Kyle Palmer, CVT

For most members of the veterinary industry, it’s clear that evolution unrelated to medicine is moving at the speed of light.

As the saying goes, this conference in sunny San Diego, California, wasn’t your parents’ veterinary conference.

My experience with the Street Dog Coalition during the Fetch dvm360 conference provided insight, experience and ideas for my own community when it comes to caring for pets with no roof over their head.

Reach more pets, prevent more periodontal disease and make more money for your practice with veterinary technicians who specialize in awake oral assessments.

Contrary to old-school belief, word-of-mouth is not enough to market your veterinary practice. Put together a simple plan to get your team on the same page and give clients the information they want.

Im worried that todays corporate consolidators arent an answer for solo practices who cant find associates to buy them.

Whether your veterinary practice is equine, mixed or small animal-only, you have a responsibility to recruit and retain an associate that meshes well with your clients, your team and, most importantly, your patients.

If youre struggling in small-animal or equine practice to find associates, check out the results of my unscientific survey that reveal new and future veterinarians wants and needs for their workplace.

When I took a new job as hospital administrator after 26 years at a new veterinary practice, the differences in associate pay, standards of care and geography just didnt work for me.

From the physical exam down to questions asked by the client on social mediamanage your veterinary records to prevent (or worst case scenario: survive) examining board inquiries.

Step No. 1 for equine veterinarians? Dont bill in the first place. (But if you do, Ive got advice for that too.)

Do you know which clients are your prize Thoroughbreds and which ones youre just happy to plug in when its convenient? Thats step one of a three-step process to work with clients who want to be seen right now.

You have the veterinary degree. Now you need the equipment so your business can break into a gallop. Heres some guidance on what you should buy now and what can wait until later.

Before the day starts, on the way to every visit, and wowing horse owners: The equine veterinary technician is a must-have passenger (or driver) for great mobile equine practice today.

Are you a high-flying veterinarian by day and a reluctant veterinary practice manager by night? I dont want to take the wind out of your cape, but your neglected alter ego may need a boost.

Many equine veterinarians have added small animal services to subsidize revenue. Heres a careful look at the long-term effects of that decision.

That's a personal question: Can you make a plan and manage the headaches that come with more personnel and costs?

Open your mind! Equine practitioners can learn a lot about clients and business from small animal veterinarians.

Ambulatory practitioners have so much cool tech at their fingertips now, its a shame not to use it. Heres what we use in our practice.

Oh that's right. You don't have a helicopter. But there is someone who could could chop away at your duties and increase efficiencya midlevel practitioner. Is it time to consider an answer out of human healthcare's playbook?

When it comes to equine scheduling in a mixed animal practice, be the hero your equine specialists need.

shutterstock.com As a member of the veterinary field for 26 years, I've been fortunate to attend some terrific regional continuing education conferences, and in many cases I've been able to enact small b

Horses: Theyre not big dogs or skinny cows. So state veterinary practice acts need to set separate regulations to guide who can offer medical care for equinesand how.

Who has time to send smartphone texts, send and receive medical records, manage online appointments and send patient updates and cute pics to information-hungry pet owners? Here's why I think everyone needs this new client-facing team member in their veterinary practice.

The basics of practice protocols to ensure your equine veterinary practice's prepurchase exams are above board, legally wise and profitable.

Once upon a time, equine practitioners were willing to do their after-hours work solo. A new generation of fantastic doctors wants to do things a different way.

How practice managers and owners can make sure their newest doctor is a success.

The proper training makes a world of difference when it comes to decelerating a tense situation.

When our veterinary hospital has an opening, job applicants flood in. They cant seem to resist our website and our social media pages that show off (honestly) our support of local community, care for patients and teamwork.

The goal: To create a place where families could have the quiet and privacy needed to say goodbye, a place where a patient can relax and be open to the benefits of alternative treatment or a place where a client can wait while the pet undergoes a critical procedure.