The 'other' 10 Commandments

1. I will train my staff in the principles of proper delegation, and delegate everything that can be performed by another qualified staff member, allowing me to spend my time practicing the skills for which I was trained ... diagnostic medicine and surgery. I will perform few if any tasks that do not require a license from my state licensing board.

2. I will maintain a properly compensated staff that places clientneeds and patient welfare ahead of personal needs and consistently presentsa positive, friendly, caring image to our clients.

3. I will reward my staff in proportion to their productivityand contributions to the success of the hospital, according to their initiativeand their individual contribution to that productivity based on regularperformance reviews.

4. I will give each and every patient seen, a complete and thoroughphysical examination every time I see that patient. I will be a patientadvocate, taking time to assure that the pet owner fully understands his/herpet's problems and their consequences. I will always keep in mind the lackof comfort and longevity that must follow my inability to communicate tothe pet owner the gravity of their neglect.

5. I will give each pet owner a written assessment of a pet'shealth. This statement will include recommendations for the expeditioustreatment of existing conditions and recommendations for preventative careto improve the future health of their pet, my patient.

6. I will ensure that a qualified member of my staff will discusswith each pet owner the best nutritional program for their pet and its effecton dental and general health.

7. I will assure each pet owner that they never need hesitateto call our hospital staff with a question about their pet's health. Itis never an inconvenience. It is, in fact, our purpose. We would much ratherprevent than treat disease.

8. I will ensure that a qualified member of my staff will callback all cases treated in the past 24 hours to determine the pet owner'sability to administer the prescribed medications, the efficacy of treatmentand to ensure that we have answered all of their concerns.

9. I will, with regularity, monitor regional costs for most commonservices to ensure that practice fees are commensurate with our servicesand regional differences and fiscal integrity.

10. I will adjust fees as needed to assure profitability beyondinflation. I will monitor the economic progress of the practice using computer-assisted graphical analysis on a monthly basis and seek business-orientedassistance where I find myself lacking.

Dr. Snyder, a well-known consultant, publishes theSnyder Advisory Letter, a newsletter for practice productivity and is availablefor in-practice consultation. He can be reached at 17094-1 Boca Club Blvd.,Boca Raton, FL 33487-1225; (800) 292-7995; vethelp@gate.net; FAX (561) 989-8558.