You're valuable-it's true

Over the past couple years I've spent most of my time doing management work. Not wanting to lose my medical skills all together—rust never sleeps—I recently started seeing patients again once or twice a week.

As I climbed back into the trenches, I immediately realized how skilled our doctors really are. Veterinarians take it for granted that they can and will do it all. And I think it's easy to forget how incredibly vast our knowledge base has to be—and just how wide an array of skills we need on a daily basis.

Going back to practice, I'm realizing what a feat it is to handle all those medical conditions that come through the door. I've always touted valuing and charging for our skills, but I have new appreciation for veterinarians' skill sets. This stuff doesn't come easy—it takes a dedicated and special individual to handle this job.

As I brush up on my skills, these are the lessons that hit home anew:

• Veterinarians may not see the full value of their skills, but others do.

• Keep current—catching up is hard to do!

• Not every client wants the same level of care, so taking care of the client and the patient at the same time often takes finesse.

• Be very proud of what you do everyday. Most folks couldn't do your job.

Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member Dr. Jeff Rothstein, MBA, is the president of The Progressive Pet Animal Hospitals and Management Group, which owns and operates hospitals in Michigan.

Jeff Rothstein, DVM