Practice Management

There's never time to train in most veterinary practices. All too often, much of a new employee's training ends up being by "osmosis," or the "hang-around-you'll-get-it" method. Training doesn't have to be so hit or miss.

Sequencing is here. The critical mass of veterinarians needed for effective sequencing has arrived.

A few weeks ago, I was on a dairy farm discussing herd performance and nutrition with the owner.

Jessica Long and her friend Ginny plod through the grass and palmetto behind Bonnie Wilson's trailer in central Florida. Bonnie is well known in the area for collecting numerous strays and orphaned animals of all types.

When I was a very much younger man, high on love and life, in the very cosmopolitan city of brotherly love sometimes called Philadelphia, I was walking back from our bookstore toward the veterinary college. Turning a corner, I fell in step with one of my favorite personalities at the college, Dr. Paul Berg, professor of surgery.

As an equine practice expands, the need arises to build up the veterinary staff.

Mexico City-Expanding into the international arena is no longer just a dream for Banfield, The Pet Hospital. The nation's largest veterinary hospital opened its first international site late last month in the United Kingdom and recently finalized plans to build a small animal teaching hospital at the Universidad Nacional Autonome de Mexico (UNAM).

You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.

Product Focus: Dietary Supplements

Feline Diseases Fact Sheet

Canine Diseases Fact Sheet

In my June column, I discussed situations where communications between the dairy practitioner and client broke down, leaving the doctor "out of the loop" with disease outbreaks. Since then, I have worked on two farms where the herd veterinarian was deeply and routinely involved with herd decisions. This involvement started with participation in farm management meetings.

Dr. Bill Wilson looked blankly at Jan, his office manager.

1. Pay for subscriptions by credit card. That gives you federal Fair Credit Billing Act rights to dispute a bill for unsatisfactory advice in dealing with professional services, which you don't otherwise have. If you buy a turkey baster based on the magazine's recommendations and it turns out to be unsatisfactory, I would immediately ask for a refund of my subscription charges.

The easy way into trouble is simple; immediately jump upon, endorse, and adopt every new product, every new technique, every new concept and every new drug.

Product Focus: Diagnostic Imaging - X-ray Supplies

Dr. Michael Merrithew doesn't think he'll be quick to make any changes to his vaccine protocols despite a recent report from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) that calls for reduction in vaccinating dogs.

Playing "God" with clients is the veterinary version of "the revenge of the nerds."

Pullman, Wash.-A new tool could be at hand for "subtyping" strains of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that cause food-borne illness, thanks to scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Back to basics: Support yourself by providing a valuable service to clients

In the March/April issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), an Executive Summary of the 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines was published. A full text of the guidelines, recommendations, and supporting literature is available to AAHA members on the organization's Web site (www.aahanet.org).

DVM degree allows entry to 'spin zone' even paparazzi would envy

Ms. Karyn Gavzer identifies the barriers that prevent the veterinary team from getting clients to act on prescribed medical services.

Don't just play the blame game; remain proactive in talking about herd issues

'They Love Lucy' star blind to long-term economic problems  

Since the beginning of the year, I am getting more and more calls from colleagues concerned about their financial stability, the erosion of their retirement funds and with the decline in client visits, the ability of their practice to weather this recession.

Formal reprimand, suspension, dismissal all appropriate at times

Mixed animal practitioners caught on the 'horns of dilemma'