Donna Recupido, CVPM

Immersing yourself in the day-to-day activities of your hospital can make all the difference when tackling client, patient and employee problems.This was written by one of 10 finalists for the Veterinary Economics Practice Manager of the Year award, sponsored by VPI. For more from each finalist and a slideshow of the nominees, visit dvm306.com/PMOY.

Watch your team members wilt before your eyes with these steps to push, bully and completely overwhelm them. Then read these team tips to heal the breaks.

Whether you're the compassionate voice at the front desk or a member of the clinical or management team, your work improves the lives of pets and their owners.

Use this sample financial policy as the basis to discuss and write your own financial policy at your practice to ease the strain of difficult money talks with clients.

Use this sample financial policy as the basis to discuss and write your own financial policy at your practice to ease the strain of difficult money talks with clients.

Follow this checklist of details you shouldn't leave on a pet owner's answering machine or message service.

Use these hints to avoid common resume mistakes and learn how to stand out to veterinary employers with an introduction that spells, "Hire me."

Behavior, performance, and discipline problems just don't come across in email and text messages. Remind your manager (or yourself) that difficult conversations need to be face to face.

Clients' body language can often reveal what they're really thinking. Here's how to read between the lines.

Getting the most out of your staff helps all involved.

Callers are customers-in-waiting. Make sure you show them the care you would someone standing in your clinic.

Some veterinary practices don't allow team members to use the Internet at work. If your practice is among them, it's time to make your case.

A dismissive attitude can let clients slip through your fingers.

Trigger Questions are questions or statements that should occur as a trigger result of hearing something else. When dealing with clients, especially new clients, phone shoppers it is important to listen to what the client is telling you and then taking that information to deliver education (triggers) as well as to be alerted to questions (triggers) that you should ask.

Today veterinary practices are facing more challenges then they ever have in the past. The economy has forced pet owners to scrutinize every dollar of their discretionary income and often times the money that was previously spent on the family pet is now being spent on food and rent for the family.

Time and time again veterinarians rate high in the most trusted professions. People trust us!

My practice regularly refers cases to a nearby specialty practice. Recently my own dog became sick, and the clinic offered me a disappointingly meager discount for its services. Am I expecting too much? Is there a standard for professional discounts?

Veterinarians in the emergency room and cancer wards can bond with clients, too. Find the warm and fuzzies in any hospital.

Sample documents to help you host a free event to help pets and boost community love for your clinic.

This step-by-step checklist will help you give back to your community by hosting a free clinic for pets in need.

Whatever your view, keep clients in mind.

It's time to update your resume, regardless of whether you're job-hunting.

Six resume tips to help you get hired.

Use this fun game to reduce the amount of flies in your facility.

To help our clients nail down potty training, we give them a chart. Here's how it works ...

Give clients the tools and information they need to help them make a big decision.

Inundated with signs, slogans, and sales pitches, pet owners may fail to notice a key message that you've posted right in front of them.