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EVT Magazine November/December 2012 Issue

Featured Article

Throughout this communication series, we have built a toolbox of communication skills. The toolbox itself symbolizes the overarching framework of relationship-centered care, building a mutual partnership, involving the client, and working in collaboration to enhance clinical outcomes for the veterinary team, client, and patient.

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Features

In workshops, retreats, and CE events where I help others understand compassion fatigue, I commonly hear stories about veterinarians or staff members who are emotionally, physically, spiritually, and cognitively compromised because of compassion fatigue. These are good, considerate, devoted people who did not realize that caring about their patients and clients could exact such a steep toll.

"I have to justify every minute I spend not doing something for someone else.” If this sentiment rings true, you’re not alone.

Many veterinarians and technicians enter the exam room with excellent training and great diagnostic skills. However, once in the exam room, they become distracted by the client and what they think the client wants rather than using an ordered approach to diagnosis and treatment.

The holiday season is upon us. This is my first year with our practice, and I’m glad to see that festive energy has found its way into our daily tasks.

While working to train the world’s up-and-coming veterinary technology students, I realized that it has been a long time since I was in their place. For the seasoned technicians reading this, remember when you first started, either as an RVT or as an assistant training up? Although my students will receive associate’s degrees and have their credentials, school does not equate to experience; they will be competing against seasoned technicians and assistants for jobs in this tough economy.

Mission statements provide a clear, concise, and written representation of a practice’s philosophy. Today, many practices have mission statements, but the way they are crafted and utilized for decision-making varies from practice to practice.

Doctors Lauren Knobel, Ravi Tolwani, and Sandy Hazanow took a leap of faith to buy and save a struggling hospital.

It’s almost holiday bonus season! That glorious time when we push ourselves to be the best employees we can be, to earn that coveted “thank you” check. Right? Maybe not.

In uncertain times like these, veterinary practices, like other businesses, look for ways to regain control of their operations.

When my new husband and I boarded a flight to the Bahamas over 7 years ago, a flight attendant overheard us talking and realized it was our honeymoon. Minutes after we sat down in the no-leg-room class, she quietly reseated us in first class. She brought us champagne and made an announcement that was met with cheers throughout the cabin. We were amazed, and will never forget that act of kindness from this airline’s employee. I remember sitting in the cushy seat, knowing that months later I was to begin veterinary school. I knew that if I was to succeed as a business person (yes, I really did think like that), it was essential to provide the same service to my clients. 

It’s Monday morning and you’re having trouble getting ready for work. Each week seems to start this way, and all the days, weeks, and months run together. Your initial enthusiasm for work has been replaced by an attitude of complacency and you are asking yourself things like, “Is this as good as it gets?”

On August 14-15, Banfield Pet Hospital hosted veterinary leaders from around the globe (including representatives from academia, private practices, government, national industry organizations, and even shelters) to work together on matters crucial to the field. The collaborative environment of Banfield’s Annual Pet Healthcare Industry Summit allows veterinary professionals to strive toward resolving the industry’s most current and pressing issues.

Three veterinary hospitals describe how their mission statements were created.

Between holiday parties and gift exchanges with co-workers, is it possible to eat healthy at your practice during the holidays?

Veterinary practice ownership isn’t just for veterinarians anymore. In some states, it’s increasingly common for veterinary technicians and practice managers to hold an ownership stake.

These steps are a guide for practice leaders to use the team approach in developing or updating their practice mission statement.

Honoring individual accomplishments, acknowledging the completion of a major project, holiday celebrations, or just having fun creates team spirit and a social support system that is needed for a veterinary practice to thrive. Follow these tips to create memorable celebrations for your team.

Foundation of Self-Care Planning: The importance of formalizing self-assessments and self-care plans cannot be overstated. “Guesstimating” where you are and how to get where you’d like to be is not likely to be effective.

The SMART acronym, which helps define essential elements of long- or short-term goals, is an effective method of goal setting.

Check out current RVT student Mimi Riddering’s top 6 survival tips for veterinary technology students.

If you stay late at work almost every day, odds are that you are discontented.

This handout outlines the characteristics of effective feedback, part of the process for teaching and learning communication. Use this handout to provide constructive feedback to team members.

Imagine...you are a small child, your parents bring you to a strange place, and they allow a stranger to take you away.

While most people have probably heard of Emotional Intelligence (EI), how many really know what it means and why it is important?

A superb technician (or doctor, or any other professional) is not one who knows all of the answers all of the time. It is rather someone who knows how to find the information that is needed, and uses that information and leverages clinical skills to make his or her facility a better place both for clients and the staff.

Typical of many veterinarians, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I proudly replied “I want to be a veterinarian!” But as my senior year in high school approached and initial life decisions were required, I was apprehensive about spending so much time and money to pursue my ambitions of becoming a veterinarian. 

If a pet owner goes online to look for a veterinarian in your town, does your veterinary website appear as one of the top listings?

Some members of the veterinary team have the information and the desire to fully prepare their personal finances—but not everyone! Here’s what you need to know to get started (if you haven’t already) and the reasons why.

Like fleas on a dog in a summer, clients who miss appointment are a ubiquitous annoyance in veterinary medicine. No-shows also cost your practice time and money.

Exceptional Veterinary Team asked 10 veterinary professionals for their favorite career-changing reads. From personal goals and management skills to communication and clients, these 10 books are sure to inspire and motivate you, no matter if you’re a practice manager, veterinarian, technician, or part of the office staff.