Today’s Veterinary Business asked people to talk about what they’re seeing and hearing as the United States deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some hospitals are putting remote consultations to greater use, meeting clients in parking lots and doubling down on cleaning and sanitizing. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, March 2020. Link. Mia Cary, DVM. shared this. I’m seeing … [Read more...]
7 key actions business can take to mitigate the effects of COVID-19
No crisis is an isolated, neatly contained incident, and the COVID-19 outbreak is exceptional by any standards. It comes with extreme scope and levels of uncertainty. It’s a situation that is well beyond the experience of most business leaders. Source: Strategy+Business, March 6, 2020. Link. Preparation is key during crises.. Here are seven actions that leadership can take … [Read more...]
Accurate information during pandemic is critical
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate and timely information is particularly critical. Although businesses may be focused internally on managing their business and staff during this period, focusing on communication with customers and clients remains important, too. Twitter offers suggestions for business communication via social media channels at this … [Read more...]
You, me, us, and them as SARS-CoV-2 disrupts our world
CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC EDITION These days of myriad, progressing and conflicting COVID-19 articles, blog posts and news releases should be the stuff on which a curation business thrives. The AHD team will do our best to provide factual SARS-CoV-2 material that supports our objective to focus on sharing actionable information in the context of how animal health pros live, work … [Read more...]
Protecting your eyes in a screen-focused world
Modern demands on vision, especially our constant focus on close-up screens, is causing our eyes to make unhealthy adaptations. But you can do something about that! Marc Grossman, OD, Lac, shares steps that can keep your eyes healthier in a near-focused world. Grossman’s steps include: Keep neck muscles loose Avoid extremes of light/dark contrast Lounge consciously … [Read more...]
The state of high stakes learning
Intrepid Learning recently published an infographic to share the results of their 2020 learning and development survey. The results indicate little change compared to 2019 including weaknesses from the top down. The main findings are: Leadership is still the most critical topic Learning with and from others remains the best modality Learning cultures are still seen … [Read more...]
Tips that make working from home awesome
Doug Aamoth has been working from home nearly 20 years. He offers some tips to improve the experience. If you’re being forced to work remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic, take heart: You might find that you love it.” – Doug Aamoth Source: Fast Company, March 17, 2020. Link. One of the best things about not being in an office all day is that if you’ve set yourself up … [Read more...]
Buck trends all the way to success
Trends influence what we eat, how we conduct business, what we wear and even what movies we see. But, as evidenced in the documentary, Country Music, trends have the power to change industries. Source: Purpose Unlimited, Link. Hank Williams made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1949. At the time Roy Acuff was known as the King of Country Music. “I was a pretty good … [Read more...]
Train the whole team on dentistry, oral care
Midmark’s Danielle Heberle, CVT, VTSH (Dentistry), provides sound reasoning for total clinic team dentistry training in this SPARK video. She discusses the practice development opportunities as well as Midmark’s training services. Traditionally we have seen that the client care people get left out of the education process. It is sad considering how integral these staff members … [Read more...]
Adjust inventory to account for supply chain disruptions
Original material from AHD The COVID-19 situation is stressing various supply chains. Adjustments to inventory management, especially for SKUS needed for caring for animals, will be critical for the foreseeable future. AHD founder, Kirk Augustine has helped develop and teach inventory management curricula for veterinary teams. He created a short inventory management paper … [Read more...]
Virox announces free webinar on COVID-19: Protecting People and Animals
Complimentary Sponsored Content from Virox Animal Health™ Webinar: Coronavirus (COVID-19) in veterinary and animal group settings: Protecting People and Animals TODAY: Thursday, March 19, 2020 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern time Top infection prevention and epidemiology experts will provide a brief summary of the current COVID-19 status in people and animals, along with specific … [Read more...]
2019 Triennial Heartworm Symposium selective summary
Marisa Ames, DVM, DACVIM, provides an informative and actionable summary from the September 2019 heartworm symposium. The topics in the presentations and poster included: Heartworm vectors and transmission Heartworm prevention Heartworm pathology Heartworm diagnosis Wolbachia and heartworm treatment protocols . . . a strong correlation was noted between … [Read more...]
Marketing: no time, no money, no expertise
In a recent article and podcast, George B. Krueger, MBA, DBA, shares research that explores the theme of microbusiness marketing with no time, no money and no expertise. Microbusinesses were defined as small businesses that employ nine or fewer people, including the owner. Source: bizTimes, March 5, 2020. Link. White paper copy of article < link > The research … [Read more...]
Sometimes the wrong words just come out
Most people mean well. Veterinary teams often face clients whose prized animal should be put down or has died. It’s an emotional time for all. Despite best intentions during these times we end up eating our foot. The folks at CareBridge offer some perspective worth consideration. Source: CareBridge. Link. So why do insensitive and downright dumb things pop out of the mouths … [Read more...]
Keep work out of personal social media posts
There is a growing trend where carelessly made social media posts cause a furor in the workplace while harming the organization’s interest or reputation. Iffy posts also cost people their jobs. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 17, 2020. Link. The authors share simple safeguards you can follow to stay out of trouble: Don’t tag your company in your personal posts … [Read more...]
