Many of us see the results of second-guessing played out weekly if not daily. The tendencies to make decisions in a vacuum or change directions from a previous decision is near-rampant in some companies and organizations. These authors outline fixes for common re-think behaviors. Clarify the decision-making process Establish a “silence denotes agreement” ground rule at … [Read more...]
Quiz: Are You a Client Compliance Expert?
Compliance in veterinary medicine is defined as the patient receiving the care the veterinary team believes is best. The acronym CRAFT, where compliance = recommendation + acceptance + follow-through, can help the team remember this definition. It is important that the client accepts recommendations. Following the recommendations at home is just as important. Source: … [Read more...]
Shorter meetings. More action.
Veterinarians, veterinary assistants and sales persons will benefit from Peter Bregman’s assertions in this short article. Learn how leading meetings with a hyper-focused approach changes the value of meetings. Check your cellphone at the door and come prepared! Source: Harvard Business Review, February 22, 2016. If you have half the time to accomplish something, you become … [Read more...]
Under-schedule in 2016
Along with a declined meeting request, a reader sent me this article. He indicated he was acting on the advice from Elizabeth Grace Saunders and suggested some future dates. Many animal health professionals feel productivity pressure and sometimes forget the importance of prioritizing and finishing. Ms. Saunders suggests these areas to reclaim your desired experiences of … [Read more...]
Gender-sorted semen can improve beef herd
The next level of sophistication in herds that use artificial insemination (AI) is the selective use of gender-sorted semen. Dairy producers have experienced the benefits of limiting male calf production as males have little value. Justin Rhinehart with the University of Tennessee Extension, discusses the advantages and challenges of using gender-sorted technology in building … [Read more...]
Recognizing, quantifying pain in horses
Our industry continues to study the impact and dynamics of pain in all species. This article introduces a new equine pain scale and its implementation in a hospital setting. Equine veterinary teams and representatives that service them will benefit from reading and discussing the information presented. Source: Equine Veterinary Education, January 2016. Pain management is … [Read more...]
Spending on pets up in 2015
Americans spent almost $61 billion on pets in 2015 – a 4.4 percent increase from 2014. This article notes cautious optimism about the future of the pet industry and cites areas of success and others that are experiencing challenges. Source: Reuters, February 22, 2016. The amount of money being spent on pets has increased every year since 1994, according to the American Pet … [Read more...]
Swine Disease Matrix prioritizes pathogens of threat
Much is written about disaster planning. Yet, producers and veterinarians are seldom prepared for disease outbreaks or disasters. The Center for Food Security and Public Health at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Iowa State University announced a comprehensive set of tools to address this. Fact sheets offer information about each disease are ready for immediate use in the … [Read more...]
Exam room do’s and dont’s
Ensuring a positive experience for animals and the clients is critical for customer satisfaction and retention. This private space provides the ideal opportunity for veterinary team members to educate clients on preventatives and treatments. Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), Wamego, Kansas, identifies exam room disciplines that make exam room visits smooth and … [Read more...]
Help clients with species-appropriate diets
One hundred percent of dogs and cats that visit a veterinary hospital or retail center eat some type of food. The diet category gets more confusing every day. Most animal owners make diet choices with little information. This article compares the needs of cats and dogs eating raw diets and presents the realities of species differences. Source: Dogs Naturally, February 19, … [Read more...]
VFD – repeat after me
We at AHD believe it is important to continue to offer quality resources about the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). Each time people review something important, there evidence that they achieve a new level of understanding. Thus, repetition helps. VFD is important, requires mutual engagement between veterinarians and clients. It will take time to get a VFD in place with each … [Read more...]
Seven qualities of a good veterinary assistant
According to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA): “While every position within the veterinary practice team is important, veterinary assistants play a pivotal role, literally ... In the course of a single day, an assistant provides help to veterinarians and veterinary technicians, which in turn allows those team members to perform the tasks and … [Read more...]
Second bacterium linked to Lyme disease
Researchers at the Mayo clinic have discovered a second bacterium, related to Borrelia burgdorferi that can cause Lyme disease in humans. Borrelia mayonii infections do not act quite the same as B. burgdorferi which is associated with a bulls-eye rash. Source: NPR, February 10, 2016. The new species hadn't appeared during routine tests on thousands of other samples over the … [Read more...]
Comprehensive dental assessment improves compliance
Hospitals that enjoy successful dental strategies include dental practices every day and as a component of wellness programs. This article is fresh, thought-provoking and compelling for veterinary teams and representatives. Source: AAHA Trends, February 2016, page 43. (link unavailable) Dental compliance improved when the practice began giving clients an estimate for a … [Read more...]
Vegan pet diets – good or bad?
Pet nutrition blogger Rodney Habib openly contrasts the vegan pet food movement compared to meat-based diets citing nutritional and sustainability issues. Veterinary teams may get caught up in some of this conversation. Consider this article for a team discussion in practices. Representatives can engage using this and provide support from company technical service groups or … [Read more...]
