Beyond the Numbers Blog Thoughts & Advice on Veterinary Practice Management
As children, many of us dreamed of becoming veterinarians or working with animals in some way. If only we had known about the long hours, low salaries, the balance (or lack thereof) between practicing medicine and running a business, high staff turnover, and the difficult financial conversations that also affect a patient’s...Read More
My high school coach would say “That which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” For those in the veterinary profession, that’s definitely not what you want to hear when your stress level has hit the stratosphere and your team needs your help with their issues. While consultants in the veterinary industry look...Read More
There is no right or wrong way to communicate—but understanding your communication style and that of the person you are trying to communicate with will certainly help you out in all settings, but especially in the work place. I myself have a tendency to over-communicate. I like to make sure that the...Read More
As practice managers, we constantly read articles about how to take better care of our staff, how to communicate more successfully with millennials and how to create a great working relationship with your practice owner. This article is all about you— the busy practice manager. Let’s focus on how to practice self-care to...Read More
I’d like to begin this post with a special shout-out to you – the practice managers – who keep the wheels of our industry turning. From recruiting, staff training, and payroll administration to inventory control, budgeting, and everything in between, yours is an all-encompassing role. And that’s not taking into account all the...Read More
In last week’s post – Compassion Fatigue in the Veterinary Industry – I defined compassion fatigue and shared some of the symptoms and signs to look out for within your practice. As you may recall, one of the key contributors to this condition is poor workplace culture, with bullying, a lack of respect,...Read More
If you’re a veterinary professional, you’ve probably heard the term “compassion fatigue.” That’s because it’s a prominent condition that impacts thousands of veterinarians and their support staff every single day. In fact, the odds are high that if you are not experiencing the symptoms, somebody you work with is. Compassion fatigue is something...Read More
In my previous post, I shared a few suggestions on how to help bridge the gap between communication goals and outcomes, i.e. the speaker’s intentions and the listener’s perception. Delivering the right words, at the right pace, in the right tone of voice, can go a long way towards engaging your audience and...Read More
George Bernard Shaw once said, “the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” And he’s right. Whether you’re talking to a client, an employee, your spouse, your kids, or the Amazon delivery guy, when you initiate communication, you have one goal in mind: imparting information. Any disconnect...Read More
Why, you may wonder, is suicide being covered in a blog that’s dedicated to supporting veterinary professionals? Sadly, it’s a conversation that needs to be had. According to a study[1] published last year, 1 in 6 veterinarians in the U.S. has considered suicide, which is four times the national average. Yes, it’s a...Read More
