Business

Neel Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma City, a paperless practice, prides itself on using the latest technology. "Adding computed radiography was a natural step in our practice evolution," says co-owner Dr. Tina Neel.

A new facility brings more space and capacity-and higher costs. Think about how you'll adjust now, so you spend more time enjoying your facility and less time worrying about paying for it.

Two detail-oriented doctors, technological advances, and a tight floor plan combine at Harden Ranch Veterinary Hospital. The result: 10 pounds of practice in an 8-pound space.

You may not always have the right words to express your sympathy when a pet dies, but the right book might be just the tool your clients need to help them grieve.

In the early evening, retirees help Dr. Steve Bishop and his crew at Animal Care Hospital in Phoenix make callbacks, freeing time for receptionists to work on other jobs.

If you were going to spend $100 on a new set of tires, wouldn't you want to know why? Were the old ones worn out, or do the new ones work better in snow? Knowing why you should care makes it easier to make the decision to spend. And the same is true for clients and their pets. Clients expect a recommendation each time they visit your hospital, and they want to know how your recommendations benefit them and their pets. Once they know why they should care, they're more likely to comply.

In 1936, Cameron Animal Hospital opened as the first standalone veterinary building servicing dogs and cats in the Northeast United States.

A nearby college or university could give you new business know-how-even if you never enroll.

For too long, practitioners undervalued their services, charged too little and often gave away care for free. Though this may still be true for some, others digested the message about a healthy business supporting good medicine and raised their fees. But to make this equation work, you need to raise the level of service, too.

Worksheet to estimate revenue generation for new hospital

If a picture's worth a thousand words, four pictures are worth, well, a lot.

Use this budgeting tool to capture your revenue, expenses, and amount available for compensation and reinvestment.

Q. I'm the medical director of a newly formed emergency clinic, and the board is looking for a formula for my pay. What percentage of production would you recommend?

The first time I painted the interior of my bungalow, I got it all wrong. First, I picked bone white-a classy name, but a boring off-white just the same. Second, I used an old, wide, flat paint brush that looked like it'd been stuck in an electric socket.

Use this four-question litmus test to decide whether you're settling for so-so service.

In the next five years, you'll see bigger practices, more referral and specialty hospitals, more women in practice, and better-integrated technologies. And all these changes will influence your work.

A base plan gives team members somewhere to start, minimizing confusion and panic.

Here's a look at the features the judges applauded at this year's Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition-and a look at what they'd do differently.

If your success is starting to slip, it could be that you no longer offer the care you so eagerly gave clients in the early days of practice. But it's not too late to get back on track.

This practice improved scheduling and compliance, established a solid staff management team, developed written standards of care, and more. Not only is Loving Hands Animal Clinic stronger- and ready to move into a new facility-but it made money along the way.

You want to build a safe, comfortable work environment. Not too hot. Not too cold. Here's how to make sure your facility is "just right."

Q. Our practice has weeks when we're extremely busy, but we see only so-so revenue. Other weeks seem slower, yet revenue is high. Why is this?

My first use of timed artificial (AI) insemination came immediately after veterinary college. A prostaglandin product had been approved for horses, but it was expensive. By infusing a fraction of the equine dose into the uterus of a cow with a corpus luteum, it usually could be brought into estrus. Timed insemination has come a long way.

Educate clients about the benefits of senior care by putting together a protocol and sending a consistent message. Handouts such as this one can help you deliver your message.

Q. Many of our clients don't seem to recognize the signs that their pets are in pain. What can we do?

Q. How do I deal with a team member who is going through a personal issue and seems noticeably distracted during work?

Learning to take the hard hits with poise and professionalism will make you a better doctor. So when the ugliest parts of your job throw a punch-jab combination, roll with it.

Make sure your benefits stack up well against the other options team members could find in your area-and give employees more reasons to stick around.

Q. To help my team members improve their computer skills, I'd like to pay for training classes. But I'm afraid a team member might leave soon after and I won't get a return on my investment. Should I take the risk?

Use these guidelines to balance appearance, cost, and durability when you choose interior building materials.