Practice Management

Clients often cannot comprehend what a cat or dog at a healthy weight looks like, so I give them a live demonstration with my own dog and cat, which are at ideal weights.

A twister with winds up to 205 mph, leveled Greensburg, Kansas on May 4. Veterinarians and other volunteers aided in the rescue of displaced pets. For an in-depth report see the June issue of DVM Newsmagazine. Photos by Brandon Chauncy.

Special rules cover volunteer and under-18 employees at your clinic. Do you know what they are?

Your practice's identity goes far beyond a logo.

The image of the pebble cast into the pond sending a ring of small waves in all directions is indicative of the impact that rising energy costs have had on all facets of our society.

Know the difference between advertising and public relations to maximize your results.

Confusion and misunderstanding often occur when two people attempt to communicate using two different languages.

We keep a chart based on our monthly budget on the wall in the back hall of the hospital.

Does your team know the practice starts out every day $900 in the hole?

Five tips from a veterinarian newly graduated as a certified canine rebailitation practitioner.

Q. I have a superstar on my team but the other team members hate her. What should I do?

Lou Swinney wheeled his new SUV into the cramped parking lot. A cup holding his morning java suddenly jarred forward as he made the abrupt stop. The inertia sent a quarter of the contents on an additional journey. Swinney quickly wiped the rim and base of the cup with a tissue and barreled out of the vehicle toward the front door, a wide briefcase trailing from his right arm like a broken rudder.

Q. What is VoIP? Should my practice consider switching our traditional phone system?

To many veterinarians, working capital is simply the cash they have on hand to pay their bills. Others may understand that it also includes such assets as accounts receivable and inventory.

An audit of these evidence-based decisions is essential to consistently practice and deliver quality medical care.

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?

Your enthusiasm should be infectious, not your hospital. When treating disease, make sure one sick animal doesn't turn into many.

Put the luxury hotel chain's latest values to work in your practice and increase client satisfaction.

An Easter egg hunt for cash- and candy-filled eggs makes spring cleaning fun for the team at the Maul Road Animal Clinic in Camden, Ark.

Current trends toward bigger veterinary practices - with more people using supplies, technology and equipment - and more part-time practitioners who don't have the concerns and pressures of ownership lead inevitably to decreasing profitability and higher debt.

A furniture and equipment log can be a valuable tool for any veterinary practice. It can be maintained on a spreadsheet program, with columns for the date of purchase, description of the asset, purchase price, supplier and other pertinent information.

Consider including a blood-typing test in new pet wellness packages.

How effective are special promotions in attracting new clients?

I can still remember the feeling of the tractor-tire cleats thumping across my back as I fell onto the tire when my uncle unexpectedly swerved the tractor, traveling in high gear.

Shine a light on your team members to ensure they feel appreciated and don't fade into the woodwork.

Q. I take my practice staff out to lunch four times a year as a way to boost morale. Can I write off these lunches on my taxes as a business expense?

Don't let these business mistakes corrupt your practice.

Are your veterinary practice's fire extinguishers properly placed and inspected-or do you need them at all?