The pet cat population in the United States exceeds the pet dog population, yet the average cat visits the veterinarian only half as often as the average dog.1 Conversely, advancements in feline health care offer us more opportunities to maximize cats's long lives. It's our job to make sure cats receive routine care.
It should be straightforward: You tell your clients what to do, and they do it. Aren't client relations supposed to work this way? After all, you're a doctor, you have command of the English language, and your clients love their cats and want to care for them. Unfortunately, compliance doesn't happen as frequently as we'd like, even with intelligent, committed clients. Reversing this trend means understanding-and eliminating-the reasons for client noncompliance.
Drug companies are going to charge whatever the market will bear.
A good example makes for a great presentation. But it's not always easy to find an image when it's time for that career talk at the high school. One solution: "Keep a camera on hand to record interesting or humorous cases," suggests Dr. Ellen Paul-Kuchenbrod of Lipton Animal Hospital in Urbana, Ill. "You can also take pictures of radiographs that show unusual foreign bodies ."
One challenge of team management: Making sure everyone pulls his or her weight. "We found that our veterinary assistants and technicians like to congregate in certain areas of the hospital, and when someone needed help in another area, they'd kind of look at each other to see who would go," says Jean Weaver, hospital administrator at Catawba Animal Clinic, located in Rock Hill, S.C.—a seven-doctor practice with 33 support staff members.
East Hilliard Veterinary Services in Hilliard, Ohio, started a pet weight-loss plan in October 2003. "Pets on the program have lost more than 525 pounds, with 35 pets reaching their goal weight," says Client Relations Specialist Stephanie Pepper.
Animal shelters in army towns say they're feeling the pinch as U.S. soldiers ship out to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Identity crises are for other people. I am what I am. I'm a veterinarian and proud to wear that title.
Apply these five strategies to make the most of your relationship with horse owners who think they know it all.
Domineering management styles can force the best employees out the door
Efficient workflow requires immediate attention, organization
If an indoor cat has a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet and nothing to do, the inevitable will ensue.
Since 1997, approximately 27 million adults in the United States have become victims of identity theft according to the Federal Trade Commission. To minimize your risk—and the risk to your team members and clients—follow these cautionary steps at your practice:
Using a laparoscopic technique to perform ovariohysterectomy, cryptorchidectomy, and exploratory laparotomy with abdominal biopsy, and using thoracoscopy to perform thoracic exploratory means less pain and quicker recovery time for patients. And for Dr. Rex Bailey, owner of Michigan City Animal Hospital in Michigan City, Ind., laparoscopic services mean better pet care, happier clients, more rewarding work for himself, and good news for his business.
Have you ever stopped at a traffic light or just walked through a new section of town and inhaled the smell of garlic coming from a local Italian restaurant or the unmistakable aroma from a BBQ eatery? When you are paying the bill, do you ever wonder how you made the decision, spur of the moment, to fill up with pasta or ribs?
Veterinary practice can be fun, or it can be stressful. The trick is to figure out how to minimize stress points so you can experience enjoyment the majority of the time.
Want to avoid regrets about management? Learn to avoid these common missteps, pulled from candid conversations with practitioners.
Lack of respect for the facility can signal deficits in pride and care that hurt more than just the building if left unchecked.
Regret is inevitable, but we don't have to hold onto it and the pain it causes.
Imagine you receive a call about a horse experiencing a severe case of colic. You stabilize the horse and perform a physical examination, after which the horse exhibits signs of colic again.
Reminder cards are veterinarians' strongest tool to build repeat business and help their clients keep up-to-date on their pets' care.
Don't know where to start? Here's what you need to know to communicate effectively with your insurance agent:
Young veterinarians seek and value mentoring in their schooling and in the early years of practice.
Clearly separating practice functions set the tone for VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital--and created a unique design feature. Then the design team added a superbly crafted 7,850 square-foot floor plan and thoughtfully chosen materials, securing the 2005 Veterinary Economics Hospital of the Year award.
Coddling is a new buzzing issue in human resource management and with good reason.
Practice consultants work hard for their clients and are well aware of the investment a practice makes for their services. To do the best possible job for you, they need you to be prepared, complete documents as requested, and dedicate the necessary time to the improvement effort.
Use these strategies to make sure tension never becomes toxic for you or your team.
What's the most pressing issue for small businesses that Congress and the President should address?
If you are upset or angry about something, you need to confront the situation. Avoidance of co-workers and strained relationships can result in further problems. However, this doesn't mean you have to confront immediately if you are too angry to be constructive right that minute.
It's difficult to really know what a job offers until you've been there a while (Catch-22!), but a little astute questioning can help. Use these questions as aids. Don't read them to prospective employers as a list of demands—gently work them into interviews when appropriate.
