Roles

Several years ago, some colleagues and I began a support group for veterinarians. We met for almost two years and discussed a broad range of topics. I soon noticed that the solutions to almost all of the problems raised included setting limits with other people. For example, we brainstormed the best way to handle an unreasonably demanding client, how to approach recurrent staff problems, and why staff members honor some policies and violate others.

Vaccine Use in Practice: Considering the Science

Surveys show that staff members want you to say thank you more often, delegate more, and offer more benefits. Here's why you should.

If surgery is your game, this may be the year to ante up some cash and go shopping. High-tech advancements for the veterinary profession have merged opportunistically with favorable tax law changes.

Annual vaccination and wellness exams have dramatically reduced the levels of infectious diseases in dogs and cats in the United States. Since annual vaccination is considered to be the gold standard, many veterinarians are puzzled and confused by the recent suggested changes for vaccinating dogs and cats.

Product Focus: Dietary Supplements

Feline Diseases Fact Sheet

Canine Diseases Fact Sheet

Product Focus: Diagnostic Imaging - X-ray Supplies

Of course, the answer to this rhetorical question that has been, and is, asked primarily by academicians in various forums during the past several years is supposed to be "yes," otherwise the respondent is considered uninformed, conservative, or worse, simply a greedy capitalist with his or her clients and patients comprising the victimized proletariat.

In the March/April issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), an Executive Summary of the 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines was published. A full text of the guidelines, recommendations, and supporting literature is available to AAHA members on the organization's Web site (www.aahanet.org).

Ms. Sue Schmidt provides you with the tools to build a stronger compliance ratio for your practice.

University of Pennsylvania ranks first in research contributions to top journals, college dean claims

To show staff members how much they earn each year--not just in salary, but in benefits, too--give them a total compensation statement. (PDF)

Handling stress is difficult for anyone. But as veterinary students or recent graduates, the mounting demands of disgesting and understanding volumes of medical facts, finding a job or internship, managing finances and keeping viable relatioinships, are enough to make anyone boil over once in awhile.

Equine wound care has often been based upon the premise of keeping the wound clean and dry, requiring frequent bandage changes

Washington - Of the nation's 114 licensed veterinary laboratories, only two house anthrax cultures and both microbes are harmless, federal officials report. In the wake of the Florida anthrax-induced death, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandated that all laboratories provide an inventory of their anthrax cultures. USDA officials add the sources of anthrax that have infected people in Florida, New York and Washington could not have been from the labs.

When Craig Carter, DVM, contracted brucellosis through occupational exposure, and doctors failed to help, he flipped the switch on his computer.

Veterinarians are advised to take precautions against the bacteria Pasteurella multocida as a New England Journal of Medicine article reveals the microbe can be transmitted through somewhat casual contact with pets.

The national response to disasters affecting animals, instituted in part by the AVMA, comes in the form of Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams.

New York - Following the terrorist attack that struck our nation Sept. 11, animal health organizations in the state of New York and around the nation are lending many helping hands in the relief efforts. Following are some organizations and their announced offerings:

Cleveland - Miami's tropical locale is a hot spot for tourists, but when it comes to overall pet health it's a much chillier place according to consortium ranking "pet-friendly" cities.

Redwood Shores, Calif.-Who knows what the future holds? An ethnofuturist, whose job it is to sleuth out lasting consumer trends, says the animal rights movement is changing the way society views animals, and in the next 20 years its increasing influence will become even more evident.

There is a line from a song in "The King and I" that goes, "For if you become a teacher, by your students you'll be taught!"

Lexington, Ky.-In mid-June, equine practitioners say cases of pericarditis and unilateral eye problems are still impacting a wide range of horse breeds.

We asked consultants, doctors, and award-winning team members what it means to be a top performer. Do you have what it takes?

Every practice loses some clients. Here's how to find out if your client losses add up to a drop in the bucket or a hemorrhaging wound to your client base--and how to staunch the flow of pet owners leaving your hospital.

Are you committed to helping your practice--and your career--grow? Here's how you can make your hospital a better place for people and pets--and make yourself a more valuable, more marketable employee.

You'll never avoid client conflicts completely, but you can face confrontations with less stress if you focus on finding the treasure in the tribulation.

Studies show that people rise--or sink--to the level of their leaders' and co-workers' expectations, so show confidence in your team's abilities and express a "we can do it" attitude.