master’s in developmental and reproductive biology with a focus on human amnion during preterm-premature births at the University of Hawaii. She then achieved her veterinary degree at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and concluded with her clinical year at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Wendell is growing so fast, and we want to make sure everyone has access to veterinary care," said Steve Thomas, BBA, MBA, CEO of Vets Pets. "Dr Foca is the perfect partner to provide high-quality, convenient, and affordable care to the area's pets."

Vets Pets and the Wendell Chamber of Commerce are hosting a grand opening event to celebrate on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 12:00 pm EDT. The family and pet-friendly event will include live music by Apples & Airplanes, food trucks, a bouncy house, tours, and beyond. Additionally, Vets Pets representatives, Foca, team members, and other local officials will also be in attendance.

Vets Pets to open new hospital in Wendell. News release. September 17, 2021; Vets Pets. Accessed September 17, 2021. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vets-pets-to-open-new-hospital-in-wendell-301379328.html

This small and exotic veterinary clinic will serve pets in Wendell and surrounding communities starting on September 20, 2021. 