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| Pet lovers read on
| Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member Dr. Marty Becker and other authors of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul" and "Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover's Soul" will release two new books on Oct. 11: "Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul" and "Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul.". | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Video: 'You won't let my pet die, will you?'
| Tips on talking to clients when they ask a tough question before a procedure from Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member Dr. Jim Kramer, CVPM. | | | Client relations secret from Marty Becker at CVC in Kansas City
| What you say in the first 10 seconds can make or break a client bond. | | | An old dog's last stand
| Love for a feeble, weathered Labrador came quickly for this veterinarian. | | | House of the dead
| I had just come in from a walk when my phone rang. As any veterinarian knows, getting a call this late at night could mean only one thing: a sick animal. | | | Did Father know best?
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Probably not, but I learned better client care when my dad ignored my advice and picked a pet with his heart—not his head. | | | A loyal pup who never forgot Mom
| This surprise visitor taught one girl—and future veterinarian—that sorrow and sympathy aren't just human emotions. | | | Hanging tough
| You never know what you're going to see in practice—it can be a real mixed bag. | | | Life, love, loss
| Saying goodbye is never easy. And you face this undeniable fact of life every day. The upside: You're in a position to ease your clients through the grieving process and help them celebrate the pets they love. | | | Puppy parties bond patients to practice
| Dogs can't wait to get through the front door of Chanhassen Veterinary Clinic in Chanhassen, Minn. For 12 years, the clinic has been throwing free puppy parties in its reception area. | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Case study: Investing in overnight care pays off
| "Clients like to know their pets will be taken care of by doctors they know and trust in an emergency, so having a doctor on staff 24 hours a day just makes sense to us," says Dr. Tom Nelson, co-owner of Animal Medical Center in Anniston, Ala. "Besides, the nearest emergency clinic is 60 miles away." | | | Case study: Tours build the bond
| Hospital tours attract new clients and cement your bond with existing ones. "We like to take the mystery away," says Dr. Lisa Barlow of Centennial Valley Animal Hospital PC in Louisville, Colo. "We think hospital tours help clients feel better about leaving their pets here." | | | Case study: Visiting specialist wins clients and revenue
| Dr. Brad Rosonke, owner of Hillside Animal Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., has little interest in dentistry. But he knows that offering dental services means better care. His solution: Hire a dental resident. | | | Case study: Senior testing education enhances care and compliance
| Dr. Daniel Brod, co-owner of Deer Creek Animal Hospital in
Littleton, Colo., says that in about one of every four senior dogs
he tests, he identifies early disease processes, such as renal,
liver, or thyroid disease?that's about 15 percent higher than in
younger dogs at his practice. And he sees similar results in his
feline patients. So the benefits of testing are clear. And his team
took just a few steps that helped to increase compliance. |
| | Staff training program increases heartworm preventive compliance
| You know how important heartworm preventive is and likely prefer
clients buy 12 months worth of preventive at once, so they don't
delay when they need more and risk the pet's health. After sending
a practice manager to an AAHA pilot program on compliance in 2003,
Suburban Animal Clinic in Columbus, Ohio, implemented a few changes
to increase 12-month heartworm preventive compliance. | | | Case study: Boosting repeat visits and dental care
| Reminders and increased client education lead to improved care at this Florida practice. | | | Case Study: Upscale Boarding Keeps Pets and Owners Happy
| "I didn't like boarding my dog in a little cage," says Dr. Henry Inglesby, owner of Suwanee Pet Suites and Animal Care Center in Suwanee, Ga. Assuming other vacationing dog owners also hated the thought of leaving their precious canines in tight quarters, he decided to replace the cramped cages. | | | Case Study: Tap Retired Workers to Make Callbacks
| For 12 years, Dr. Steve Bishop and his crew at Animal Care Hospital in Phoenix have been tapping the retired population to make callbacks in the early evening. Doing so frees time for receptionists to work on other jobs, he says. "Plus, the hourly pay is less than for a receptionist, and the workers are more flexible with their time." | | | Case Study: Hip Screenings may Help Improve Quality of Live
| 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. | | MORE ARTICLES
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| AVMA coverage: State boards and standards of care
| A veterinary specialist asks tough questions and offers advice to practitioners on good habits to survive licensing board investigations. | | | The shelter dilemma
| Everyone can start to break the impasse between private practitioners and shelters by listening. | | | Unsupervised ordering raises ethical questions
| I own a small animal practice, and I discovered that my hospital manager and associate have been ordering equine products through my clinic. I like that I can help them by getting products at wholesale, but I worry about my liability since I don't treat horses. Is this legal? | | | Business ethics
| Solid business ethics can help you establish a profitable, successful practice. And your clients will see your good side, too. Here are seven principles of admirable business ethics: | | | Addressing the responsibilities microchips raise
| We took in a boarder from a longtime, good client, who said the pet was a stray that he acquired from the local groomer. During our exam, we found a microchip and were able to locate and contact the original owner, who said the dog had been stolen about six weeks earlier. What are our rights and responsibilities in situations like this? | | | Provide employees with places to go
| It's essential to tell team members who they can turn to--besides you--when they encounter a confusing ethical situation. | | | Pet botox ban
| West Hollywood, Calif., is trying to ban cosmetic surgery on animals, including tail docking, de-fanging, ear cropping, and botox for noncurative reasons. | | | Was it an error?
