Practice Management

Looking to reduce your tax burden? Well, in 2004, you can expense up to $102,000 of new or used equipment purchases. A 50 percent bonus depreciation expense also is available in 2004, but it will expire at the end of this year unless congress extends the provision. Bonus depreciation applies to new equipment purchases and to leasehold improvements for those who own a practice but not the real estate.

When you are attending a conference paid for by your hospital, your goal should be to learn as much as you can to share with the rest of the team.

In recent articles I have talked about better recordkeeping and how to write a job description. Both of these topics have one thing in common: They require involvement from the entire hospital team.

Successful veterinary practices challenge themselves to grow and identify new ways to improve the quality of the veterinary healthcare they provide.

Most part-time employees don't qualify for health insurance, retirement, or other employee benefits. And you must offer fair and equivalent benefits to all team members, regardless of whether they're a new hire or a 15-year veteran at your reception desk. If you don't, you're asking for a discrimination case.

Recently, a veterinarian in the process of hiring a new practice manager asked me "What are the 10 things a practice manager needs to know to be effective?" What a great question! It took a little thinking to narrow the "must-know" list to just 10 items. But whether you're an owner-veterinarian, a practice manager, or the owner's managing spouse, I think you need to apply these strategies to manage the practice effectively.

How many hours should I schedule for my receptionists in relation to the number of veterinarians on staff?

Barton Heights Veterinary Hospital saves time and money by using a simple design for informational letters on such topics as flea and tick products or Pet Dental Health Month. The practice team uses a copy center to reproduce and tri-fold the letters on colored paper, says practice manager Lynette Ott. The single, tri-folded sheets don't need envelopes and can be mailed without taping or stapling, saving the practice time, labor, and money, she says. She offers these other simple tips.

Thinking of getting outside help to address your current challenge? A consultant can improve efficiency, organization, and practice profits. But to get the most for your money, you must find the right match by asking these four important questions.

Most part-time employees don't qualify for health insurance, retirement, or other employee benefits. And you must offer fair and equivalent benefits to all team members, regardless of whether they're a new hire or a 15-year veteran at your reception desk. If you don't, you're asking for a discrimination case.

My treatment area is on the small side, and I wish I could give myself more space to work. Is there a better way to arrange my equipment and supplies so I'm not tripping over everything?

Speculation, rumor, and stubbornness abound regarding such issues as paying employees for overtime and granting maternity leave.

An automated system can help doctors offer more-consistent, better care to more patients

We place clear laminate sheets over our radiographs, so we can point out to clients what we are talking about without actually marking on the radiograph.

Ignoring staff friction can leave you low on morale and maybe short of help.

If any of these phrases pop up when you're discussing the possibility of an employee working part time, beware. Part-time status won't solve anything if your employee's saying ...

Veterinarians are more often than not in competition for a handful of qualified and registered technicians.

The value of good will is purely a function of what the buyer is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to accept.

Organizational procedures can help a practice deliver consistent, quality care.

In recent articles I have talked about better record keeping and how to write a job description; both of these articles have one thing in common they require the entire team to be involved. So how do you motivate and keep the team going in the forward direction?

The phrase "open book management" means many different things to different people, and in some arenas makes the staff cringe with fear of the charts posted on the wall and the monthly beatings which occur when they do not reach their assigned quotas.

Almost all tips for interviewing are written to help the person being interviewed do well. What if you're the boss and the one conducting the interview?

"John called me last night. He has been offered a position in a practice near his girl friend, and he thinks he must accept it. He says he only learned of it a few days ago. He will be leaving in two weeks."

Several years ago I attended a seminar entitled "Employee Discipline and Performance Mistakes." Afterwards, I wrote up a simple, step-by-step plan for dealing with common employee discipline problems, like tardiness, not following the dress code or standards of conduct, failing to compete tasks or checklists.

Negative incentives can also be enforced, like subtractions for tardiness... and incomplete worksheets.

Bringing on a new associate, making an associate a partial owner, selling out to an existing associate or bringing in an outside owner all will change the dynamics within a team.

Practice owners need to strategize on employee compensation.

The point is to increase the risk of detection to a point that most of those with the inclination to steal will be discouraged.

You must consider your ability to continue investing through periods of high and low price levels.

There ought to be a long line waiting to "pony up" for the good of the profession.