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Overall clinical volume was positive in all regions during the third quarter.

Welcome to The Vetalytix Report for the third quarter of 2019. In the tables that follow, we reaffirm the theme that no two markets for veterinary medicine are identical and that the practices serving those markets face unique challenges. For the independent practice to thrive in today’s hypercompetitive environment, it’s critical to understand the definition of […]

You should purchase additional insurance coverage whenever your practice is under construction or undergoing a facelift.

Are you considering building, expanding or remodeling your veterinary hospital? Before starting any construction or renovation project, make sure you have the proper insurance coverage in place. Your property will be at risk of several exposures significantly different from those associated with an operational veterinary facility. Many of these exposures are typically not covered by […]

Bad communication will stunt a veterinary practice’s growth. Staff meetings and active listening can ease tensions and create a more productive workplace.

When you look back at your former teachers, you realize that some people make learning more engaging and communicate concepts better than others. They all might have the same degree of knowledge, but not everyone possesses the communication skills needed to effectively share that knowledge. In the same vein, someone can be incredibly knowledgeable in […]

Improving client education and compliance requires proper training of the entire team. Accurate and consistent messaging is key.

Many of today’s veterinary practices are incredibly busy. Trying to see all the patients is one of their biggest problems, and yet a number of them aren’t as profitable as they would like. While many factors affect profitability, a major one is decreased revenue due to a lack of pet owner compliance. Seeing clients leave […]

The move toward biomarker testing is an example of the expansion of preventive, predictive, personalized and participatory animal health care.

Thought leaders in human medicine like Leroy Hood, Ray Kurzweil and Daniel Kraft have been talking about the four P’s of medicine for decades, but only recently have we seen a growing awareness of predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory forms of medicine within veterinary medicine. In particular, at the Veterinary Innovation Summit in April, Jon […]

If you’ve reached your mental limitations, get centered, exercise self-compassion and remember to do something fun every day.

One way to bring more flow into your life, as our column has explored, is to be aware of and hopefully avoid the states of mind that are incompatible with flow. In our last column, Jeff shared his brush with burnout and his insight into how to heed the warning signs. This time, Trey will […]

Client feedback is essential for improving a practice, especially in the purchase of pharmaceuticals and food. If a pet owner is disappointed and you don’t know why and can’t make amends, you might have lost a patient.

I find that many veterinary hospitals are very good at taking action when they sense excitement or urgency with their business plans. Changes are proposed and implemented after the leadership team has had a vision, attended a conference or CE event, or read an article in this very journal. Whatever the case, these actions and […]

Veterinary medicine is slowly becoming a female-dominated profession. The reasons are many. Having more role models and promoting the value of a college education are ways to draw males back in.

Every so often I field a call from a veterinarian inquiring about the declining numbers of men in the veterinary profession. These callers are mostly genuinely interested in the factors that have led to just under 20% of DVM students identifying as men. Occasionally, such calls devolve into suggestions that diversity programs have disadvantaged young […]

Employees can’t run on autopilot. They need proper training, oversight and feedback. You’re not doing your job if policies aren’t enforced and necessary discipline isn’t meted out.

I was consulting at a veterinary practice when two team members began arguing and yelling at each other in the pharmacy/laboratory area. Clients sitting in exam rooms could hear them, nearby colleagues were aware of what was going on, and the practice manager could not have been more than 10 feet away in her office. […]

If you’re ready to elevate your leadership game, hire a coach to help you tap into your natural strengths and make better decisions.

What do Bianca Andreescu, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Daniil Medvedev have in common? That’s right, all four are elite tennis players and were finalists in the 2019 U.S. Open. What you might not realize is that all four athletes — despite being ranked among the best in their sport worldwide — rely on professional coaches […]