| The answer is often colored by preconceived notions, according to a study published in the American Journal of Nursing. When adverse events fall in the realm of nursing they're likely to be reported as errors. When they're associated with physicians, they're apt to be viewed as differences in "clinical judgement" or a "variation in practice." | | | Ethical recommendations that work
| Think you're communicating--and selling--your services effectively? Here are some key points to consider to help you make powerful and persuasive recommendations to your clients | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Long-term drug monitoring made easy
| Get your patients taking long-term meds on a plan for rechecks. | | | Fee-setting tool: Long-term analgesic testing
| Are your exam fees in line with high-performing hospitals? | | | How to ease cat pain. Bonus: It pays.
| Help cat owners provide a pain-free existence for their feline friends. | | | Look but also touch
| Seeing is believing for clients when it comes to pet dental health at Falmouth Veterinary Hospital in Falmouth, Maine. Video touchscreens in exam rooms show clients how quickly damaging plaque can build and harden. The screens also let clients type in their e-mail address and request that the information or Web site address for the video be sent to their home. After every dental cleaning, clients watch a video on brushing. | | | Talking teeth with timid clients
| What you can do to get clients on board with your dental recommendations. | | | Educating clients about parasites
| A list from the Veterinary Economics archives. | | | Worm your way into wellness visits
| Biannual deworming protects patients and encourages regular wellness visits. | | | Providing pet insurance
| It doesn't hurt Dr. Craig Prior's feelings when a client is hesitant to take out a pet insurance policy: "I tell them, 'Try it for a year. If you don't like it, cancel it. I won't mind.'" | | | Using software for consistent care
| Dr. David McGrath is owner of seven practices, and at one time they used four software programs between them. Now they all use the same system. This has allowed them to try new ideas to boost compliance, which so far have resulted in gross revenue increases of up to 50 percent. Take Dr. McGrath's lessons into account as you evaluate your own practice software—and what it can do for you. | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Arizona hospital puts clients first
| Ross Lirtzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, wanted to make a statement with his new specialty practice in Scottsdale, Ariz. Everything was taken into account to make clients and patients feel relaxed, much like in a modern human doctor's office or hospital. | | | Marketing data and solutions (part 1)
| Analysis of veterinary market data shows the toughest competitive factors, the most popular marketing strategies, and the move to online marketing solutions. | | | AAHA readies for consumer advertising push on Animal Planet in 2010
| Denver -- The American Animal Hospital Association plans to kick off a $1 million, eight-month consumer advertising campaign on Animal Planet in January.
 | | | Pampered pets: Owners aren't likely to switch brands to save money
| Market data shows consumer spending on pet products holds steady compared to other key categories. | | | Business360 Podcast No. 1: Regrets and mistakes
| Three short tips on what NOT to do in client medical records, practice building, and Web site creation. | | | Banfield chief sees slow recovery for animal-health market
| John Payne, president and CEO of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, thinks the worst is behind but doesn't foresee a dramatic or fast recovery for the animal-health market. He addressed about 100 leaders in the veterinary medical market at the 2009 Pet Health Care Industry Summit in Portland, Ore. | | | Make Twitter work for your practice
| How to attract clients in 140 characters or less. | | | Q&A: Help pet owners navigate the Web
| How can we teach clients to determine what Internet information is reliable? | | | Veterinary advertising regulations: What not to advertise
| You may think of advertisements as only Yellow Pages ads, billboards, and event sponsorships. But at the session "The regulation of veterinary advertising and promotion," at CVC Kansas City, Douglas Jack LL.B. explained that even verbal statements to clients are considered advertising in the eyes of the law. | |
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| New grads make more, study longer
| Student debt and starting salaries are up, but new DVMs are still opting to stay in the classroom longer.
 | | | Recession talk: We're not out of the woods yet
| The economy is starting to recover, but challenges linger. | | | Men are smarter savers, survey says
| Study shows women behind men when it comes to financial know-how. | | | Veterinarians and veterinary clients are hurting in this economy
| As we all wonder when the recession will end, you and your clients say you're feeling the hit. | | | Case study: I'm drowning in debt
| Our expert shows a young veterinarian how to spend smarter and chip away at her debt. | | | Video: How to invest in a recession
| It's a scary time for veterinary practice owners, but that doesn't mean you should panic. Fritz Wood, CPA, CFP, offers advice for how to invest in a recession. | | | Video: Economy causes buyers and sellers to struggle
| Tom McFerson, CPA, offers advice to veterinarians looking to buy or sell a practice during tough times. | | | Analysis: Stimulus plan changes, the 2009 forecast, and what it all means for veterinary practices
| The downturn is still with us, but a solid grasp of how recent changes affect you will help your practice persevere—along with a great reminder system. | | | Five last-minute tax tips
| Follow these suggestions to save time—and maybe even money. | | MORE ARTICLES
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| What goes into a good Web site
| How do I build an effective Web site for my practice? | | | The benefits and challenges of paperless practice
| What to consider before going electronic. | | | Tips for transferring written medical records to electronic files
| A how-to for moving paper records to your hard drive. | | | Paperless practice at Banfield, The Pet Hospital
| Dr. Kerri Marshall, MBA, knew the moment she caught of a glimpse of it that she was a fan. | | | Lights! Camera! Meet!
