Business

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.

The careful design of this 3,010-square-foot hospital and the luxurious finishings belie the small footprint and reasonable price tag.

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.

With the advent of e-mail, it's easy to jot a disjointed note and send it off to clients or colleagues. But a slap-dash approach may lead you to say things you'd never consider appropriate if you were using a pen and paper. Keep out of trouble with these e-mail etiquette tips:

Student loan rates are at historic lows, says Veterinary Economics Personal Finance Editor Fritz Wood, CPA, CFP, but not for long. Wood says recent and soon-to-be graduates should act now to consolidate their student loans.

Regret is inevitable, but we don't have to hold onto it and the pain it causes.

Dr. Brad Rosonke, owner of Hillside Animal Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., has little interest in dentistry. But he knows that offering dental services means better care for his patients. His solution: Hire a dental resident--in his case, Dr. Peter Bates--to visit his practice on a regular basis. "This is a win-win-win situation," says Dr. Rosonke. "Dr. Bates needs to see more patients during his residency, I'm now free to see other patients while he's taking care of dental issues, and our clients get more complete care for their pets."

If you and your employees use work-related e-mail addresses, you probably face in boxes that bulge with spam, technically known as unsolicited commercial e-mail. And you're not alone in the battle against notices for low mortgage rates and questionable pharmaceuticals.

Studies show morale and turnover improve when team members feel appreciated.

A growing business adds customers, expands inventory, buys equipment, and hires new staff. The future looks great on paper, but the additional expenses bring a cash crunch, particularly if collections are slow.

Think you know where your personal finances stand? If you're married, your spouse likely sees family earnings and expenses differently.

Lack of respect for the facility can signal deficits in pride and care that hurt more than just the building if left unchecked.

I'm about to sell my practice. Is there any reason why I can't do the appraisal myself?

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.

In addition to arrhythmias, valvular insufficiency as detected by the auscultation of a murmur may result in signs of exercise intolerance.

I've played hockey for many years, often once or twice a week. One day it dawned on me I wasn't improving. Instead I was doing the same wrong things over and over--I was playing but not practicing. Finally, I took a skills class and was amazed at how much I didn't know.

At our practice, we have an inventory team that handles ordering and tracking of drugs, lab supplies, food, and so on. But we still struggle with inventory accuracy. Would establishing an incentive program for the inventory team help?

Don't know where to start? Here's what you need to know to communicate effectively with your insurance agent:

I have lost count of the number of occasions when I have written in this column that partnership in a veterinary practice is very similar to marriage. The analogy is one that potential partners must ignore at their peril. Nonetheless, joint ownership of a professional practice can be much like something else as well: a couple moving in together.

Young veterinarians seek and value mentoring in their schooling and in the early years of practice.

Think you're communicating--and selling--your services effectively? Here are some key points to consider to help you make powerful and persuasive recommendations to your clients

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.

In prior articles, I gave advice on creating and writing a strong, compelling vision for your life and work. But crafting the vision is just the first step. Next you must figure out how to make your vision a reality.

A potential buyer will want to know what it would cost to provide the same services you offer.

Coddling is a new buzzing issue in human resource management and with good reason.

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.

Welcome new associates to your practice with some functional fanfare that simultaneously introduces them to the public. Running an announcement ad in your local paper provides increased visibility for your practice and establishes the new associate as part of the community.

Not all tax deductions are created equal. When it comes to building projects, the normal write-off for building costs is 39 years. However, with a little homework and the help of a builder and architect, you can accelerate deductions. The concept at work: cost segregation.