Roles

Washington - 11/9/07 - With 70 percent of the Medical Reserve Corps units lacking veterinarians, the national network is looking for DVMs to join the local community ranks as volunteer physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists, among other professional health positions.

I'm an expert witness for a practice owner who is being sued by two former associate doctors. What caused this litigation? Poor communication and a contract written on a napkin.

Clients need to know if stable hospitalized patients will be unattended at night.

Print out this PDF and give it to clients to educate them about common household items that can make cats and dogs sick when ingested.

Is your practice easy to do business with? How can you achieve this goal? Here are some ideas.

As various associations adopt guidelines or standards of care for the practice of veterinary medicine, a concern exists that they will be interpreted as current standards of practice by state regulatory boards and the attorneys general who represent them before they have been accepted by the masses.

Fee Setting 101

In calming an irate client, remember your tone and goal. Keep your tone normal when talking to the client and your body relaxed. Always remember that your goal should be to listen to their needs and try to meet them when appropriate.

This preventive care program increases client bonding and extends pets' lives.

Last year my husband opened a state-of-the-art fitness facility. He needed candidates for a group-cycling certification program and still had a vacant spot on the day of training. As co-owner of the gym, I felt obligated to fill the seat-literally.

It's time to reconsider these myths and misconceptions about pricing.

A customizable communication tool for pet owners you haven't seen in a while.

Use this tool from Benchmarks 2007 to gather information about other practices in your area.

Learn what makes team members tick with this form.

If a client shows up with a stray but doesn't want it scanned for a microchip, am I legally required or legally forbidden to scan the pet or contact the chip registrant?

It's easy to get fired--lying or stealing will l get you there fast. But if you want to take the slow, painful route, use these examples to really ruin your reputation before you get the heave-ho.

Focus your on-site accident investigations with these printable PDF form.

A list of behavior books and prospective behavior questions for pet owners.

A printable PDF of the answers you need before buying into or selling a part of a veterinary practice.

Get vaccine info from clients with this printable PDF.

How to create an Excel spreadsheet that helps you figure the value of owning a clinic.

Q What's the best way to keep track of expiration dates on drugs?

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?

About a year ago, I saw an ad in the local community-college newspaper asking folks to join the community band.

Maybe you can imagine happily working forever. But wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to? Here's a growth formula to help your seed money blossom into a bouquet of retirement bucks.

Q. 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?

You're the practice manager at a mid-sized clinic. When the stress index is high, one of the associates snaps at team members. Several team members have complained, and a few have threatened to quit. You're ready to discuss the problem with Dr. Sweet, the associate. Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member Pam Weakley offers this sample script:

For the first few months after I gave birth to my son, I was pretty sure I wanted to quit my job. I loved my work, but those 12 weeks I'd spent at home getting to know this interesting little person weren't enough. Every morning, when I sent him off to day care, the guilt crept in. By mid-morning, it was an ache. And by 3:30 p.m., I could only think about rushing home for a few minutes with my son before bedtime.

Videotaping in the exam room may make everyone nervous at first. But strong communication skills get clients on board with the best care. And this tool can help.

Use these forms to create a bulletin board that introduces your team members to clients.