Roles

The practice owner won't invest in a piece of new equipment that I think we really need. How can I convince her to buy?

Gina Toman, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and a veterinary assistant at Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, N.C., says that when you do a good job passing the client off to the receptionist after the appointment, you help prevent missed charges and improve the client's experience.

Florie is a 4-year-old, spayed female Labrador-shepherd crossbred dog. Until six months ago, Florie's medical history was unremarkable. At that time, she was diagnosed with a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) based on the presence of hematuria and pollakiuria; she received 500 mg cephalexin orally once daily by the referring veterinarian for five days.

This new publication is brought to you from the editors of Veterinary Economics, the magazine that veterinarians turn to for the information and inspiration they need to create successful practices and coach successful teams. But Firstline is designed just for you.

Freeze! I mean everyone. Now meet. Sound impossible? The team at Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Pa., manages it twice a day. Here's how it works: Everyone meets at 8:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. in front of the dry erase board.

Picture this: You're explaining why Baxter needs heartworm preventives when the tinny sound of Beethoven's 5th erupts from inside your client's purse.

The doctor uses me as a receptionist, although I'm a registered veterinary technician. What should I do?

Whether you answer the phone twice a day or twice a minute, these tips will help you handle a range of calls with finesse and keep conflict with clients to a minimum.

Here's a quick snapshot of what we've learned about your career, pay, responsibilities, and feelings about veterinary practice.

Use these quick strategies to make your days go more smoothly.

Anyone who's managed inventory knows it's tough to find the right balance of products without storing too much-or too little. These tips take the ache out of tracking, ordering, and stocking.

My doctor doesn't like to change. How can I make him more open to new ideas and approaches?

Don't settle for just-OK visits anymore. Use these service strategies to take your team's performance up a notch

Feel that pinch in your back? Or maybe your wrists ache. Perhaps you've got a chronic case of phone neck—that permanent crick from bracing the phone with your neck while you scribble a message about Fifi's chronic diarrhea for the doctor. Use these tips to ease the strain:

Last week a client brought in a very sick pet and refused to treat it because of the cost. This makes me furious. What can I do?

Whose directions should I follow when the doctors disagree?

The owner of my practice makes rude remarks about women's work abilities. Should I confront the doctor about his sexist comments?

Take a look at the issues team members say bother them most. Then think about what you could do to make their professional lives easier. They'll pay you back-promise! (Attention associates: Boss driving your crazy? We've got ideas for you, too.)

Increased educational costs have new graduates struggling with more debt than ever before. Yet most feel confident they can carry the weight.

Where you choose to live affects your career opportunities, your personal happiness, and even the health of the patients you see. Does your city rank among the best?

Data shows that if your clients arrive during a busy time, their average wait for check-in and check-out can hit 21 to 29 minutes during a 42- to 49-minute visit. That's almost half their time at the practice.

Step one: Weigh the benefits and decide whether you're interested in ownership. Step two: Start developing critical leadership skills.

Almost 90 percent of you are are at work. Maybe it's time to buck the trend.

Data shows team members are in search of stronger leadership. So prevent kinks in teamwork and breaks in communication by taking these six critical steps—and set a positive tone for the practice.

Yes, it can be hard to trust other people to manage the tasks you've been doing. But effective delegation makes for happier staff members who feel genuinely appreciated.

Nearly 30 percent of practitioners are at risk for compassion fatigue. Would you recognize the symptoms and know what to do?

When it comes to service, associates may think owners see the world through rose-colored glasses. But in general, you may all be more alike than you think.

Despite occasional grumbles about life balance, the latest Veterinary Economics survey shows that 88 percent of practitioners find their normal level of stress manageable—and they're enjoying their work.

Associates and support staff weigh in on the factors that attract them—and keep them on the job. Is your practice attractive to potential team members? (And is it equally attractive to potential buyers?)

During a continuing education meeting held by local orthopedic specialists, Dr. Mike McLaughlin, owner of Animal Medical Center of Cumming, in Cumming, Ga., was intrigued about a surgical procedure called TPO, or triple pelvic osteotomy. He heard the specialists say that some large-breed dogs with hip dysplasia can enjoy an improved quality of life, or at least a slowed disease progression, by undergoing TPO.