Practice tip: Ask local agencies for crime safety help
Make sure your veterinary practices safety protocol is up to date by implementing one or both of these strategies.
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Neglecting crime prevention in your veterinary practice can be costly. That's why it's important to tune up your safety procedures.
One easy way to do this is by contacting the local police department and asking them to do an outreach program at your next staff meeting. This is a free service they offer, and they're happy to do it.
They will look over your facility and identify areas that need improvement-for example, more lights in the parking area. They'll also go over issues that should be reported to law enforcement and what actions to take if a client appears to be tilting towards violence.
An OSHA checkup is another way to ensure that your practice is compliant on safety matters. Some options are free. Use your state's Consultation Directory to arrange for an inspector to examine your practice and advise you on what to do to become compliant. Many other services do this for a fee, especially veterinary-specific ones.
- Tracy Sheffield, BS, LVT, CVPM
Practice administrator at Wimberley Veterinary Clinic in Wimberley, Texas
Co-owner of T&L Veterinary Business Consulting
