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VHMA announces new certification for Veterinary Management Professionals; the CVOM

October 8, 2024 by AHD Staff Source: VHMA

The Certified Veterinary Office Manager program is intended to certify qualified management professionals with a focus on fundamental administrative office tasks, including team leadership roles. To qualify for the exam, candidates must have one year of experience in a veterinary practice, have accomplished specified tasks, and have two letters of recommendation. Source: … [Read more...]

Pathway to CVPM certification (videos)

September 3, 2024 by AHD Staff Source: VHMA, YouTube

Samantha Millet, CVPM, Tiffany Consalvo, CVPM, and Christine M. Cesena, CVPM, share their challenges, perseverance, and benefits of becoming a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. The link below begins with Millet and then links to Consalvo and Cesena in a series of informative personal experience videos of about two minutes each.  Source: VHMA, YouTube, February 23, 2023. … [Read more...]

KPIs show practices may be catching up

March 21, 2023 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

Commentary The monthly Insiders’ Insights Key Performance Indicators Report compares revenue and patient trends for 2022 versus 2023. Revenues are generally positive for practices and individual patients, while patient visits show a declining trend. New patient percentages look a bit more like they did prepandemic which is reflected in the decline in new patients year … [Read more...]

VHMA Insiders’ Insight KPI – August 2022

August 16, 2022 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

Noting revenue growth in July 2022 declined compared to July 2021, this month’s Insiders’ Insight addresses some key factors in veterinary practices. Revenue per client increased against dramatically declining new client numbers and increases in lapsing clients. It’s still not clear where the “veterinary economy” is going but I think it is definitely softening and practices … [Read more...]

VHMA’s look at DVM productivity, efficiency

July 26, 2022 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

More than 100 veterinary hospital managers provided information to create the feedback data for the July 2022 VHMA Insider’s Insights. The data confirms many of the now routine industry reports that note staffing issues, pressure to see more patients and longer hours. 63 percent believe their DVMs are significantly or somewhat more productive 31 percent said their DVMs … [Read more...]

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association; dedicated to education, advancement

July 19, 2022 by AHD Staff Source: VHMA

Complimentary content It is challenging to monitor and choose from all the education, CE and webinars available. It seems there’s a new announcement three or more times per week. The VHMA put together a listing of what’s coming soon and resources available on demand. Webinar topics include micro-breaks, social media, career path management, dealing with the economic … [Read more...]

CVPM turns 30

March 8, 2022 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

This year, the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager program marks 30 years of credentialing the knowledge and experience of veterinary management professionals. Congratulations to the original visionaries, the VHMA and all those who went the extra mile to advance the business side of veterinary medicine. In the three decades since this program was created, the CVPM credential … [Read more...]

GPOs in veterinary medicine

November 3, 2020 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

VHMA’s September Insiders’ Insight survey asked managers about their participation in group purchasing organizations and associated benefits. About 43 percent of the practices that are members in a GPO just belong to one group while the others belong to two or more. More than half of those practices that belong to GPOs have done so for more than four years; the rest have joined … [Read more...]

Grouchy clients, stressed staff, but business is growing

August 4, 2020 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

The VHMA’s tracking surveys are often revealing. June 2020 versus June 2019 numbers look strong, even in the shadow of a possible recession. Practices are reeling from the cumulative disruption from the pandemic but gaining ground against previous shortfalls. About 53 percent of practices never changed their hours of operation and another 25 percent did, but have returned to … [Read more...]

VMHA measures online pharmacies

June 30, 2020 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

Included with the May Insider’s Insights report produced by VHMA are survey results on the use of online pharmacies by veterinary clinics. The data gathered represents the responses from an average of 165 practices across all 13 questions. Source: Insider’s Insights, VHMA, June 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Practice satisfaction is generally good with chosen providers. However, … [Read more...]

We ARE living the new normal – Part 1, situation analysis

April 21, 2020 by Kirk Augustine Source: Becoming minimalist, Clinician's Brief, DVM 360, The Bridge Club, VHMA, Washington Post

Comments Change management experts are returning to their themes of adaptability, including life and business always accepting change as a constant. In some ways it is refreshing. Yet the day-to-day strategy changes, coupled with statistical analysis have most people running in place awaiting what comes next. From what has been published in recent weeks related to … [Read more...]

CVPM focuses on client experience, retention to compete (video)

October 29, 2019 by Kirk Augustine Source: Animal Health Digest, VHMA

Dana Short, MS, CVPM, discusses how focusing on the client experience works in the practice she manages. For some practices, geographic practice saturation is a relevant situation and a limiting factor to practice growth. Customer experience management is a strategy this practice deploys to retain clients and their pets. Source: VHMA Practice Tips, October 2019. … [Read more...]

