Practice Management

You've got a bunch of different personalities buzzing around your clinic, but that doesn't have to mean a lot of stinging and biting.

I have met many good surgeons like J.D. over the years. They are surgeons in the true sense and love their work. Yes, they are surgeons even if they are not board-certified, but they are a dying breed.

Do your prescription call-ins get lost in the paperwork on the doctor's desk? Marty Strauss, the practice manager for St. Charles Veterinary Clinic in St. Charles, Ill., recommends using colored paper to highlight medication refills.

Use a computer program to generate automatic reminders of recurring tasks.

Negative thoughts left unchecked can plague your practice, limiting growth and spoiling harmony. Face the fear, converts say. Here's how.

Plan morale-boosting events sporadically-not just during the holidays.

It's cheaper in the end to pay for great skills, attitude, and experience.

Outsourcing payroll is advised in practices with relatively small staffs.

What's the difference between a part-time relief veterinarian and a block-time relief veterinarian?

Baby boomers enjoy a position of authority in many practices, strongly influencing workplace culture. Here's an inside look at how they shape practice.

Ask employees to rank the top five features they value in their job with this exclusive form.

I already work a few Saturdays a month and now my boss wants more!

I want to update my office policy manual, but I'm afraid of overlooking something. What items should I definitely include?

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?

The SEEN program's first objective is ... education.

Use these 15 ideas to bond team members to your hospital-and keep your veterinary practice from peeling apart.

Start a tradition and get together for a meaningful outing.

We pulled the phones from our front reception area, and we've never looked back.

The next five years will be remembered by the survivors as a time of chaos; a time of reordered priorities and a time of major adjustment. I'm sure that Nostradamus said something or other about this event.

An in-house puppy school won't automatically make you the new Dog Whisperer, but offering training classes can make you money, empower your staff, and create a bond with patients.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Implementing these ideas that boost the bottom line.

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

One of the easiest, lowest-cost, and most practical ways to learn about management is from Other People's Mistakes.

The first step to getting away for continuing education-or even a vacation-is to find someone to replace you. Take these five steps to find the perfect relief veterinarian.

What do I do when an associate gets sick? What do I need to know about disability insurance?

Avoid sticky liability issues, and make sure your team knows what you expect when they navigate the 'Net.

New technology to identify open cows circumvents the need for veterinarians to do the work. But that doesn't necessarily erase DVMs from the picture.

"Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." - Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday