Career Development

The veterinary practitioner is fully aware that the day to day delivery of services from the clinic are governed by a plethora of laws and regulations - employment compliance issues, drug regulation, licensing concerns.

The role of the veterinary state licensing board

The steps to create a career with meaning, importance and value in life begin well before the job search and continue long after landing a position.

He has practiced veterinary medicine 38 years, much of that time as a surgeon, but should someone at a party ask him what he does for a living, Dr. Derrel Elkins, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, is about as likely to answer "sheep farmer" as "veterinarian."

The following tip is brought to you by a member of the Veterinary Leadership Group (VLG), a group of 20 management-savvy practitioners and hospital managers from across the country who meet twice a year to discuss business improvement, personal growth and social development issues for their practices.

Use this form to educate clients and encourage them to spay or neuter their pet.

It's 10 a.m. on Monday morning. Mrs. Hodge rushes in with her 13-year-old miniature Schnauzer, which is lethargic and vomiting. The problems began yesterday, and all Mrs. Hodge can tell you is that she's been giving her dog some kind of pill for the past week.

A team member quit recently. She gave two weeks' notice but didn't fully complete it and was supposed to train someone to take over her job duties but didn't. After being a valued team member for so long, why did she choose to leave on a sour note?

Dr. H, a recent graduate, was attending the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) meeting in Orlando, Fla., this past December. While standing in the convention-center lobby waiting for a lecture to begin, he noticed three older veterinarians over in a nearby corner engaged in serious discussion. He recognized all three as leading lameness experts and well-respected practitioners.

You've decided to expand the horizons of your practice, accept the mantle of the primary care veterinarian, and become part of a network of colleagues-responding to the health care needs of pets with the best care possible.

As a primary care veterinarian knows the patients' healthcare needs better than anyone. And sometimes those needs require that you utilize an extension of your practice-the specialist. By collaborating together, the primary care veterinarian and the specialist can provide excellent overall care. Learn how to shape the referral process into a success for everyone-your patients, your clients, and your practice.

Present day veterinarians have evolved from human islands to networks of people-treating pets in concert, making the most of the rapidly expanding body of knowledge that is veterinary medicine, and reqiring the schematic of private practice to harness a healthy array of specialties in service to clients and pets.

To help bridge the communication gap between primary care veterinarians and specialists, the AAHA developed practical referral guidelines for companian animal practices.

These steps will guide you on your way toward establishing a referral network for your own practice.

Communication is an essential element of the relationship among primary care veterinarians, specialists, and clients.

The long-distance job search, negotiation tactics and 30 ingredients to look for in employment contracts are topics of Dr. James F. Wilson's veterinary-school lecture series.

How to create an Excel spreadsheet that helps you figure the value of owning a clinic.

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After the death of two wonderful dogs over the past several years, my family decided to take a few years off from being dog owners. Well, we're back in action now, puppy classes and all.

Bring your knowledge and an animal or two-you'll be the greatest show on earth.

It's a natural progression to move from associate to practice owner, but you need to know what you're getting into. (And sellers, you need to make sure your buyer is positioned for success.)

Q. How will inflation and taxes affect my cash needs during retirement?

Q. I know we need to pay team members when they attend required training meetings. But what's the legal standard for paying associate veterinarians their salary to attend CE meetings? Where does the practice's responsibility end and the doctor's responsibility to maintain her license begin?

Help your team develop a year-long plan to improve on weaknesses and let them run with it.

Q. I'm looking to retire in a couple of years. How long would $600,000 last me if I withdrew $31,000 annually?

I'm an associate at a small-animal veterinary practice. Is it OK for me to date a client?

Plan morale-boosting events sporadically-not just during the holidays.

I already work a few Saturdays a month and now my boss wants more!