What you should know about emotional support animalsSeptember 27, 2016After qualifying to travel with an emotional support animal, a 45-year-old woman telephoned Joanne Williams, LCSW, of Next Generation Psychology, which performs emotional support animal evaluations, saying, “You’ve changed my life. Who knew that my cat could enable me to have a new life?”
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Why good communication is key to good veterinary practiceSeptember 27, 2016Good communication underpins every aspect of good veterinary practice. It can increase after-care compliance, enhance pet owner satisfaction and most importantly better pet health outcomes. Yet investigations into unprofessional conduct in the veterinary profession are often the result of communication breakdown.
Should I allow cell phones in the vet clinic?September 22, 2016I have a problem with staff using their personal cell phones during their shift. For years, we have had a written policy stating that staff are not to use their cell phones while at work. They are to keep them in their lockers, turned off or on silent and can only use them on their breaks.
6 tips for managing chronic conditions in petsSeptember 21, 2016You diagnosed diabetes in a 12-year-old cat during a preventive checkup. You performed blood work and a urinalysis that caught the condition in the beginning stages. Now you need to design a follow-up care strategy to manage the longterm condition.
How to succeed in the vet practice and in lifeSeptember 19, 2016Recently, one of my nurses had an epiphany. She had found a pictogram that lists traits of successful and unsuccessful people. She knew that some negative attributes were entirely true, and she recognized a few important characteristics that she knew she had to develop better in herself.
Gotta Catch 'Em All: How Pokémon Go can lure in new clientsSeptember 14, 2016A mobile game hit the market by storm in July. Within one week it attracted over 15 million players, earned its developer a reported $1.6 million a day and quickly became the hottest game since Candy Crush. The record-shattering app? Pokémon Go.
How do I talk to the practice owner about not giving discounts?September 14, 2016There are four key things I believe make discounting really detrimental to the smooth running of the practice. And none of them have anything to do with the bottom line. My advice would be not to make the financial implications of discounting the focus of your discussion.
Viewpoint: JAVMA editor disparaged COE criticsSeptember 7, 2016In a remarkable display of biased reasoning, Dr. Kurt Matushek, editor-in-chief of JAVMA, defends his decision to reject a commentary by Dr. Ralph Brinster, a recipient of the National Medal of Science, and 19 other of the most distinguished names in veterinary medicine, including former members of the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.
How can I keep my star employee without paying him more?September 2, 2016I have an absolutely fantastic vet tech who has been with us for just under two years. He has almost 10 years experience, all in large, reputable hospitals. He was impressive during his interview, but during his time with us, he has exceeded all my expectations. In addition to his flawless technical skills, he has a great attitude, is reliable, an excellent team player and repeatedly goes above and beyond for clients and patients.
When veterinarians make mistakesAugust 26, 2016As I have confessed in this column many times before, I’m no poster child for veterinary practice. No one in their right mind would nominate me for clinician of the year. In fact, I’m prone to thinking my bad habits alone should probably disqualify me for any kind of a mentorship role.