VHMA to gather in Arizona (includes video)

September 3, 2019 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

Veterinary hospital managers will meet in Glendale, Arizona, for the 2019 VHMA Annual Meeting and Conference, September 26 through 28. The theme, Embracing the Future of Veterinary Management, will focus on education, innovation and technology. VHMA 2019...it's all about embracing the future of best practices to ensure that individuals and practices thrive. < video link … [Read more...]

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association partners with Animal Health Digest

May 7, 2019 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

Our AHD team welcomes the VHMA membership and looks forward to collaborating with this growing group of animal health professionals. The VHMA is a nationally recognized thought leader and innovator in providing training, education, and resources to more than 3,600 members. It is a trusted resource that the veterinary sector relies on for industry insights, research and advocacy … [Read more...]

Building trust and compliance

March 12, 2019 by Kirk Augustine Source: Partners for Healthy Pets, VHMA

Christine Shupe writes about client trust, compliance and The Opportunity, a tool from Partners for Healthy Pets, to help with animal owner engagement. She reminds us that gaining trust requires effort and follow-through. At the core of any client/professional relationship is trust. As staff works to establish trust, the probability that the client trusts and listen to what … [Read more...]

Six tips for the hiring process (Video)

February 26, 2019 by AHD Staff Source: VHMA

Marian Rowland, BS, CVPM, discusses six tips in an informative video that have improved her hiring practices. Source: VHMA, February 22, 2019. Link. Rowland shares the following six main tips: Create a hiring process and follow itDon’t rushUse your core valuesUse a training program from the ground upLook over staff benefit percentageBe open to changing your hiring process … [Read more...]

VHMA receives good feedback on mental wellbeing

January 8, 2019 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

In December 2018, VHMA member managers were asked to share their perspective on the following statements for themselves, as well as their DVM and support team staff. I am happy at work the majority of the time My level of stress at work is easy to manageI have ample opportunity to do work I enjoy I feel supported professional at work I feel supported personally at … [Read more...]

The 9-Minute Rule for customer satisfaction (includes video)

November 27, 2018 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

Improving animal owner experiences is important to increasing customer satisfaction and retention. Jessica Molina, PHR, CVPM, CCFP, shares the 9-Minute Rule that aims to improve customer relations and increase positive performance reviews on social media. Customers look for instant gratification and often feel forgotten if they are waiting too long. Source: VHMA, Practice Tip … [Read more...]

VHMA blogs enlighten

October 30, 2018 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

For some animal health pros, the roles and responsibilities of veterinary hospital managers are not well known. Each month, the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association posts on two blogs and researches a topic. We’re linking to the most recent editions of The Champion’s Corner and Practice Pulse which contains the VHMA’s Insiders’ Insight Report. Source: VHMA, October 2018. … [Read more...]

19 veterinary practice managers earn prestigious CVPM designation

October 9, 2018 by AHD Staff Source: VHMA

The Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) credential is recognized and respected by practice leaders and our animal health industry. Certification is provided by VHMA’s voluntary certification program that provides assurance of professional quality services. The exam is offered electronically to qualified CVPM candidates across North America. Source: VHMA, September … [Read more...]

VHMA says to dance with clients. PIMS data creates 8 helpful reports.

October 2, 2018 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VMHA) addresses non-verbal cues in client communication. When preparing to approach a client to discuss preventive pet healthcare, prior to uttering a single word, think like a dancer.  Source: Champions Corner, VHMA, September 17, 2018. Link. Familiarize yourself with these nonverbal behaviors and their impact on the client: … [Read more...]

VHMA annual meeting and conference kicks off October 18

August 21, 2018 by Kirk Augustine Source: VHMA

VHMA principles are finalizing the 2018 VHMA annual meeting and conference, “Discovering, Transforming, and Progressing Together.”  It will take place October 18 – 20 in Baltimore, Maryland. Great managers understand that progress is dependent on a thorough and deliberate process. At VHMA 2018...discover the practices that the best practice managers rely on to thrive! Note … [Read more...]

Veterinary clients, hospitals not together on parasitology

August 14, 2018 by Kirk Augustine Source: Vetted, VHMA

It’s no surprise, but variance numbers are just too far apart between veterinary teams' and their clients’ perceptions. Opinions between veterinarians and pet owners differ about what parasite education, treatment and diagnostics are being done in visits, according to new data from Partners for Healthy Pets, AAHA and AVMA. Parallel information from the Veterinary Hospital … [Read more...]

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About us

Animal Health Digest, LLC is a content curation and aggregation service for animal health professionals. We continuously read and review more than 150 publications that produce articles, studies, reviews, white papers and other material for veterinarians, veterinary professionals, veterinary support staff, companion animal owners and livestock owners. Learn more.

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