Business

If employees can handle various tasks, then you can shift people in and out of jobs as needed-without calling in temporary workers, running up overtime costs, or stinting on client services.

My team members are anxious about calling clients for third reminders. Can you offer a sample script to make these awkward conversations a little easier?

Pet owners with hospitalized pets at Associated Veterinary Specialists in Bridgeton, Mo., always know news about their pet's condition is just a phone call away.

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.

I'm a house call veterinarian who'd like to continue to perform surgeries and take radiographs in order to maintain my skills. What's the appropriate amount of compensation for a veterinarian who allows me to use his or her hospital for these purposes?

If you feel cartoon daggers hitting you in the back of your head at work when you walk by your grumpiest employees, you may not be hallucinating.

Sometimes pets and their owners share an uncanny resemblance-bad behavior. Use this chart to tackle both species' less favorable features.

Brochures let us explain the technical aspects of parasite-related diseases, the tests to detect them, and the products to control them. Maybe some of our ideas could work for you too.

Skyrocketing energy prices and concerns about global warming prompted the owner of Middlebury Animal Hospital in Middlebury, Conn., to invest in solar energy.

Our practice is interested in offering pet first aid and CPR classes to our clients. How do we get started?

It's 10 a.m. on Monday morning. Mrs. Hodge rushes in with her 13-year-old miniature Schnauzer, which is lethargic and vomiting. The problems began yesterday, and all Mrs. Hodge can tell you is that she's been giving her dog some kind of pill for the past week.

A team member quit recently. She gave two weeks' notice but didn't fully complete it and was supposed to train someone to take over her job duties but didn't. After being a valued team member for so long, why did she choose to leave on a sour note?

I don't have the urge to escape to some other venue.

Should we require our associate veterinarians to own their own vehicles? We're finding that they don't take care of the practice-owned trucks. What are the ramifications of making this change, and what are other practices doing?

You still may be able to lower your tax bill.

Review these tips to keep pets safe and healthy during the fall and winter seasons.

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.

Review this list of items to include in puppy and kitten kits. Then select the handouts and giveaways that target your practice's education mission and goals.

Dr. Charles Pullen first heard the news from his daughter Lindsey.

Review these tips to keep pets safe and healthy during the spring and summer seasons.

Don't despair at few new clients. Just follow the feet!

Use this survey to learn how satisfied clients are with your practice.

Dr. Charles Pullen was ectstatic when he learned his Animal Medical & Surgical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., was the 2008 Hospital of the Year.

Why would any veterinarian ignore perfectly good, legitimate deductions at tax-filing time?

Dr. H, a recent graduate, was attending the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) meeting in Orlando, Fla., this past December. While standing in the convention-center lobby waiting for a lecture to begin, he noticed three older veterinarians over in a nearby corner engaged in serious discussion. He recognized all three as leading lameness experts and well-respected practitioners.

Tbensalem, pa. - Dr. John Rossi questions his decision to become a veterinarian.

I've been a veterinarian almost 18 years, but must admit I still haven't entirely figured out clients. I went to veterinary school to learn how to treat animals. Until I started practicing, I hadn't stopped to consider that every animal comes with an owner attached, and that these owners - not the animals - are the real challenge.

The top 10 things

Veterinary healthcare to grow 8.5 percent this year, predicts product organization

And younger women pass their male counterparts in 2007.