Columns

Robot team members? Expanded use of artificial intelligence in veterinary education and diagnostics? Get ready.

Imagine a pet owner enters a veterinarian’s office and is greeted by a 5-foot-tall robot that provides limited but flawless reception services. Given audible instructions, the client and his pet enter a designated exam room. There, a human veterinary nurse performs hands-on procedures like a dental exam and blood draw. She then activates another robot […]

How you spend excess money is your decision, not your adviser’s, but make sure you set goals and have a path to attain them.

Not that long ago, many veterinarians considered profit an unworthy goal. After all, they had a higher purpose: a calling to care for animals and prevent and alleviate their suffering. Profit was not a priority. As long as there was enough money to keep the lights on, things were fine. Keeping the lights on, however, […]

What you need to know about arbitration clauses in employment contracts.

Many practice owners require associate veterinarians to sign employment agreements that include arbitration provisions. One reason is that arbitration is generally touted as a good way for an employer to avoid the financial risk associated with taking litigation to a jury trial. That said, arbitration is not always cheaper than a court proceeding and not […]

Whatever you do, just don’t compare 2020 to other years.

If 2020 was a patient, I suspect most of us would have elected humane euthanasia sometime around May. That would have been after the wildfires in Australia, the U.S. drone strike on an Iranian general, the impeachment and acquittal of Donald Trump, the death of Kobe Bryant, the U.K.’s departure from the European Union, a […]

Not seeing or acknowledging race serves as an exit ramp from discussing or participating in advancing social change.

I  remember years ago in grade school when kids stood in front of classmates, especially on movie day, and blocked their view. A common retort was, “You know your parents aren’t glassmakers, right?” It was a smart-aleck way of communicating, “You are blocking my view!” Years later, I have repurposed the adolescent retort when anyone […]

Understand why you make irrational choices with your investments and what you can do about it.

Standard financial and investment theory holds that markets and investors are completely rational. The assumption is that investors exercise self-control and adhere to a defined investment discipline when making financial decisions. Therefore, those decisions are free of human emotion at all times. Yeah, right! Behavior and Investing The influence of human emotions on financial decision-making, […]

You’re not a peddler. You’re a veterinary professional looking out for your patients’ best interests.

Halloween is right around the corner. My 8-year-old daughter, Ashelyn, and her friends are contemplating what they will wear for trick-or-treating. It’s a rite of passage for children. Heck, even adults find time to dress up every now and then for a Halloween party, with couples often choosing complementary costumes. Imagine the possibilities if a […]

Sure, veterinary practices are super busy, but curtly turning away emergency cases or making pet owners endure long, silent waits won’t endear clients to your hospital. Video or audio visits, anyone?

My 18-month-old, love-of-my-life Great Dane rescue dog broke his leg. Ben was playing in the backyard and caught his right front leg in something, causing a greenstick fracture of his distal radius. This happened in the early afternoon, so I called the veterinary practice where we have been a client for over a year. Now, […]

Words on a computer screen or smartphone carry only so much weight. Making a video pitch to job candidates can elevate your practice’s recruiting efforts.

When asked what they’re looking for in a career, veterinary graduates say what you’d expect. Themes like work-life balance, team culture and high standards of care are common responses, according to gradstalk.com. But if you listen more intently, you’ll hear a less-familiar theme. Many candidates want to work in an environment where core values are […]

Cash-strapped clients want to provide appropriate veterinary care for their pets, and many of them are open to frank discussions about money. Be ready to propose a few financial options.

Looking at recent economic and unemployment reports, I’m concerned we might see more cash-strapped pet owners in the coming months. Clients might not have the money to pay for their pets’ sick care. Some might not be able to afford routine preventive veterinary services, which means they might not respond to appointment reminders. Here’s how […]