Business

You can sense whether employees are happy in an office the moment you walk in the front door. The most noticeable characteristic is the level of energy and emotional commitment that employees exhibit. Even a casual observer can feel the difference when walking the halls.

It has been said that 90 percent of all American families are dysfunctional - a major socioeconomic issue that permeates human domestic life.

When I speak to veterinary students or new graduates, the topic of an eventual practice purchase often comes up.

It started with one simple, undocumented question: "Are complaints against veterinarians on the rise nationally?"

Many great philosophers have noted that we find ourselves by doing, by allowing one path to lead to the next.

Donna was 30 minutes late but finally made it into the exam room with her new puppy, Rudy.

Click on the link to learn more about this invaluable practice resource.

Our mixed animal practice is co-owned by one part-time and one full-time veterinarian. The part-time doctor handles the administrative duties, but she regularly arrives late and leaves early. The result: Our practice doesn't function smoothly and we're constantly operating in crisis mode. What can our team do?

New research shows that dogs may selectively imitate the actions of other dogs, not just take the easiest, most instinctive path every time.

Monument, Colo. - A nationwide DVM survey is targeting the single largest expense to veterinary practices - inventory management - to better understand challenges and opportunities to improve business performance.

Despite the financial incentives, most students enter practice right after graduation.

'Betty, call Junior. I think I want to start a dispensary.'

Probably not, but I learned better client care when my dad ignored my advice and picked a pet with his heart-not his head.

The wife of one of my dairy clients recently refused to buy milk from a local convenient store.

I'd like to get the name of my practice mentioned in the media. What's the best way to figure out who to contact in the local media?

Washington - Mediation can be a useful conflict-resolution tool in veterinary medicine, a management expert advises.

The world of veterinary medicine is changing, but how? We see these themes in 2007.

Here you'll find contact information for the groups that conducted the research or released the data featured in this issue. Many thanks to all who contributed.

We know from the feedback we get that you see this special data-driven issue land on your desk with anticipation. ...

Having a family absolutely affects my earning potential.

The top trend globally is pet product marketing that reflects the human-pet relationship.

You can probably look down the street and see someone you know doing a job similar to the one you do every day. The only difference: The patients at your practice are pets, and theirs are people.

Seventy percent of Firstline readers say they need in-house training to take the next step in their career, according to the 2007 Firstline Career Path Study. And about 68 percent say they also require formal training to grow in their jobs.

What's the difference between a job and a career, and which would you use to describe the work you do? While some team members deliberately take the veterinary path, others just stumble across it by accident. Regardless of how or why, let's see what the label you've chosen means.

Yes, but it takes practice. Firstline readers who are 46 to 55 years old are most likely to work more than three hours of overtime, while those who are 56 or older report they're most likely to work no overtime.

Veterinarians are trusting souls - some perhaps too trusting for their own good, according to an expert on practice-safety issues.

Janet definitely is a busy veterinarian – busy doing everything at once.

Janet Gilmore peeked through the door into the small waiting room. She could see Harold, holding two cats and Harry, his pet Beagle. She saw several other clients she knew quite well and one new client, who looked a bit uneasy as she sat with a small mixed-breed dog.