8 tips to get your messages read
Emails, memos and requests often go ignored likely because they’re hard to understand. However, individual success depends on the help of others. Thus, success for a sale, a project, even a career likely depends on getting others to read and act on our messages. Here are eight ways to help get people to respond to them. Source: New York Times, March 8, 2020. Link. (paywall) … [Read more...]
Stifle surgery and treatments: Guarded prognosis and more doesn’t help
Horses have been observed to have problems with the stifle joint for a long time. In recent years, these joints are getting noticed and treated more, yet remain an uncommon area from which lameness arises. The stile is a big joint and it’s an important one overall. Davey Ramey, DVM, discusses the challenges of stifle surgery, realistic outcomes and therapeutic options that … [Read more...]
Veterinary Feed Directives improving use of medically important products
VFDs imposed by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2017 are required for livestock feed products that contain medically important ingredients, such as tetracyclines. David Williams, owner-operator of Burkmann Nutrition, explains how feed retailers can play a leading role helping livestock operators and their veterinarians operate well with VFDs. His and other … [Read more...]
Rural Media Group announces new streaming service, RFD-TV Now (video)
Complimentary Sponsored Content RMG has just announced expanded streaming service under a new name: RFD-TV Now. It offers improved searchability, increased security, and added features such as the ability to “favorite” shows or binge watch them by season. This is good news for animal health pros who enjoy FarmHer, rodeos, horsemanship features, cattle topics like DocTalk, … [Read more...]
Why dogs howl at sirens
It is thought that dogs howl at sirens because they believe they are communicating with other dogs, writes John Woods. Science doesn’t support the idea that dogs howl because sirens hurt their ears he says. If a dog’s howling is causing a nuisance, counter conditioning by teaching them to settle can work. Source: All Things Dog, February 14, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
AAHA: Introduces a new continuum of patient-focused anesthesia
AAHA announces the 2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and Cats The new guidelines take a new approach to anesthesia called continuum of care, says guideline co-chair Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA. It is a doorknob-to-doorknob strategy that begins before the patient leaves their house and ends when they return home comfortable and calm. In addition to … [Read more...]
AVMA cautions outdoor enthusiasts about risks to their animals
The AVMA recognizes the need to increase awareness among other outdoor enthusiasts so that they are aware of the risks their pets face during outdoor adventures and what precautions they should take. The association offers excellent resources to guide animal owners to reduce risks to pets and competing animals. Source: AVMA. Link. Disease prevention quick tips … [Read more...]
NOT knowing it all
One of the skills veterinary team members possess is the ability to listen to their animal patients. They do it with their ears, their eyes, hands and even noses. These senses are critical to identifying both health and illness in critters. But when that attention is turned to an animal owner, the senses often turn off. Salespeople have similar problems and so do personnel at … [Read more...]
Five words for this decade
Watching or listening to the news can be depressing. However, if you want to watch it and be inspired by innovative ideas, get excited by new policies and be encouraged by our collective progress, then here are five words to remember. Maybe even to live by. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 17, 2020. Link. More importantly, we must listen well to others and thoughtfully … [Read more...]
Clean your smartphone properly
With all the hubbub Covid-19 has wrought, it is a good time to extend cleanliness routines to smartphones, tablets, laptops and keyboards. This article is a good reminder to clean these tools properly and often. Source: WIRED, March 4, 2020. Link. The science shows <link> that bacteria are very happy breeding on keyboards and smartphone screens, particularly when … [Read more...]
CDC to retail industry: dust off preparedness plans NOW
Whether it is COVID-19 or something else, proactive preparedness is important for businesses and communities. CDC recently highlighted four key preparedness areas for businesses and employers to consider during a conference call convened by the National Retail Federation: Continuity Protecting the workforce Customers Community Source: National Retail … [Read more...]
COVID-19 could be lemons or lemonade. We can make the difference.
March 2020: Update on SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 it causes Hundreds of coronaviruses circulate among animals including cattle, camels, bats, pigs, cats and dogs. Sometimes these viruses jump to humans (a spillover event) and may cause disease. SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three have origins in bats. SARS-CoV-2 causes the disease … [Read more...]
Make Sunday night special. Don’t lose it to Monday prep
For high-performing animal health pros, Sunday night can become a pre-Monday period that shortens the weekend. Stephanie Thurrott makes a case for transforming the way your weekend winds down by surrounding yourself with family and friends and sharing a meal as a part of Sunday routines. Sunday suppers aren’t dinner parties. . . It’s the ritual that matters.” Source: NBC … [Read more...]
Fear-based management is ineffective
It is amazing that some in management and leadership positions resort to creating an environment of fear to get their people to work. Research consistently proves that fear-based leadership or management does not work. It may in the short-term, but the quality of work will be average at best and it is never sustainable in the long run. Source: Leadership First, October 12, … [Read more...]
BCS: low cost, big impact
VFD regulations are driving more productive interactions between livestock producers and their veterinarians. Routine site visits including face-to-face meetings are important to the success of this initiative and improve VCPR. <link> Matt Hersom is an advocate for body condition scoring (BCS). It has a low cost and high value that can help any cattle producer make good … [Read more...]