| Our 24-hour clinic has a main office, three satellite facilities, 14 veterinarians, and 80-plus team members, so staff communication is always a challenge. In addition to a weekly newsletter, we have monthly meetings for each department and a monthly staff meeting for everyone. | | | The paperless plunge
| The only thing that anyone can count on for sure in the arena of paperless veterinary practice is that the experience is different for everyone. | | | Solar panels save on energy costs
| Skyrocketing energy prices and concerns about global warming prompted the owner of Middlebury Animal Hospital in Middlebury, Conn., to invest in solar energy. | | | Using software for consistent care
| Dr. David McGrath is owner of seven practices, and at one time they used four software programs between them. Now they all use the same system. This has allowed them to try new ideas to boost compliance, which so far have resulted in gross revenue increases of up to 50 percent. Take Dr. McGrath's lessons into account as you evaluate your own practice software—and what it can do for you. | | | The worst-case scenario survival handbook: Veterinary edition
| Hurricanes. Embezzlers. Lawsuits. If you put the proper safeguards in place, you can stay out of trouble.
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| Marketing data and solutions (part 1)
| Analysis of veterinary market data shows the toughest competitive factors, the most popular marketing strategies, and the move to online marketing solutions. | | | Pampered pets: Owners aren't likely to switch brands to save money
| Market data shows consumer spending on pet products holds steady compared to other key categories. | | | Market data: Helping clients pay in difficult times (part 1)
| Analysis of veterinary market data shows that pet owners need payment options | | | By the numbers: Getting to know the next generation of leaders
| A look at associates' debt, purchasing power, interest in ownership, and more. | | | Connect to practice benchmarks and data on financial trends in veterinary practice
| A close look at such financial issues facing veterinary practices, including clients' perceptions about fees, changing expenses, and competition from online pharmacies. | | | Check out this data to learn about veterinary practices' approach to personnel management
| These study results illuminate issues that help a veterinary practice run smoothly, with a strong focus on personnel solutions. | | | Connect to data about veterinary clients' knowledge and preferences
| These charts show who handles client education in veterinary practices, how clients see behavior issues, and more. | | | Your links to data about the big-picture issues of veterinary practice
| Data on incidence of malpractice claims, veterinarians' approach to giving back to the community, veterinary income and work hours compared to human health workers', and more. | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Receptionist training guidelines
| Written training guidelines define the path your employees will take. Use these guidelines to develop yours. | | | Receptionist position description
| Position descriptions help you maintain your focus during the search for employees, communicate the responsibilities of the position to potential candidates, structure the orientation and training process, and assist in employee evaluations. | | | Team building
| 15 tools and tips to take your team from good to great. | | | Compare your expenses to these benchmarks
| Use these benchmarks set by Well Managed Practices to see how your expenses measure up. | |
| | Exploring Well-Managed Practices
| Matching associates and practices is an ongoing challenge. How do you find an associate? What can you do to make your job offer attractive? What steps can you take to nurture an associate along his or her career path? How can you retain a long-term associate or potential owner? | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Do's and Don'ts of negotiating a contract
| Do request a letter of intent ... Don't enter an agreement based on a handshake ... | | | Helping hands
| A local high school student who wants to be a veterinarian asked to volunteer in my clinic after school. I could use someone to straighten up the reception area, file, and run errands. But she wants to be a doctor, not a file clerk. If she's capable, should I train her to do simple clerical tasks? | | | What a new grad wants
| It's not that different from what established practitioners want. We probed to learn what type of practice future veterinarians want to join, what they see as their greatest strengths, weaknesses, and fears. |
| | Issues that drive associates bananas
| Owners and associates, you can see eye to eye. Just get the monkeys off your back. | | | Some models of pay don't pay
| As graduation approaches, my mind is a whirlwind of questions, concerns, and hopes. I'm ready to practice?mostly. Yet there's one topic that leaves me wary: salary. While production-based compensation and traditional salary historically have been the only two options, they each have room for improvement. But there's a third choice: the ProSal formula, developed by Hospital Management Editor Mark Opperman, CVPM. To understand why I think ProSal is right for me and other new associates, consider these pros and cons. | | | Cultivating clientele
| Q I'm a recent graduate, and I find that the clients I see have no preference for which doctor examines their pet. How can I develop my own clientele? | | MORE ARTICLES
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