Mark Opperman, BS, CVPM

Q. I'm an associate who's paid on production only. Does this system discourage me from taking unpaid vacation days? Do I really even have any vacation time?

Use a computer program to generate automatic reminders of recurring tasks.

Ask employees to rank the top five features they value in their job with this exclusive form.

Use this exclusive survey to gain feedback when your team members leave your practice.

Use these 15 ideas to bond team members to your hospital-and keep your veterinary practice from peeling apart.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Implementing these ideas that boost the bottom line.

Grit your teeth and make the handoff. Offer up the responsibility that goes with the work. And build in both accountability and meaningful rewards.

Five pluses to to using your voicemail to get the right messages to the right people in a timely manner.

How much should I compensate a mobile veterinarian who wants to perform surgeries and dentals at my clinic? She'd conduct the procedures but use my clinic's equipment, staff, and drugs for her clientele.

You're stoked about offering your clients new services and products. But your team's response is underwhelming. Here's how to get started and get your team onboard.

I've been with the same clinic for seven years. There's a lot of turnover, and my boss hires new graduates. Depending on my day, I'm stuck playing teacher with up to three new veterinarians. My boss isn't around much and says I'm not pulling my weight given what I'm being paid. How can I explain the situation to him?

It's tougher than ever to get a strong new associate. But these strategies can help your practice stand out.

We currently subtract the cost of inventory from our doctors' production. Do you recommend this? Also, should we subtract payroll taxes?

You don't have to avoid accounts receivable altogether-just be smart about when to offer credit and who you offer it to.

Make sure your benefits stack up well against the other options team members could find in your area-and give employees more reasons to stick around.

Q. I'm the medical director of a newly formed emergency clinic, and the board is looking for a formula for my pay. What percentage of production would you recommend?

Make sure your benefits stack up well against the other options team members could find in your area-and give employees more reasons to stick around.

Customize this sample Word document to terminate a doctor-client relationship politely and professionally.

Difficult clients do your practice more harm than good by damaging team morale and causing conflict. Figure out who they are, and let them go.

When our owner's out of the building and the technicians perform dentals, does our part-time associate receive credit even if the owner scheduled it and already performed a physical exam?

Your clients didn't go to veterinary school. You did. So why ask your clients, who have no training or expertise, to make medical decisions about the care of their pets?

Our associate has more than $80,000 in school debt. She receives a fair salary, but I would like to help her more. Any ideas?

How should we control our consumables, such as bandage and suture materials and other hospital supplies that we use but seldom charge for?

Paying equally doesn't always make sense in a partnership, especially when doctors aren't contributing in the same ways. A tiered-compensation system can account for these variances.

How should I pay part-time veterinarians and gauge their benefits?

The best of both worlds, the ProSal compensation formula pays associates on a percentage of production and guarantees a base salary. Find out why this method's a top choice for associates?and why you'll like it, too.

I'm a bovine practitioner looking into ProSal compensation for my associates. I'm concerned with the percentage used to calculate the portion of the salary above the base. What percentage profit should a practice owner expect to make off of his associates?

The best of both worlds, the ProSal compensation formula pays associates on a percentage of production and guarantees a base salary. Find out why this method's a top choice for associates, and why you'll like it, too.

Q How should salary expenses for staff as a percentage of revenue differ for an emergency or 24-hour practice compared to a traditional practice?

I just returned from a practice-management meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla. It was our 20th gathering, and we wanted it to be special, which is why we chose a Ritz-Carlton hotel. Everyone knows the Ritz represents the gold standard of service in the hotel industry. How do they achieve this lofty goal?