• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Waste not, want not

August 1, 2006
Veterinary Economics Staff

With just two hands-and so many hours in a day-delegating tasks that don't require a DVM makes sense. Yet our study shows doctors spend several hours each week performing tasks they could pass on.

"THERE ARE ONLY FOUR ESSENTIAL DOCTOR tasks: diagnose, prescribe, perform surgery, and chart," says Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member Dr. Craig Woloshyn, owner of Animal Medical Clinic in Spring Hill, Fla., and Sun Dog Veterinary Consulting. Yet results from the 2006 Veterinary Economics Business Issues Study show that doctors aren't living by this guideline. Twenty-two percent of respondents spend one to two hours a week giving injections, for example. (See Figure 2 for more.)

While only one to two hours a week may seem like a blink, the hours—and the cost—add up over the course of year. At an average private-practice veterinarian's salary of $43.45 per hour, according to the "Economic Report on Veterinarians and Veterinary Practices," AVMA, 2005, those injections could cost the practice $4,519 per doctor per year.

Figure 1

If you pay a technician's average salary of $13 per hour instead, a figure that comes from the AVMA study, you spend $1,352 per year—and save more than $3,000 per year.

Multiplied across all the tasks that doctors could potentially delegate to support staff members, the results of this one strategy could really help the your bottom line. "Your time is the most expensive commodity in the clinic and you must use it wisely for the practice to thrive," Dr. Woloshyn says .

Advertisement

Of course, some tasks, such as client education, you'll also want to do, and rightly so. The good news: Respondents report spending more time per week on this function than on any other one asked about in the study. Thirty-nine percent spend more than 6 hours per week.

Other tasks are better left to others. "Giving away your jobs will make your practice run smoother, allow you to provide better patient care, and make your clients happier," says Dr. Woloshyn. "Tapping the synergy of a team rather than relying on one individual always provides superior results."

Figure 2

Learning to delegate

Want to delegate more, but not sure where to start? Dr. Woloshyn says these are the six essential steps:

1. Define the result. Explain precisely what you need done, so team members know when they've accomplished the goal.

2. Choose the right person. Generally, the right person for the job can just barely complete the assignment with some thought and difficulty. After all, learning only occurs when people perform at the edge of their comfort zone.

3. Forget the process. Don't tell people how to do jobs. Let them use their own problem-solving capabilities and ask for advice if they need it. Generally, they'll astound you with their answers to problems.

4. Give them the authority. People who handle tasks must have the authority to involve others, buy new supplies, or change procedures. If there's a lot of money involved, give limits; otherwise let them choose.

5. Go away. When you hand over a job to a team member, don't look over his or her shoulder. Don't ask every day (or hour) if there's progress. When there's a result, your team member will tell you, and you can evaluate it.

6. Reward a task well-done. First, offer praise in front of your team. Sometimes monetary awards are appropriate, but usually praise and a token gift are better. (For more on rewards, see "Make it Rewarding".)

Related Content:

BusinessPractice Operations
Fear Free environments for more than just pets
Fear Free environments for more than just pets
Partners for Health Pets and VHMA collaboration publish white paper
Partners for Health Pets and VHMA collaboration publish white paper
The job description
The job description

Advertisement

Latest News

The four-letter word to why you're burning out and feeling unproductive

Merck Manuals recognizes importance of One Health concept

Topical therapy and immunotherapy can save time and frustration with dermatology cases

Texas Tech appoints new faculty member with passion for animal agriculture

View More Latest News
Advertisement