Owners

Dana and Gary Gayner say their veterinarian gave their 2-year-old German shepherd a sedative instead of euthanizing the animal; then the clinic turned around and gave the dog to another owner, because they considered the owners "heartless," according to an article by The Associated Press.

Use this budgeting tool to capture your revenue, expenses, and amount available for compensation and reinvestment.

A longtime staff member who's in her late 50s is having trouble learning our new computerized billing system. We don't want to fire her, but we need to replace her with someone who can handle our new technology. If we asked her to retire, would we risk an age-discrimination suit?

Estradiol cypionate (ECP) isn't approved for animals, says the FDA in response to reports that pharmacies and veterinarians have compounded ECP for use as an estrogenic hormone for reproductive therapy in dairy cows and beef cattle.

A base plan gives team members somewhere to start, minimizing confusion and panic.

Proper disposal is the law-and it's for your own safety.

Educate clients about the benefits of senior care by putting together a protocol and sending a consistent message. Handouts such as this one can help you deliver your message.

Make sure your benefits stack up well against the other options team members could find in your area-and give employees more reasons to stick around.

After a seven-month investigation, a Senate panel concluded that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be abolished and rebuilt from scratch, according to The Associated Press.

Customize this sample Word document to terminate a doctor-client relationship politely and professionally.

Difficult clients do your practice more harm than good by damaging team morale and causing conflict. Figure out who they are, and let them go.

Promoting dental health starts with your team. So develop a team approach to educating clients?and use tools such as this dental prophy admitting form to help you deliver great care.

I disagree with recent decisions my boss made and with the quality of his practice. After 12 years, I'm ready to move out on my own. I don't have a noncompete agreement and plan to open a practice in the same town. My clients deserve to know I'm leaving and should have the opportunity to follow me. What can I do?

Every practitioner who orders, dispenses, prescribes, or administers a controlled substance must be registered with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and sometimes with a state agency that regulates such activity, says Philip Seibert, CVT, a consultant with Veterinary Practice Consultants in Calhoun, Tenn., and editor of The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest. What's more, you must keep such substances in a "securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet or safe," according to Title 21 CFR 1301.75. So what exactly does that mean?

In a recent survey, 54 percent of team members felt cross-training was beneficial.

When our owner's out of the building and the technicians perform dentals, does our part-time associate receive credit even if the owner scheduled it and already performed a physical exam?

From divorce to debt, everyone deals with personal issues?and you may feel you shoulder too big a burden. Use these strategies to manage tough situations when they spill into the workplace.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a final rule to prohibit extra-label use in poultry of two classes of approved human antiviral drugs in treating influenza: anti-influenza adamantane (amantadine and rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitor (oseltamivir and zanamivir).

Michigan Veterinary Specialists in Southfield, Mich., is a large specialty practice with a 24-hour facility. Technicians work different shifts and are constantly passing on important information about patients. "To improve communication between shifts, we made cage tags that highlight patients' special needs," says Kathy Estrada, LVT, the practice's technical services manager.

The goal: As Bob Townsend, former CEO of Avis Rent A Car System LLC, has said, "Create the kind of environment that pays people to bring their brains to work." The more you identify and address employees' job-related needs, the more likely they'll engage in what psychologists call "motivated behavior."

Should the doctor know the prices for procedures and services?

Conflict closed this practice's doors for good. Don't suffer the same fate.

My group practice is thinking of adding a doctor, but we're worried that it could cost more in additional overhead than he or she will produce. What should we do?

Use a newsletter to make sure staff members never feel left out in the cold.

Making sure you're on the same page with clients is the best way to avoid malpractice claims. Use these strategies to refine your approach and avoid potential trouble spots.

"To increase efficiency at our front desk, we maintain a very organized file-placement system, with bins for every possible function," says Sabrina Lewis, veterinary nurse at Central Broward Animal Hospital in Plantation, Fla.

Sure, you know all about radiation safety. But are you following the rules? Is everyone in your practice taking precautions when it comes to exposure?

Try these strategies to beat back burnout and stay jazzed about your work.