Business

I have a present for you, Mrs. Client. It's behind that door over there. And I know you are going to love it!

Dr. Robert Esplin's client knew the value of the canine blood bank when he rushed his dog to Sylvania Veterinary Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio. The twist: the dog being rushed to the hospital was called in to donate blood to another dog in need.

Before you can choose a consultant you need to know what you want them to do for your practice.

“Phone scripts help receptionists educate new clients before they enter the practice,” says Tracy Dowdy, CVPM, a consultant in Dallas. In her consulting work, Dowdy introduces phone scripts that emphasize the value of basic services into practices across the country.

Client surveys are limited to the extent that they only provide information on past performance.

Few pets miss their regular test or get behind on their medications at Lost Mountain Animal Hospital in Marietta, Ga. That's because office manager Debi Cook sends out reminders to clients to make appointments for procedures, tests, and medications, such as T4 levels and phenobarbital screens every six months, heartworm medication every year, and regular dentals.

In a city famous for its parties and rich with history, Metairie Small Animal Hospital fits right in. But don't let the grandeur fool you; practices of all sizes can apply the strategies that make this a terrific hospital.

Choosing your architect is one of the most important things you'll do when building or remodeling your practice. Your architect sets the pace for the project--and you'll have enough stress without suffering from communication problems with this key player. Here's what to do.

I had a dream last night, probably because of dinner I over-consumed as usual.

There is a new option available to every veterinarian, whether seeking health care insurance coverage for themselves and their families or affordable options for the employees of their practice.

Today it takes a winning team to run a successful practice.

As of this writing, milk prices have shown a desperately needed improvement from the dismal levels that prevailed for much of 2002 and 2003.

Missy answered the phone on the second ring.

The examination room can be a horridly stressful place. The stomach butterflies often begin before the veterinarian even walks in the door.

“I don't think we could practice medicine properly without the pumps,” says Dr. Robert Esplin, owner of Sylvania Veterinary Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio.

A job description is a listing of specific tasks to be done while an employee is on the job any given day.

Washington-The government might start paying off veterinary student loans to entice new graduates to work in underserved areas.

If students begin curbing all unhealthy spending habits while in school, academic leaders say they can trim the size of their pending student loan repayment substantially upon graduation.

This doctor showed flexibility when her plans for Northeast Cat & Dog Hospital hit roadblocks erected by city engineers. And her patience, careful planning, and faith led her to a facility she says is "perfect."

Dr. Karyl Ropko worked closely with the SBA to obtain a building loan. Here are some tips she learned along the way and the steps she took to smooth the road:

Last week I attended a social event in the area where I first practiced. Returning home, I drove along a 10-mile stretch of route 611, between Martin's Creek and Mt. Bethel, Penn. As I did so, nostalgia ran strong, as I recalled names like Budd Ott, Floyd Ott, Mike Palmer, Charlie Diehl and many others. These were all active dairy farms in the 1970s, when milk prices were strong and dairy practice relatively simple.

Jerry Vandever sat across the table from his accountant. Herbert Johnson, CPA, had been an accountant for many years and was looking over the tops of his reading glasses at the file for Patch-a-Pet Animal Hospital.

Promoting your practice through public continuing education events requires careful planning for a successful and well-attended outcome.

Examination is 50 percent of the work of our profession. Examination is the key to our success or failure in the pursuit of our profession. Examination is the most botched up service performed by fully 50 percent of our colleagues in both its qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Dr. Susan calls my consulting office in distress because her first employer DVM, after only six months on the job, has met with her and explained she?s not working enough hours, she?s not being active enough in civic and community activities and he doesn?t understand why she wants every-other weekend off.

For the second time in two years, our lawmakers have created federal tax cuts designed to spur business investment. However, despite record-low interest rates, affording the funds many veterinarians require in order to acquire the property and equipment to take advantage of those tax cuts has never been harder. Into the breach has stepped the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Failure to address these 25 issues is central to limiting a practice's patient care success.In other words, address these issues in your business plan to ensure success.

Finding the right job takes planning; know what you want personally, professionally for longevity, satisfaction

You know the type. You might even be the type-the DVM who routinely puts in 12-plus hour days, never takes vacations, can't bear to delegate, feels anxious and purposeless when not on the job.

Five years ago Pet Care Hospital in Plano, Texas, opened a doggie daycare service and the practice, clients, and dogs continue to reap the rewards. "Clients take home tired dogs, worn out from a day full of play and exercise. And over the long-term, the daycare builds the dogs' self-confidence so they aren't fearful," says Jill Vincent, a certified trainer who runs the daycare as well as the practice's dog-training classes.