Jessica Goodman Lee, CVPM, shares her perspective on how clients view practices and the annoyances that work against client satisfaction. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2017, page 33. Lee’s top 5 client pet peeves: Lack of information Lack of education Failure to provide documentation Lack of caring Failure to delegate INSIGHTS: Note the take … [Read more...]
Is a rabbit the right choice? (includes video)
Too often, parents purchase a rabbit for a child. Easter is the most common time for this to happen. The child is excited, the rabbit is terrified, the child loses interest, the rabbit is ignored and the parents become disappointed and resentful. Consider sharing the information in this reference site on websites, blogs and in newsletters. Rabbits, families and children will … [Read more...]
Pigs – a hobby farmer’s view
Every breed is unique, but producers should know what they’re getting when raising pigs for market pork. Rodney Wilson shares how he learned this all-important first lesson in our lifelong education about feed conversion efficiency: pigs can loosely be lumped into two classes, bacon pigs and lard pigs. Source: Hobby Farms, March 20, 2017. Today’s new and prospective hog … [Read more...]
Changing pet owner perceptions of veterinary hospitals
AAHA Chief Executive Officer Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (Emeritus), presented new research data during the opening session at the AAHA yearly conference. Pet owner perceptions of veterinary hospitals are declining, while awareness of veterinary hospital accreditation has increased. Source: AAHA Press Room, March 30, 2017. While the news of overall pet owner perception of … [Read more...]
Small talk can enhance the client-veterinary practice bond
Small talk plays an important role in everyday lives. In the veterinary practice, small talk is the first step toward building solid client–team relationships based on understanding and trust that result in improved patient-care outcomes. In subsequent meetings with the client, team members can refer back to what they learned from casual conversations about the client’s … [Read more...]
Cross-selling is not a strategy
Ken Favaro shares that almost overnight, cross-selling has gone from a ubiquitous practice imbued with positive connotations to a politically incorrect word that’s redolent of corporate misbehavior. This could be a wonderful thing if it causes companies, including your own to rethink their approach. Source: Strategy + Business, March 21, 2017. You want your customers … [Read more...]
5 tips to improve conversion rates
The common thread in Michael Georgiou’s tips for improving conversion rates is that they all move toward building a positive and personal relationship with the customer. It starts from the beginning and moves through the whole process, bringing you to the end result: making the sale. Source: Entrepreneur, April 1, 2017. If you want to know how to close more sales, start … [Read more...]
Selling in the age of the connected customer
Tiffani Bova says the role of sales is experiencing a renaissance. However, sales reps must adapt and embrace new ways of doing their job. As we entered the 2000’s many thought advertising, mass media, the internet and e-commerce would replace the traveling salesman. Bova believes that the future of selling will be contextual. The hardest part of most sales today is that we … [Read more...]
Here come the mosquitos! (includes video)
Veterinary parasitologist Dr. Laura Kramer discusses the increased dispersion of mosquitoes in Europe. The phenomenon is mirrored in the U.S. She sees three factors: Climate change Infected dogs moving around more than in the past New mosquito vectors that can transmit heartworm disease Source: Veterinary Medicine, April 5, 2017. Stop to consider the second point … [Read more...]
5 reasons to monitor colostrum quality
You may think that we don’t need to discuss colostrum ever again. Phil Durst shares five reasons to routinely check test colostrum to better understand the variances in quality. Colostrum quality is the first step in making sure calves are protected and set up for success in life. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 5, 2017. Why test colostrum quality? Here are some … [Read more...]
Swine Science Online offers opportunity for students, current producers
Leading universities are collaborating to ensure the pork industry is led and managed by individuals who have broad educational and production experiences that prepare them for these roles. The effort, Swine Science Online, teaches scientific principles and management skills involved in pork production for an efficient and sustainable operation. Source: National Hog Farmer, … [Read more...]
Increase feline heartworm prevention efforts
At an estimated prevalence of 0.4%, hundreds of thousands of cats in the United States are likely infected with heartworms. Given the difficulty in diagnosing infection at all clinically relevant parasite stages and lack of curative treatment options, efforts should be increased to ensure all cats receive heartworm preventive. Source: JAVMA, April 15, 2017. Results: … [Read more...]
Meet change head-on with customers
In this piece, Pam Foster shows how the distributor rep is a resource for customers. Her solid guidance is to look at each practice individually and not fixate on short-term interactions. Source: Veterinary Advantage, March 2017. Mike Hay, Abaxis (formerly Henry Schein) offers some pointers to help you stay on top of the latest innovations while also managing your daily “to … [Read more...]
Drs. Blach and Clark hammer key points
This installment of Is My Practice Healthy? focuses on customer care, the beginnings of forecasting inventory and financial literacy. Each post is worth reading. Source: Is My Practice Healthy?, April 3, 2017. Ismypracticehealthy.com (IMPH) was designed to provide an educational venue and community where stakeholders in the veterinary industry can go to learn about … [Read more...]
Becky Turner Chapman bids farewell to veterinary media
Becky Turner Chapman, longtime vice president of UBM’s Veterinary division reflects on her animal health family as she retires after 30 years in veterinary publishing. She is a true leader, consummate professional and exemplary role model for women in our industry and will be missed. We wish her the best. Source: DVM360, March 29, 2017. Each and every day, UBM Americas, … [Read more...]
