Technicians

Every day at our practice is a scheduling nightmare, and our doctor just does not see the problem. Our practice is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. We accept drop-offs from 7 to 8 a.m., but our doctor refuses to schedule a team member that early. He says he'll help clients, but when my manager and I arrive at 7:30 a.m., clients are waiting and upset. My doctor also complains if he has to pay us overtime, but if someone comes to the door or calls at 6:55 p.m., he lets them in. I understand he wants to generate revenue and help the pet, but whether it's an ear infection, an abscess, dental care, or a hot spot, he wants to treat the pet immediately. How can we run an efficient, regularly scheduled hospital?

Ask a client for a fecal sample and you'll likely get a range of responses-from slightly sickened to totally grossed out. Hey, playing with pet poop's not your favorite hobby, either, but fecal testing helps you keep pets parasite-free.

What's weighing you down? Use these tips to let go of the attitudes and behaviors that keep you from moving upward and reaching your career goals.

Does dingy, drab, or dungeon-like describe your practice? It might be time for a makeover. Use these quick and thrifty ideas to take your practice from blah to beautiful.

Listen to audio from the Firstline roundtable.

Listen to audio from the Firstline roundtable.

Listen to audio from the Firstline roundtable.

Listen to excerpts from the Firstline roundtable, "Why do technicians leave?"

Listen to audio from the Firstline roundtable.

Listen to audio from the Firstline roundtable.

Listen to audio from the Firstline roundtable.

Orlando, Fla. –– Reality-show veterinarian Holly Knor learned to trust the strength of the human-animal bond as a toddler more than three decades ago. Her faith in it continues today, guiding the care she gives her patients.

Keep your clients happy-from when they make an appointment until they're done with follow-up care.

Our client folders are arranged by last name, but approximately one-third of them are in the wrong place. Is it most efficient to file customer folders by name, or is there a better way?

2007 BPA Statement -- Veterinary Medicine

How can I tell if my marketing efforts are effective? What's the best way to measure the results?

Do client notes disappear after you paper clip them to a patient chart? Do your blood work or hospital notes sneak into the wrong file? Maybe it's time to kick the paper clip habit, says Jean Weaver, hospital administrator at Catawba Animal Clinic in Rock Hill, S.C. "Our doctors would use two or three clips on charts to try to keep notes and educational materials together," Weaver says. "These notes would inevitably fall off or become attached to another chart in the discharge box."

One technician reveals how she made her career flower, got raises, and offered a higher standard of care.

You're no punching bag, so don't let anyone treat you like one. Use these bully-busting strategies to reclaim your practice.

Dr. Smith (not his real name) relates this true tale of a covert bully's attack on an unsuspecting team.

Little irritations can cause bigger flare-ups if you don't swat them early. Use these tips to manage six stressful situations.

What you say--and what clients hear--may be worlds apart. When you're fishing for the right words to satisfy clients' questions, avoid these most misunderstood answers.

Everyone has a great story. Maybe it's the one you tell at Christmas parties or the tale that makes your friends groan every time you launch into the opening line: "A few years ago there was this Great Dane ..."

Feel like you have a bright, shiny target tattooed on your forehead? Chances are, a bully singled you out for a reason. Here are eight profiles of common bully targets. Even if you can't dodge the attack, you'll understand better why you're the one dodging missiles.

Q: I'm a technician and I'm interested in zoological medicine. How can I get started in the field?

With six exam rooms, it could be difficult for the team at Nassau Veterinary Clinic in Nassau, N.Y., to keep track of which doctors are in each room.

What's the biggest mistake you've made in practice?

Ask Amy: I work with a serial gossiper