Mentorship is a two-way street and both parties find growth and value in the relationships that form. Wendy Hauser, DVM, and Heather Kvito-White, DVM, DACVIM, share highlights from their mentorship journey. The mentee gains invaluable insight, and the mentor gets joy from helping another person succeed.” Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, June 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Note … [Read more...]
CIRDC. Does a new name make it easier?
Opinion Two excellent articles are included as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex sources for this post. Adjusting the nomenclature to represent a variety of cofactors is logical scientifically and diagnostically. Pragmatically, though, many of the known CIRDC pathogens are NOT included in core vaccines, including two well recognized pathogens: Canine … [Read more...]
Preventive care paradox
Recognizing and reinforcing behavior that results in the absence of disease is difficult, especially in a veterinary healthcare system built to respond to disease states versus reinforcing a state of health, according to Bob Lester, DVM. It is a challenge for a reacting-and-repairing versus preventing-and-preparing way of working Lester describes the future benefits as … [Read more...]
Telemedicine is as old as the telephone. Getting paid IS NEW!
Opinion We’re referencing four complementary sources in this post. Virtual veterinary care is advancing at warp speed. Still, some veterinary clinics struggle with moving from a courtesy service approach to charging for telemedicine services as clients embrace the convenience. Creating clear boundaries between “courtesy services” and what is considered a "paid service" is … [Read more...]
Refocus: 6 growing issues
The first trimester of 2021 is now behind us. Our industry continues to feel more complicated and changing at break-neck speed. In December 2020, Karen E. Felsted, DVM, CPA, MS, CVPM, CVA, and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, reviewed Pew Research Center’s “Future Directions for Veterinary Medicine” (1989), and KPMG’s “The Current and Future Market for Veterinarians and Veterinary … [Read more...]
Beyond wellness plans, bundling can work
Wendy Hauser, DVM, and Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, MS, DACVIM, MBA, tackle the challenge of chronic illnesses that frequently fall outside of wellness plan coverage. The authors position bundling beginning with common bundles already in place in veterinary practices. By leveraging bundling, treatment packages offer four major advantages: Bundling helps clients understand the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 1, 2021
Where veterinary medicine is (likely) headed over the next decade Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, February 2021. Link. Douglas G. Aspros, DVM, highlights four things he thinks are in the future. Some are driven by technology and others are systems-based. As always, changes in social perspectives and values will be key. Podcast: … [Read more...]
Veterinary resource library supports pet health insurance discussions
Complimentary Content – Part 4 of February 2021 series Data featured in this month’s posts about research conducted by Dr. Wendy Hauser’s team are compelling and indicate potential benefits for insured pets, pet owners, veterinary team members and practices. <Link>. The results also indicate the need for a strategic approach to comfortably include pet health insurance … [Read more...]
Revenue growth, merit bonuses are alternatives to production-based pay in veterinary medicine
In 2018, Wendy Hauser, DVM, and Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA, challenged the historic production-based compensation for DVMs. This discussion remains timely with the growing demand for veterinary care, increasing use of telemedicine and practices struggling to fill staff positions in the face of the pandemic. The antidote for production-based pay is this: a hybrid program of … [Read more...]
Bricks and clicks; veterinary technology comes of age
Nearly a year before the onslaught of the Covid era, Bob Lester, DVM, wrote, “We are moving from bricks to clicks. Consumers are insisting, and we had better listen.” Quoting Abraham Lincoln, he advocated adopting emerging technologies sooner than later. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, February 2019. Link. Bricks have and will continue to serve a purpose, but bricks … [Read more...]
Labor union comes to private veterinary hospitals
A new labor contract covering 100 employees in a Vancouver, Washington, veterinary clinic is the first of its kind. One employee anticipates the labor contract will provide veterinary workers with protections, wage equality and establish a foothold for continued improvements in working conditions. The contract calls for: Base pay minimums. Differential pay for overnight … [Read more...]
P.U.R.R. your way to optimal patient flow
When you are hell-bent on surviving considerable changes to how to do life, your business and meet client expectations, customer experience planning and mapping may not be a high priority. Now as the world attempts to reopen and live with Covid-19 risks, planning patient flow is an important part of progress. Claire Pickens, CVPM, SHRM-CP, CSSGB, looks at patient flow … [Read more...]
