Roles

Four years ago, my business partner Dr. Ed Farnham and I purchased the Hexagon House, a bed and breakfast in Pentwater, Mich., off Lake Michigan.

Written training guidelines define the path your employees will take. Use these guidelines to develop yours.

If an employee quits, do I have to pay that person for his or her remaining vacation days?

How much should I compensate a mobile veterinarian who wants to perform surgeries and dentals at my clinic? She'd conduct the procedures but use my clinic's equipment, staff, and drugs for her clientele.

15 tools and tips to take your team from good to great.

An estimated 45 percent of pets in the United States are overweight or obese. So now's the time to tip the scale in favor of leaner, healthier pets.

This veterinarian's passion for practice-and helicopters-lets him fill a unique niche.

Use these tips to change client confrontations into useful collaborations.

Based on an analysis of seven years of BSE surveillance data, the USDA has concluded that the prevalence of the disease is less than 1 case per million adult cattle. Because of the low level of the threat, it plans to pull back on its surveillance program.

Should we offer walk-in appointments?

Dr. Bonnie Beaver, MS, Dipl. ACVB, stood up in July against a bill that would ban horse slaughter for human consumption. The past-president of the AVMA says, "The legislation doesn't address the financial support required to care for the horses given up by their owners.

Most veterinarians don't see malpractice threats and lawsuits as their most pressing issue.

A new Web site will help you and your clients easily locate safety information about drug products regulated by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Have you or are you successfully managing this balancing act? Share your strategies, struggles, and triumphs here.

Almost half of illicit drug users who are employed full-time work at businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Find out how you can make your practice a drug-free zone.

I work in a new practice and everyone is used to different protocols. How can we get on the same page?

Just whisper the word tests, and clients will flood you with questions: what, when, how much? Try these answers to get the OK.

Practice managers lower turnover, free up the doctors' time so they can focus more on patients and clients, and improve the owners' sanity. Could you use one of these gems in your practice?

Jessica Harris, RVT, describes herself as the quintessential veterinary person who knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. This March, she realized her dream of attending veterinary school with an acceptance letter to North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

I've been with the same clinic for seven years. There's a lot of turnover, and my boss hires new graduates. Depending on my day, I'm stuck playing teacher with up to three new veterinarians. My boss isn't around much and says I'm not pulling my weight given what I'm being paid. How can I explain the situation to him?

Want to get more done in less time? Plan for efficiency with these one-step-at-a-time solutions.

Back in the trenches, I've realized that often we're worth more than we think. Don't undervalue your skills; the truth is that most people couldn't do your job.

Sharing my love for animals helped me reach out to a student struggling with a drug addiction.

It's tougher than ever to get a strong new associate. But these strategies can help your practice stand out.

We'll soon have Internet services available for employees to use for ordering. We've said that personal use isn't allowed, but should I add this to the clinic's policy manual? What should I include?

Hospital tours attract new clients and cement your bond with existing ones. "We like to take the mystery away," says Dr. Lisa Barlow of Centennial Valley Animal Hospital PC in Louisville, Colo. "We think hospital tours help clients feel better about leaving their pets here."

Juggling a career and kids may seem impossible. But with a little thought and planning, you can bring a baby onboard-and still keep your head above water.

You have more control over your compensation--and your destiny--than you may think. Use these strategies to earn more, get promoted faster, and feel more satisfied with your work.

Are you unhappy at work? Maybe it's time for a change. You know you need a new job when ...

I'm writing to you after reading your article, "Issues That Drive Associates Bananas," in the July 2006 issue of Veterinary Economics. I wanted to know what other information or advice you could give about starting a family while attending veterinary school.