Owners

Michigan Veterinary Specialists in Southfield, Mich., is a large specialty practice with a 24-hour facility. Technicians work different shifts and are constantly passing on important information about patients. "To improve communication between shifts, we made cage tags that highlight patients' special needs," says Kathy Estrada, LVT, the practice's technical services manager.

The goal: As Bob Townsend, former CEO of Avis Rent A Car System LLC, has said, "Create the kind of environment that pays people to bring their brains to work." The more you identify and address employees' job-related needs, the more likely they'll engage in what psychologists call "motivated behavior."

Should the doctor know the prices for procedures and services?

Conflict closed this practice's doors for good. Don't suffer the same fate.

My group practice is thinking of adding a doctor, but we're worried that it could cost more in additional overhead than he or she will produce. What should we do?

Use a newsletter to make sure staff members never feel left out in the cold.

Making sure you're on the same page with clients is the best way to avoid malpractice claims. Use these strategies to refine your approach and avoid potential trouble spots.

"To increase efficiency at our front desk, we maintain a very organized file-placement system, with bins for every possible function," says Sabrina Lewis, veterinary nurse at Central Broward Animal Hospital in Plantation, Fla.

Sure, you know all about radiation safety. But are you following the rules? Is everyone in your practice taking precautions when it comes to exposure?

Try these strategies to beat back burnout and stay jazzed about your work.

To reflect changes in canine vaccinations, AAHA updated the AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines, originally released in 2003.

What does OSHA require employers to provide in a break room?

The AVMA Executive Board has passed a plan for immediate implementation of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC).

You can't afford to skip this crucial step when recruiting employees.

Protective full-hand gloves and aprons are the minimum safety equipment required for most veterinary radiographic operations, says Philip Seibert, CVT.

If your team members aren't feeling satisfied with their jobs, find out what's wrong?and find a fix.

Some state licensing boards prohibit practices from advertising that they provide 24-hour care if they only take emergency calls, says Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member Dr. Karl Salzsieder, JD, a consultant with Salzsieder Consulting and Legal Service in Kelso, Wash.

It's hard for team members to implement changes if the doctors aren't on the same page. Solve this problem with a new approach to team training.

Use these guidelines to decide when to send documents to the shredder.

In November 2005, a California Superior Court Judge declared unlawful a 2003 West Hollywood ordinance that made animal declawing?except for therapeutic purposes?a criminal act.

Some clients view an office visit as an opportunity to catch up on an assortment of neglected pet health problems. Use these techniques to stay on topic and on schedule.

Paying equally doesn't always make sense in a partnership, especially when doctors aren't contributing in the same ways. A tiered-compensation system can account for these variances.

As an employer, you want to provide the safest environment for your workers. Yet even with extreme precautions, accidents happen. Worker's compensation is designed to provide medical care and compensation to those who are injured in on-the-job accidents?and to protect employers from lawsuits resulting from workplace accidents.

Use this sample collection letter as a starting point as you work to control accounts receivable.

What tax rules apply to awards given to employees for service?

How many warnings should I give, and when should I fire someone?

We're taking our practices to the next level by introducing quality control protocols. Better control means better results, which gives us the foundation we need to be more than just a good hospital; we want to be great.

Does your accounts receivable make up more than 2.5 percent of your practice's yearly gross income if you're a small animal hospital and 4 percent to 5 percent if you're equine or large animal? If so, it's time to take action.

The AVMA Executive Board recently approved a position statement on stem cells, supporting and encouraging the ethical study and use of animal stem cells for the benefit of animal and human health.

What are the legal issues in hiring my 13-year-old daughter to work after school?