4 tips for marketing to millennial pet parents
Ongoing studies demonstrate some millennials distrust advertising. MWI Animal Health shares four ways animal health pros can reach this group of potential or current clients. Build meaningful relationships Meet millennials where they are with high-tech communications Establish a strong social media presence Keep the conversation going Source: MWI Animal Health, … [Read more...]
Commitment versus compliance in practice cultures
The discussion of practice culture applies to corporate practice, private practice and various industry business units. Bob Lester, DVM, is uniquely qualified to discuss the passion of commitment versus managing and dictating for compliance. He identifies the absence of trust as a barrier to achieving a commitment culture which maximizes potential. Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
Subscription wellness plans: a long-term answer?
Bob Lester, DVM, shares his experiences and perspectives on subscription wellness plans. Subscription preventive care plans are not discount or loyalty programs. They are not pet insurance. Instead, they are a fundamental way of approaching veterinary practice. They empower clients and the veterinary team with a laser focus on delivering preventive care so that pets can live … [Read more...]
Renewal and recovery after Covid-19 (podcast)
Industry consultants Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, and Karen Felstad, DVM, CPA, MS, CVPM, CVA, discuss the tectonic shifts the veterinary profession is going through. They explore what the profession is learning, what habits should remain broken and which replacements should become entrenched in the daily routines of veterinary practices. They cover nine areas : … [Read more...]
Identify and recapture missed charges
Like a poorly tuned automobile, veterinary clinics lose revenue because services and items never get billed. There is no change in costs, rather a reduction in revenue and margin. 17 percent of lab tests do not get billed (AAHA) 5 to 10 percent of all charges are not billed (source unknown) Missed billings have consequences A hospital grossing $2 million could … [Read more...]
Pet insurance, wellness plans are win, win, win
Research findings led to AVMA changing its policy on pet insurance from neutral to advocacy. Metrics from studies support a more assertive position in practices, economic benefits for clients and of course improved health care for pets: Insured dog owners spent $216 per year more than uninsured owners (MSU findings) Insured dog owners spent 29 percent more, insured cat … [Read more...]
Telemedicine is getting a big thumbs-up from veterinary practices
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...]
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...]
Talking money with animal owners (video option)
Veterinary team members frequently anticipate client objections to treatment recommendations before the conversation gets started, writes Wendy Hauser, DVM. She offers proactive recommendations to help handle money discussions, including team training. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, February 2020. Link. A disconnect can arise between pet owners and veterinary teams … [Read more...]
Pet insurance remains polarizing for many
Addressing the fear and reluctance found in many veterinarians and staff members, Wendy Hauser, DVM, summarizes key elements of pet insurance. Pet insurance is property insurance, not an accident and health product. Veterinary teams are allowed to endorse the idea that pet health insurance is a helpful tool in helping the client provide care for their pets. Source: … [Read more...]
USP 800 deadline looms (videos)
USP <800> was created to help protect workers, patients and others in veterinary environments. It was published February 1, 2016 with an implementation date of December 2019. USP <800> involves facility changes, such as adding additional rooms to prepare hazardous drugs. It also involves a change in operations and how veterinary teams deal with drugs in their … [Read more...]
E-Commerce Summit reconvenes in KC
Following the success of its 2018 inaugural gathering, NAVC Media will host the second annual E-Commerce Summit at The Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, September 17-18, 2019. The dynamic two-day conference will focus on changing consumer dynamics, retail trends, blending channels, emerging care models and best practices affecting business strategy. Source: … [Read more...]
Rust, dust are not good retail looks
Brian Conrad, CVPM, does not advocate veterinary clinics try to copy or be like the box stores. Veterinary hospitals are about education and deliberate, methodical recommendations, while big box stores focus on product choices and other options. Conrad says it is important is to showcase what you have to offer regardless of how much space is dedicated to retail … [Read more...]
Opinion – Adjust clinic visits to appeal to millennials
Architect Paul Gladyz offers thought-provoking ideas about how to adjust the veterinary visit to meet the experience-desiring millennials. As a father of millennials, his perspective is personal, as well as professional. Millennials want their experiences to work toward an enjoyable life. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, April 2019. Link. The fact remains millenials are … [Read more...]