Price-based costing, activity-based costing, cost-based pricing, fixed costs and turnkey costs are all terms that perplex most practitioners and practice managers. It might be said that pricing is a major cause of follicle stress and pattern baldness in veterinary hospital managers. Jokes aside, forming a strategy is critical to pricing for competitiveness and reasonable … [Read more...]
Are you trying to solve the wrong problem?
We are all in the people business. That means we have challenges. Peter Bregman offers a refreshing look at problem management using an example from home. He says, “If you are caught in a problem that seems unsolvable, ask this simple question: If the problem you’re trying to solve weren’t the problem, what else might be?” Source: Harvard Business Review, December 7, … [Read more...]
What you need to know about Parvo
Canine parvo virus has been with us since the mid-1970s. Still considered a relatively new disease, it continues to be a risk for pets whose vaccinations were given too early or not finished. This article is a solid review of risk, treatment and prevention, including hygiene for owners, personnel and premises. Source: Veterinary Practice News, November 2015. Because parvo … [Read more...]
Thinking about going mobile?
For equine and livestock practitioners, mobile practice is a reality. It is also an option for a segment of small animal veterinarians. David Ramey, DVM, discusses some of the nuances and challenges of ambulatory practice. Source: Veterinary Practice News, December 2015, page 1, continued on page 38. Mobile practices allow DVMs to practice high-quality medicine and surgery … [Read more...]
Ups and downs of DIY wellness plans
When considering adding wellness plans to expand practice products and services, do-it-yourself (DIY) plans are frequently discussed by veterinarians and practice managers. While a DIY plans feel like an extension of independent practices, Don Jergler exposes pros and cons in this read. Source: Veterinary Practice News, December 2015, page 28. The popularity and upside of … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Seven Reasons Why Direct Mail is Still King
Most of us enjoy receiving mail. It may not be treated as urgently as it once was, but it can still be effective and actionable. This quick read offers food for thought as 2016 strategies and plans take form. Source: MWI Messenger, December 2015, page 16. Even with all the buzz surrounding social media and website optimization, traditional direct mail marketing is still … [Read more...]
Customer experience is key to B2B success: Study
Customer experiences and the capacity to deliver are the focus of this blog post relating to select findings from Accenture’s new B2B Customer Experience Report. While focused on large companies, the report has meaning for anyone servicing customers and resellers. Source: Marketing Dive Daily Newsletter, December 2, 2015 One impediment to success is only 32 percent of … [Read more...]
How to handle and store livestock vaccines
Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University Extension's Dairy Field Specialist, provides a solid reference document for handling and storing vaccines in this quick read. While valid vet-client-patient relationships help in establishing the vaccine of choice, Erickson offers tips for how to keep and store animal vaccines and provides an overview of the types of livestock … [Read more...]
Welcome to the “antibiotic-free” fear factory
The debate continues regarding antibiotic residues. The video accompanying this article in Drovers CattleNetwork Daily is not the marketing hype of large, branded fast-food chains, rather it is an excellent resource to utilize in support of safe, meat protein production. Regardless of your role, as an animal health professional please take time to consider the value of … [Read more...]
Soothe those irritated ears
Craig Griffin, DVM, DACVD, shares fundamentals on how to achieve an optimal outcome in veterinary patients with ear infections or allergic conditions. Products and treatments are discussed in this article that could be used in a checklist fashion or as educational background for clinic staff and channel sales reps. Source: Veterinary Medicine, November 2015, page 288. It is … [Read more...]
The power of pet insurance
Numbers are the compelling story in this quick read highlighting data provided by Nationwide pet insurance. For example: 1.92 annual veterinary visits by clients with pet insurance, compared with 1.18 without. $542 annual spending on dogs by clients with pet insurance, compared with $376 without. Source: Veterinary Economics, November 2015, page 8. The real challenge … [Read more...]
Never-before-seen equipment lists from the 2015 Hospitals of the Year
Equipping veterinary practices whether new, remodeling or upgrading can be a challenge the hospital staff, as well as those supplying equipment. Hours of research can be involved. Equip your space like the pros brings a unique perspective on the equipment choices made by hospitals awarded Hospital of the Year status. Source: Veterinary Economics, November 15, page 12. Now … [Read more...]
Protect patients from pharmacists’ errors with these 10 tips
Congress may soon mandate that DVMs provide a prescription for veterinary drugs they have traditionally dispensed. In this hard-hitting piece, Alice M. Jeromin, RPh, DVM, DACVD, notes critical differences between human and veterinary practices. She urges DVMs to contact their congresspersons to object to the bill. Source: DVM 360, November 2015, page M1. The main problem as … [Read more...]
Making a VFD game plan with Doc
The Drovers CattleNetwork Daily featured a great reminder of the need for the veterinary-client-patient relationship to be planned before being executed. Set to go into effect January 1, 2017, Veterinary Feed Directice (VFD) rules may seem like a long way away, but producers need to start working with their veterinarians now to develop plans. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork … [Read more...]
Welcome to the experience economy. It’s everything!
Should customer experience management, chief experience officer and call centers be topics in veterinary practices? Yes. The November 2015 issue of AAHA Trends takes a close look at these emerging hot topics in veterinary practices that change client services approaches and outcomes. Source: AAHA Trends, November 2015, page 20. Trends took a multi-pronged approach to the … [Read more...]
Pet business gets even more personal!
This blog post from Packaging Digest exposes even more reasons to consider personalized resources and tools for clients of veterinary hospitals. While the article is about the Just Right brand from Purina there is context here for veterinarians, practice managers and vet teams to consider as they interact with clients. Using photos in web tools and in digital medical files … [Read more...]
The Online Client Education Survival Guide
Google has made the client education process a bit more immediate, for which many veterinary hospital teams are unprepared (think client searching terms on an iPhone during a post exam consultation). This article discusses options for veterinary practice teams to proactively prepare for on-the-spot client education. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, September 2015 page … [Read more...]
Industry-wide standards approved for pet grooming
New standards for professional groomers and stylists will affect the grooming business in practices and private locations over time. First aid, housing, safety and emergency veterinary care top the list of standards. Source: Veterinary Practice News, November 2015 page 27. Professional groomers and stylists must keep a pet first aid kit nearby and know where to find an … [Read more...]
The Education Center: Laser therapy nears a new horizon
Laser therapy is becoming one of the hot topics in the veterinary industry … the positive reports and clinical studies continue to grow while the applications of laser therapy are expanding. Source: Veterinary Practice News, October 2015 page 40. The science behind positive analgesic, inflammatory modulating and enhanced healing effects are well established and becoming … [Read more...]
ViewPoint: Better medicine, but we’re still inefficient
“The quality of medical care we practice has improved drastically. But we need to stop seeing our patients the same way we did in 1965”, says Dennis M. McCurnin, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS in his ViewPoint article for VPN. He references the progress and developments in human and dental medicine especially around staffing and cost of service differences. His article calls for better … [Read more...]