Friday the 13th: A Training Nightmare

Friday the 13th always triggers a memory for me. It doesn’t matter the month it falls in, Friday the 13th will always be remembered as my first day in my very first veterinary practice.

When I applied for the open receptionist position, all those years ago, I was so excited. Ready to get back to work, after staying home to care for my young daughter for three years, I drove by the help wanted sign and turned around immediately. I entered the practice, in awe of the reception area that looked so modern and friendly.

After submitting my application, I waited patiently to be called for an interview. When that day came, I arrived early for my appointment and was impressed to be taken to the conference room, where the Practice Manager and a Receptionist interviewed me together. They were professional, and conducted a thorough interview. I left feeling confident and anxious to hear whether the position would be mine.

Veterinary Management Network Launched

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had something like Facebook specifically for your interest area? What if that social media platform was specific to veterinary practice management?

Today, a new online network was launched that is a social media network for Veterinarians and Practice Managers alike. Its open to anyone who has an interest in veterinary management….and, it’s Free!

Facebook Demographics for Veterinarians

Using Facebook in a veterinary practice is a fairly new concept, so there is very little data available with regard to demographics or statistics. I’ve received a lot of requests about social media data for veterinary practices, but to my knowledge it’s not available yet.

In an effort to educate and share, let’s look at what I have seen in the past six months. I run a very active Facebook page for Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center. There are currently 452 Fans of this practice’s page. Of those Fans, we’d like to take a look at some interesting facts which may help you when using Facebook in your practice.

Social Media in Your Veterinary Practice

The world is buzzing with “social media marketing” as the next big thing for direct marketing and advertising. But, what is social media marketing and how does it relate to your veterinary practice?

Social media is a way to interact with your existing and potential clients. There are all kinds of social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and blogging to name a few. Most social media is FREE and easy to use, with little to no experience or instruction.

Two Timesavers for Busy Managers

A big topic of discussion at the recent VHMA Annual Conference in Portland, OR was that of time. So many great ideas were shared, but Owners and Managers alike expressed that they were already stretched too thin to implement “one more thing”.

In today’s marketplace, you can’t afford NOT to make time for new ideas. Without allowing yourself the opportunity for growth and change, you risk losing your competitive edge, not only as a veterinary practice but also as an employer.

Becoming a Strong Veterinary Practice Leader, Part 2

Leadership is a trait that can be displayed by anyone in a veterinary practice, no matter your position or title. If you’ve been working on honing your skills as a leader, here are five more points to consider:

1. Are you a “big picture” visionary leader? In order to truly lead others, you need to always think first and foremost about the how your decisions are impacting the practice overall. Many times, we are tempted to make choices based on the needs of individuals, without regard for the long term impact your choice may be making on the business.

Becoming a Strong Veterinary Practice Leader, Part 1

What does it take to be a good leader in a veterinary practice? Are you a leader or a manager? Are you a leader or an owner? Maybe you’re a young Associate who wants to become a leader. In order to lead, one must take risks, think in terms of the big picture and do more than be a supervisor to others. Let’s look at five key areas where respected, successful leaders perform well.

1. 

A Day in the Life of a Veterinary Practice Manager

I enjoy speaking to groups about my passion, which is veterinary practice management. Whenever I speak in the classroom setting, or to groups of my peers, I am often asked, “What’s your typical day like?” In my world, there really isn’t a day that I can say is typical, as my work revolves around a monthly cycle: accounts receivable; accounts payable; monthly reporting and benchmarking; marketing on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis; weekly staff meetings, etc.

The Rant

What drives a manager absolutely crazy?….the kind of crazy that makes you wonder why you even bother sometimes…

Celebrate the Good Stuff

A manager’s life includes a certain amount of dealing with complaints and taking care of client concerns that may have escalated outside the capable hands of team members. One of my first tasks each morning includes listening to voice mail messages so I can return phone calls before I dive in to what’s happening in the clinic. It’s such a rare treat to get that message from a client that makes my day!