Stay ahead of new tech
Adam Little, DVM, tracks technology developments and their potential in animal health. 3-D printing is on his radar. AAHA also featured 3-D in the article below. Veterinary teams and companies that serve them will want to keep track of these advancements to be ready to apply the technologies when they’re ready for daily practice situations. Source: Exponential Vet, Issue 8, … [Read more...]
Understand the milk replacer label
Learn about five areas on the milk replacer tag or label to understand milk replacer choices and their value. Adam Geiger, walks through label sections and their meaning in this article. It is a good reference for sales representatives and veterinary teams who service dairy producers. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, January 25, 2016, page 62. (direct link unavailable) Consider … [Read more...]
Local conditions affect West Nile Virus spread
Carried by birds, predominately crows and jays, West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitos. Rainfall and land cover affect the incidence of disease, according to Mississippi State University researchers. Local land areas with a greater variety of vegetation and landscape seem to reduce the incidence according to the study. Vaccination is still critical to prevent … [Read more...]
Editorial – Generational overload
Media sources are full of information about boomers, gen Xers, millennials and recently the iGens, or Generation Z. Depending on which date ranges you use, I live with a boomer, a gen Xer, a millennial and an iGen. We’re all different, have different attitudes and approach communication, problem solving and planning differently. I’ve found that engaging in safe, open discussion … [Read more...]
Equine cellulitis
When a horse’s leg swells to double or triple the normal leg size overnight, owners and vets must take immediate action. Cellulitis, while common, can be frightening for owners. Having a veterinary professional respond quickly and decisively is critical to avoid further injury. Caused by bacteria penetrating the dermis and multiplying in the subcutis, the origins of cellulitis … [Read more...]
Not everything is a hairball
Feline gastritis is the focus of this article for cat owners. Veterinary hospital teams will benefit by reviewing the information and redistributing the content to cat-owning clients. Source: Tufts Catnip, February 8, 2016. Vomiting, refusal to eat and lethargy are the most common signs of gastritis. “The most common reasons for gastritis are self-limiting dietary … [Read more...]
Prevent winter colic
Colic tops the list of winter equine health challenges. Water, diet and movement are critical. Equine veterinary teams and dealers will appreciate this resource when working with horse owners. The content is also appropriate for websites, newsletters and blogs. Source: EQUUS, February 8, 2016. Cold weather may conspire against your efforts to keep water flowing to your … [Read more...]
Canine influenza resources available from AVMA
Veterinary hospital teams and the representatives who support them will find reviewing the information now available to veterinarians and pet owners from the AVMA valuable. Media coverage about Canine influenza has made pet owners aware of the disease. They’re seeking information, too. Hospital teams and reps who support them will find the latest information from AVMA valuable. … [Read more...]
Understanding the vet bill
Mel Winger, DVM, addresses vet bill dynamics in this concise article. His financial perspective indicates the value of a herd veterinarian that never shows up on an invoice. Dairy veterinary hospital teams and reps who support them will find the information valuable for staff meeting discussions. Source: Dairy Herd Management, February 14, 2016. Even though the vet bill … [Read more...]
Calcium important to canine health
Dr. Ben Character positions calcium as an important component of canine physiology. Veterinary hospital teams will enjoy this article. It is also good information for clinic websites or newsletters. Source: The Retriever Journal, February/March 2016. (direct link unavailable) Calcium is involved with muscle contraction, nerve conduction, coagulation, phosphorus regulation, … [Read more...]
Heartworm prevention requires compliance
While exercising today, I heard a familiar buzzing sound. It was a mosquito. In February. It’s a a stark reminder that heartworm prevention needs to be in place 12 months a year. This article and handout linked to it can help restart compliance discussions. Source: DVM 360, February 2, 2016. Whether your clients just don't realize the risk and serious implications of … [Read more...]
Use technology to manage business cards
If you return from a conference and were at least half-engaged, you brought back a stack of business cards. Follow-up is a challenge as we return to our regular jobs and catch up on work that piled up while we were gone. Alexandra Samuel shares her seven-step strategy for using social media to turn conference introductions into ongoing connections. Source: Harvard Business … [Read more...]
Stop judging your new consumer
Pre-judging clients is an age-old challenge for the veterinary community. Today, however, “Mr. Google” is now a partner in hospital team efforts to get clients to listen and decide on their animals care, according to Julie Carlson, an author and a certified veterinary technician. Source: DVM 360, February 1, 2016. It’s easy to get frustrated by clients. You’re trying to do … [Read more...]
Happiness deserves a list, too
Beyond your bucket list, developing a daily list may be more critical to your overall happiness, according to Claire Diaz-Ortiz. She recently took part in a personal development exercise and shares her experience in this blog post. It includes a how-to for us to consider. Source: Linked-In Influencer, February 1, 2016. There are alot of things that fill me up in life. And, … [Read more...]
Reps can be full business partners
Veterinarians, especially those working toward more active veterinarian-client-patient relationships in the face of the veterinary feed directive regulations, can be considered reps in this article by Pat Malone of The PAR Group. (See VFD-still much to do, 2/4/16). Leaders, he says, gain and keep wholehearted followers for a given course of action. Consider Malone’s five key … [Read more...]