Business

My team finally convinced me that it's time to repaint. I like white, but am I just boring?

The best way to educate clients is by combining dialogue with visual aids.

My team finally convinced me that it's time to repaint. I like white, but am I just boring?

Everyone loves free stuff?and practices often receive free scrubs, totes, pet food, and more. But how do you make sure you distribute the bounty fairly? "We hold a yearly raffle and give the year's accumulation of gifts as prizes," says Beth Montoya, office manager at Pembroke Veterinary Clinic in Virginia Beach, Va.

This year will likely be a lot like last year, if you expect it to be. Why? In general, we get what we expect.

With the help of a patient-care coordinator, Veterinary Medical Clinic in Tampa, Fla., is seeing double-digit growth for the first time in years--and patients are enjoying even healthier lives, says practice owner Dr. Eddie Garcia. "The patient wins because it gets a better follow-up on what the doctor recommends and a better quality of life, and the client gets to enjoy the pet longer. The clinic wins because we're providing the service and making the income," he says.

Worried that your employees aren't working effectively? Try a tip from Ethics4Everyone, by Eric Harvey and Scott Airitam (Performance Systems Corp., 2002).

Facing a big change in your role? The resources can help!

Despite the fun of the holidays, the season leaves many people stressed out instead of refreshed and ready for the year ahead. With these tips from Vitality magazine, you can relax and enjoy 2005.

Sure, Brownie's not as spry as she used to be," says your slightly indignant client, petting her basset hound's bowling ball stomach. "But that doesn't mean that she's not a healthy, happy dog, Doctor."

Good employees, those with the work ethic and constructive attitude needed to make your practice prosper, must not be infected with Apartment-Car Syndrome.

The usual encounter starts with a progress-notes entry for the client concern, a weight (hopefully sequential with a body-condition score), a TPR, a BP, lead II ECG, tonopen screen and maybe even a urinary kidney screen.

Financial planning early in your career is perhaps the most important thing you can do to make sure you accomplish your personal and professional goals. In fact, the day you leave school would be a great time to start planning. But regardless of your age or career stage, it's never too late to gain value from a hard look at your financial situation and advice from a financial advisor who can help you identify and implement your financial plan. Here are the essential components of a financial plan:

Of course, you use keys and locks to keep valuables secure, but you lose some of the benefits if you don't control the keys. Think about these questions to decide whether you need to tighten up security:

Pets that passed away during the year get their wings during the holiday season at Companion Animal Hospital of Selinsgrove in Selinsgrove, Penn. Assistant office manager Laura Bickhart suggested making angel wings to hang on the hospital's Christmas tree in the reception area to honor patients who had passed away.

I have an elderly client who I don't think can properly care for her pet any longer. How should I approach her?

Bit & Spur Animal Hospital in Mobile, Ala., was about to begin a senior pet care plan. But hospital manager Kelley Wilbur knew they needed a better system to recognize senior pets.

Every year, practice owners review their employees, telling them what they did well and how they could improve. But have you ever taken time to give yourself a year-end review? Whether you're the boss, an associate, or a support staff member, you can benefit from evaluating your year, says Jinny Ditzler, author of Your Best Year Yet! A Proven Method for Making the Next Twelve Months the Most Successful Ever (Warner Books, 2000).

Gates Hafen Cochrane Architects of Boulder, Colo., supplied this brief listing of common finish materials used in veterinary care facilities, along with some "helpful hints." For more information, contact Gates Hafen Cochrane Architects at (800) 332-4413.

Follow this step-by-step guide to figure your current value to your practice. Then adopt four key strategies to make sure you're worth your weight in gold.

The first lesson I try to implant is that average ain't good enough today.

The leader's role changes at each stage of team development. Are you doing the right things to help your team grow and go?

A patient complained that my office manager quoted a fee of $250 for a procedure, but he was billed $300. It turns out the procedure was done a few days after our new fees went into effect. Should we refund the difference?

We're having trouble monitoring the counts of specified items, calculating an accurate budget for inventory costs, and staying within that budget. We've identified our A, B, and C inventory items. What more can we do to get inventory under control?

Growing up in the South, I quickly learned that there were certain subjects one simply should not talk about in mixed company--religion, politics, and money. There are similar touchy topics in business, such as pay raises and compensation plans, staff disagreements, a desire to make important changes in the practice, and disagreement about management styles. Although we'd like to avoid these topics, they need to be discussed.

Chapel Associates Architects Inc. of Little Rock, Ark., supplied this checklist of suggested materials for planning a veterinary hospital. For more information, contact Chapel Associates Architects Inc. at (501) 225-5900.

Materials guide for veterinarians

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cares about accurate classification of employees and independent contractors, but so does your state unemployment tax department. No one ever thinks he or she will get audited, and many practitioners are surprised to learn that state unemployment departments often audit more frequently than the IRS.

I have been made to observe the following video clips in order for Baldy to better understand our approach on planet Earth.

Chapel Associates Architects Inc. of Little Rock, Ark., supplied this list of material and finish manufacturers and suppliers. For more information, call Chapel Associates Architects Inc. at (800) 225-5900.