Technicians

As David Bowie says, "Time may change me." And time's probably changed your practice, too. Did you have computers in your practice 10 years ago? Or five? Perhaps. How do you use them? Do you schedule appointments, search the Web for product information, or look for tools to educate clients and improve your practice's efficiency?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers a snapshot of salaries for careers with similar educational requirements.

Fifty percent of team members say their practice hires a few times a year, according to the 2008 Firstline Professional Growth Study.

Technicians, practice owners, and associates each share their view of which technician tasks are delegated in a practice.

The average Firstline practice includes 1.5 practice owners, 2.3 associates, 1 practice manager, 3.8 receptionists, 2.6 credentialed technicians, 4.3 veterinary assistants, and 2.5 kennel assistants, according to the 2008 Firstline Professional Growth Study.

Home foreclosures climbed 53 percent in June above the previous year.

Charter members of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT) received veterinary technician specialist (VTS) credentials on June 3 at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in San Antonio.

Use this tool to ease your burgeoning stress level and help bring balance to your life.

Learn to take the sting out of verbal darts and head off conflicts with co-workers.

What is compassion fatigue, and how can you identify your risk? Serena Wadhwa, PsyD, LCPC, CADC, an expert on stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue in Chicago, offers answers to help team members identify and manage the emotional demands of veterinary practice.

Use these tips from Christiane Holbrook, a life coach in Pasadena, Calif., to maintain a healthy life balance.

Love for a feeble, weathered Labrador came quickly for this veterinarian.

Make prescription refill requests easier on clients and receptionists with these easy-to-use prescription refill pad pages.

Use this client education form to educate clients about the care their pet receives during a dental appointment.

This sample form will remind you to ask clients important lifestyle questions.

Technicians zero in on missed charges to increase revenue.

Nestle Purina PetCare is sharing the results of a canine life span study on a poster you can get free of charge.

Want a say in how owners spend the practice's money? Try saving a little first. Use these cost-cutting steps to increase efficiency, consume consciously, and add bucks to the practice's bottom line.

Publicly document all those freebies.

Use this questionnaire to help employees assess their roles and performance in your practice.

A few tweaks to your paperwork and front desk, and refill annoyances will be a thing of the past.

What you can do to get clients on board with your dental recommendations.

"The waiting area smelled of urine and pet odors." "The surroundings were dirty and depressing." Don't let these comments be from your clients.

The gender earnings gap: It's difficult to talk about. But talking-with authority-is what female vets must do to earn more.

The receptionist's main responsibility is to assure the smooth, orderly flow of clients and patients. Receptionists report to the Client-Services Director.

Download these calendar images as desktop backgrounds.

AVMA, other organizations seek to stop injuries through education May 18 to 24.

Learn how to encourage your doctor or manager to pursue an idea for change with you.