Transitioning at work
With the acceptance of transgender people on the rise, more employers are adopting specific policies for workers who are transitioning. Julie Cook Ramirez shares one person’s story and discusses the trends in dealing with blurred gender-line realities. According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2017 Corporate Equality Index, 82 percent of all Fortune 500 companies … [Read more...]
Stressed now, lame later
International hoof care consultant Karl Burgi identifies three primary incidences that can trigger lameness events: heat stress any episode of cows standing too long transition Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 31, 2017. Heat stress affects the feet? Yes, said Burgi, because hot cows stand more to try to cool off. When cows are standing, blood does not flow as … [Read more...]
Improve your finance skills, even if you hate numbers
If you’re not a numbers person, finance is daunting. “If you can speak the language of money, you will be more successful,” says Richard Ruback, a professor at Harvard Business School. Source: Harvard Business Review, March 31, 2017. Finance and accounting are very simple. It’s mostly addition and subtraction and occasionally some multiplication and division. There’s no … [Read more...]
Don’t leave the dishes in the sink
Maggie Seiler emphasizes the importance of cleaning procedures in dairies and reminds us of how susceptible dairy calves are to bacteria. Her cleaning tips are good for at home in our own sinks, in break rooms or areas where we clean animal care equipment. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 27, 2017. Particularly of concern are biofilm buildups that are hard to see and occur … [Read more...]
Exceptional customer service, the extra mile
Celeste Van Deinse, LVT, shares ideas about how to enhance customer service. Our team especially liked her recommendations about considering young owners, communication on wait times and prioritizing follow-up calls. Source: MWI Messenger, April 2017, page 11-12. Going the extra mile can set your practice above the rest, helping to reduce client turnover rates while … [Read more...]
Reverse zoonosis is an important global issue
Food animals are transported widely and interact with wild species that they would never encountered naturally. With rapid growth in animal production and an increase in movement of animals and people, a human pathogen in an animal could potentially move thousands of miles in just 24 hours. On top of increasing animal trade, we have a growing pet industry. Understanding how … [Read more...]
Depression now the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide
Failure to adequately address depression can lead to financial loss for families, employers and governments, notes the World Health Organization. Worldwide depression rates increased 18 percent between 2005 and 2015. Source: Science of US, March 30, 2017. Depression now affects more than 300 million people globally, but a stigma associated with the condition still exists, … [Read more...]
Test yourself: Define your sense of humor
Just for fun! Psychology researcher Rod Martin took a different tactic to measure humor, an amorphous, multifaceted concept, in a scientific way. Modeling his approach after recently developed tests to measure anxiety, he focused not on the jokes themselves, but on how respondents used humor in everyday life. The end result would become his signature work: the Humor Styles … [Read more...]
Not all disinfectants are equal
Animal health pros must be regularly reminded that not all disinfectants are created equal. The AASV study of disinfectant effect on Senecavirus A is stark reminder of the variances in disinfectant efficacies. Source: Pork Network, March 20, 2017. Household bleach, a phenolic disinfectant, and a quaternary ammonium-aldehyde disinfectant were tested at manufacturer’s … [Read more...]
The reasons why dogs fight with cats
Not all dogs and cats have to get along with each other to live happy lives, but it is important to know which dogs can live with cats and which ones can’t. This is especially critical for shelters seeking homes for dogs, because nobody wants to adopt a dog who will terrorize their cat. Source: The Bark, April 1, 2017. A recent study has increased what we know about which … [Read more...]
Top priority, keep dogs’ nails short and sweet
It seems like nobody likes to trim dog nails. Not pet owners, not the dog, nor anyone else, including vet techs and groomers). But for the health of all dogs, it must be done frequently enough to keep dogs’ nails short. Consider this article for websites, blogs, social media posts or a spring newsletter. Source: Whole Dog Journal, April 2, 2017. When nails are so long … [Read more...]
April is stress awareness month
There is a calendar event for almost everything these days. For 25 years, April has been stress awareness month. Industries such as animal health have become aware of stress in the last two years or more. Fueled by the loss of colleagues and friends, animal health pros are working hard to make changes in how we work, our expectations, physical limits and to provide resources to … [Read more...]
Big news from the 2017 AAHA conference
Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (Emeritus), AAHA chief executive officer, took the stage in Nashville loaded for change. “Our accreditation program is our foundation — the AAHA board of directors and staff are laser-focused on our strategic priorities, all of which revolve around accreditation,” said Cavanaugh. “The membership change and the change in our conference model … [Read more...]
Make time for strategic thinking every day
No matter what your level, strategic thinking is a critical skill. It can always be improved. To hone your capacity to see the big picture, start by making sure you have a solid understanding of the industry and business drivers. Be proactive about connecting with peers in your organization and in your industry to understand their observations of the marketplace, and share … [Read more...]
HR changes to watch for in 2017
Katherine Dobbs, LVT, CVPM, PHR, says paying attention to these regulations would be wise as employment laws get reviewed by the new administration: Fiduciary rule CEO pay ratio Affordable Care Act Overtime rule Pay equity Parental leave Predictable scheduling Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2017. Employment law has never been easy to keep up with, … [Read more...]