Business

Profitability and quality are not mutually exclusive, but they do go together.

Putting his own needs aside, a man risks snaps and bites and offers outcast dogs unconditional love.

Don't let that next phone call be the client who got away. Use these tips from Sally Hickey, a receptionist at Short Pump Animal Hospital in Richmond, Va.

Between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. chaos ruled in the front office at Catawba Animal Clinic in Rock Hill, S.C., says Hospital Administrator Jean Weaver. "All our dental appointments, surgery appointments, daycares, and routine morning appointments were coming in around the same time," she says. "Our receptionists were overwhelmed trying to check in the appointments in a timely manner, especially with clients rushing to get to work."

Veterinarians fought such incredible obstacles in the wake of the hurricane.

I perform services at a discount for a local nonprofit group. Can I write off the discounts?

Gary Morgan, a receptionist for Robert E. Lewis, a dentist in Overland Park, Kan., has a special talent: He remembers the name of most of the clients who walk through the door. And with more than 1,500 client records in the practice database, that's no small feat.

Lynette Ott, the practice manager at Barton Heights Veterinary Hospital in Stroudsburg, Pa., always heard that 20 percent of clients bring in 80 percent of income. Not content to blindly adopt the mantra, Ott went looking for data.

If missed charges are slipping out the door, you may be seeing a smaller paycheck and fewer benefits—and you may find it harder to offer high-quality care.

How do you know whether a newly hired team member is right for his or her job and, equally important, right for your practice? Many practice owners evaluate a new hire's job performance during a probationary period, which can last from 30 to 90 days.

What percent of practice revenue should go to food and products?

In 23 percent of practices, credentialed technicians are responsible for most of the client's education, according to a recent survey by VetMedTeam.com. In 52 percent of practices, veterinarians handle the bulk of education, while in 19 percent of practices, veterinary assistants take charge of this task. Here's a look at the percentage of respondents who say team members discuss these issues with clients:

What's the expected average increase in gross income in the year after opening a practice?

How do you determine expected yearly production for veterinarians? How should it change based on years of experience?

A medical record audit is the best way to measure how much money your practice is leaking.

Use this form to get meaningful feedback when team members leave your practice.

The biggest share of practice advertising dollars is spent on Yellow Pages ads. The following are practical guidelines to help you think through your Yellow Pages strategy, improve your ad's efficacy and reduce costs.

Preanesthetic testing helps protect your patients' health--and decreases your practice's liability. Use this form to help educate clients.

Preanesthetic testing helps protect your patients' health and decreases your practice's liability. Here's how to use a client consent form to educate pet owners about this medical service.

A 33-pound royal turtle was snatched by poachers from a Cambodian river and smuggled across the Vietnamese border by motorbike, according to an article on CNN.com.

I frequently tout the goal of developing a womb-to-tomb relationship with our clients and their pets. At the core of our practice philosophy is the statement, "Focus on long-term relationships versus the short-term dollar."

I'm a full-time veterinarian, and my employer pays for my health insurance, which costs about $4,000 a year. I recently got married, and my husband's insurance is better. If I join my husband's policy, should I get that $4,000 benefit somewhere else in my package? Is it fair to ask my boss to add it to my salary or to add more paid vacation days in equivalent to the benefit money?

The future is rife with new veterinary exploration. Dr. Lonnie King is a believer and a pioneer.

Q. I'm an associate veterinarian paid on a straight salary. My employer doesn't offer group health insurance as part of my contract, but I'd like him to pay my medical insurance premiums and those of my husband and son. I checked with the IRS, and it appears that he can pay the premiums for my family tax-free. If he offers me this benefit, does he have to offer it to everyone on salary?

Use high-quality medicine, strong communication skills, and both internal and external marketing to create clients who act as advocates for the practice.

"The secret to a successful open house," says Christy Johnson, CVPM, practice administrator at Pampered Pet Health Center, "is to make it fun. Have lots of things for clients to see and do, and serve plenty of finger food. Involve your staff, distributors, and drug representatives. And get the word out."

The 2005 Well-Managed Practice Study shows how important strategic planning is to achieving your practice vision-and respondents say their only regrets are not planning sooner.

Up-and-coming generations could be poised to make big waves in the science and engineering fields, according to a survey by Bayer HealthCare LLC–Animal Health Division. In fact, 42 percent of parents surveyed report that their daughters have already expressed an interest in continuing to study or having a career in these fields, and 63 percent report that their sons have expressed the same interest.

I'm starting a small animal practice, and I'm hoping to add an associate with buy-in potential after two years. Which business entity would be best, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Service Corporation?

A pet's euthanasia is always difficult for clients, and it can be tough for team members, too. Dr. Mark Reser of Neel Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma City says he gets great feedback when he takes two key steps.