Getting Technical

Leveraging technicians gives them a greater role in patient care and frees veterinarians to focus on active, rather than passive, revenue streams.

One of the challenges we face in practices nationwide is a shortage of veterinarians. According to JAVMA News, nearly 20% of U.S. veterinarians are set to retire within the next 10 years. For the last decade, the number of veterinarians has risen by roughly 2.2% a year. So, the question is: Can we keep up […]

Surgical outcomes are optimized when the client is engaged and educated at every step, beginning with consent and ending with discharge and at-home care.

A client’s decision to approve a treatment plan and go forward with any procedure is largely dependent on the relationship and trust level she has with the hospital team. If she is not comfortable with the care and communication, your recommendations will not be accepted. Financial resistance is often thought to be the reason that […]

Your clinical skill set is important, of course, but there’s more to being a veterinary technician if you want to thrive and survive.

Veterinary technicians enroll in credentialing programs for many reasons — a love of animals, a love of science or the desire to make a difference in the lives of pets, to name just a few. Inside the classroom and in clinic rotations, there is so much to learn, from chemistry, anatomy and radiology to pharmacology, […]

Technicians are in a great position to raise the topic of health coverage — and all its benefits — with clients.

Pet health insurance has been a part of our industry for longer than you might think. It dates back nearly 130 years to Swedish businessman Claes Virgin, who wrote policies covering horses and livestock. Not until 1982 was the first policy issued in the United States. As of 2018, about 2.2 million pets were insured […]

Whether accomplished at conferences, online or during lunch and learns, continuing education is important for skillset development and career advancement.

Do you look at continuing education as a growth opportunity, or is it perceived as a necessary evil? Those of us in this profession for the long haul generally look at CE as a learning opportunity and a path to enhancing our knowledge, skills and abilities. The fact that you are reading this article is […]

A support position doesn’t have to be a lifetime job. You have other options in the veterinary field if you’re motivated to do something else.

Working in a veterinary practice is an enviable career choice. It is a calling for many of us as well as a profession many are drawn to. The career choice is often reinforced when someone’s reaction upon hearing what you do is “Oh, that’s awesome!” or “Lucky you.” How many of us can make our […]

Suffering from burnout, compassion fatigue or work-life issues? Make time for yourself, and distance yourself from what causes you the most stress.

Do you ever feel like life is spinning out of control? Like you never have enough time for the things you need to do, and no matter what you do, you think you should be doing something else? This is common among veterinary professionals. The stress begins during school and training and continues in the […]

What a veterinary nurse says and does can make the difference between a pet owner following a recommended treatment plan or rejecting it altogether.

The veterinary nurse and every other team member has an important role in client compliance. But first, what is compliance? By our definition, compliance is the extent to which pets receive the services and treatments that have been recommended by the veterinary team, from preventive care to more complex medical treatments and procedures. Adherence, on […]

Timely follow-up communication underscores your practice’s commitment to client service and patient care.

The concept of client callback systems is not a new one. Veterinary practices have used them for years and have seen positive results. Most practices started with lab results and then added surgery callbacks a day or two after the procedure. Sadly, many hospitals stopped here, thinking that was enough. The common assumption is that […]

Veterinary nurses can help clients address age-related issues in an older pet and make appropriate health care decisions.

I have yet to meet a veterinary professional who doesn’t love meeting puppies and kittens for the first time. It’s a joyous occasion for the team and pet owner and the beginning of what hopefully will be a lifelong relationship. Developing these relationships early on is essential. Regardless of whether the patient comes to us […]