Need help selling services? It's all about client communicationJuly 24, 2019As independent, small-business practice owners, we are all very aware of the changes in our profession over the last 20 years and the need to search out new services or products allowing us to stay relevant and keep ahead of the competition. It is not just our neighboring clinics that can take a bite out of our profitability. Indeed, we must also keep in mind that in this information-saturated digital world, our clients are exposed to an astounding number of influences regarding pet care, all of which have a profound impact on their buying tendencies, as well as their trust in your offerings.
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Telemedicine provider expands reach through purchasing groupJuly 24, 2019More than 5,000 independent practices across the U.S. will soon be equipped with Petriage telemedicine services, thanks to a new partnership between the provider and Covetrus-owned veterinary purchasing group, PSIvet.
10 easy tricks to get more done todayJuly 16, 2019Overflowing summer appointments have you working through lunch… again. You go home exhausted and order your third pizza this week because you’re too tired to cook. Sound familiar?
Why optimize your workflow?July 15, 2019Busy veterinarians and hospital staff need every spare minute they can find. Not only that, but stretched practices must watch every penny to thrive. The good news is time- and cost-saving opportunities through automation are much more widely available than ever before.
Patterson, Texas Sealife Center partner to rescue and release sea turtlesMay 31, 2019Patterson Veterinary Supply and the Texas Sealife Center are working together to rescue and release endangered sea turtles one software sale at a time. Patterson will donate $35 to the center for every purchase of its cloud practice-management software, NaVetor. The goal is to raise $10,000 by Dec. 31. "NaVetor provides guidance for our customers to better run their businesses," says Doug Jones, president of Patterson Animal Health's Companion Animal Group. "In fact, the NaVetor logo is a sea turtle, because sea turtles are the navigators of the ocean. Similarly, NaVetor provides guidance for our customers to help them navigate their businesses." Sea turtles are poached for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells. Some are also accidentally injured by fishing gear and pollution, and coastal development is affecting their natural habitats. "For us, it's not just about providing great products; it's about making a difference," says NaVetor chief executive officer, Ali Hashmat. "We're proud to partner with nonprofit organizations that protect endangered sea turtles and their natural environment."
Is it time we change our tune on telemedicine?May 24, 2019At some point, our profession got it into its collective head to start hating on telemedicine. Perhaps it was the image of non-veterinarians armed with third-tier vet tech degrees hunched over laptops banging out answers to questions they have no business fielding. And in their pajamas, no less! It's a mental picture my state's association—the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA)—is advancing this legislative season, as it seeks to limit telemedicine's reach into Sunshine State living rooms. And Florida is by no means alone in its quest to curb the telemedicine industry's growth. Most other state associations also are seeking a legislative solution to the perceived threat posed by online veterinary services. Telemedicine was front and center at American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA's) House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in January, the findings of which they'll likely present at this summer's conference in Washington, D.C. These are the best minds our profession has at its disposal, grappling with issues as fundamental as the nature of the veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR). It all comes down to the hands In its wariness of telemedicine, professional organizations like AVMA and state veterinary medical associations (VMAs) argue the definition of VCPR is at the heart of the …
Policies that make clients madMay 23, 2019Frustrated with clients who wait until the last pill is gone before requesting refills, a hospital manager implemented a $15 expedited refill charge. Some pet owners complained they couldn't afford the convenience fee on top of the cost of medications. Patients on drugs such as insulin and phenobarbital couldn't wait the 48 hours the practice required for refills. After another practice experienced several surgical cancellations, employees began charging a $50 no-show fee when the client gave less than 24 hours' notice. Now the manager is considering a similar policy for appointments. While these hospital policies may make practice owners and managers feel less frustrated, they also may put patients' health at risk, encourage clients to seek care elsewhere, and harm your hospital's income and reputation. If you want a thriving, profitable practice, undo rules that limit your success. Banish this rule: You require 24 hours to refill medications Think like a client. She can take her prescription to a retail pharmacist and have it filled while she waits, usually within 15 to 20 minutes. Although veterinarians account for 62 percent of pet medications sales, mass-market retailers have claimed 20 percent, while internet retailers have a 12 percent …
Are "team-building" exercises worth it?May 23, 2019Many people have participated in "team-building" exercises—but do they work? Let's start by defining what we mean by team building. According to Wikipedia, it is a collective term for various types of activities used to enhance social relations and define roles within teams often involving collaborative tasks. 1 Many team-building exercises aim to expose and address interpersonal problems within the group. Developing the veterinary team requires developing each individual employee, as well as helping people learn to work together constructively.2 That's the definition. However, it doesn't address the question of, "Why do it?" According to author and veterinarian, Carin A. Smith, DVM, good team development contributes to employee and client satisfaction. Happy people stick around and do a good job. Staff retention increases productivity and reduces expenses.2 Seems like a good reason to do it—teamwork is a worthy goal! Certainly, the general goals consist of getting to know your coworkers better, increasing team spirit, fostering innovation and creativity, enhancing communication, supporting each other, and the list continues. But is there more? Are team-building exercises worth it? What is your team-building ROI? To properly measure the success of a team-building session, you need to have a plan and baseline metrics. …
Covetrus integrates prescription management platform with eVetPracticeMay 23, 2019Covetrus is integrating its eVetPractice with its prescription management technology to provide veterinarians a more synchronized and streamlined user experience. "We're very pleased to offer practices using AVImark, ImproMed, and, now, eVetPractice, an unparalleled level of integration with our prescription management technology," says Chris Dollar, senior vice president of Covetrus' global software services. "Driving innovation, enhancing our practice management capabilities, and simplifying the experience for our customers is at the core of our mission." Even with flea, tick, and heartworm disease on the rise, compliance for veterinary prescriptions and preventative medications is low. Restructuring the workflow through Covetrus' practice management system can help remove administrative burden, drive greater client engagement, and improve health and financial outcomes. "One of our top priorities was to integrate our eVetPractice and prescription management capabilities to streamline and enhance performance for the practices," says Georgia Wraight, president of Covetrus' global prescription management. "By automating documentation and making prescription management easier for eVetPractice customers, we can now deliver a more seamless experience and empower veterinarians with tools to drive improved compliance." Other benefits of the real-time integration include synchronization between online prescription management and clinic software, coordinating and tracking the status of prescription authorizations and …
Telemedicine from the frontline: A practicing veterinarian's perspectiveMay 3, 2019Over the last decade, countless interactions with clients and patients have convinced me veterinarians must embrace telemedicine, both to remain relevant as care providers in an increasingly digital world and to compete successfully in today's on-demand economy. Given the change in generational demographics, today's clients view their pets as family members and insist on immediate gratification. To survive, we must adapt, otherwise pet parents will rely on Dr. Google, rather than wait to consult their family veterinarian for advice and guidance. It was an incident with a friend and client that convinced me veterinarians, as well as pet owners and patients, can benefit enormously from the integration of telemedicine. A tale of teletriage Four years ago, I received an evening call from a family friend whose dog Bodhi, a mixed breed, two-year-old neutered male Labrador, suffered what seemed to be a mild seizure. While my friend was in transit to a nearby emergency animal hospital, I advised him the episode wasn't as serious as he feared and he could wait until the next morning to bring Bodhi to my practice. That experience of utilizing the most basic form of telemedicine—the telephone—sparked the idea of bringing the benefits of a …
