VMC Newsletter - January 2005

Our Personal Best XX

Yes! There will be an Our Personal Best meeting this year! It will be our 20th and you can bet it will be AWESOME. The plans are now being finalized but set aside the first weekend in November, think Ritz Carlton and think warm. Look for more information in next month's newsletter or click this link to make sure you receive detailed information:
I'm marking my calendar now! Please keep me posted!

The monthly Financial Tip and QuickBooks Tip are courtesy of Burzenski & Company, P.C., Certified Public Accountants and Financial Consultants.
Gary I. Glassman, CPA, is a Principal with the firm. Melody Mann Fox is the Director of Client Services, Specializing in Veterinary Medicine.

To Contact Us:
VMC, Inc.
30792 Southview Drive
Suite 200
Evergreen, CO 80439

Phone: 303-674-8169
Fax: 303-670-3899
email: vmc@vmc-inc.com

Website: www.vmc-inc.com

Greetings!

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the VMC, Inc, newsletter! As many of you know, 2004 was an amazing year for our firm. We designed, built and moved into a 5,000 square foot, state-of-the-art corporate headquarters in Evergreen, Colorado.

We closed the Indianapolis office but, thankfully, retained Diane Elsbury as part of our team. We hired an in-house accountant, Kathy Tripp, who was also responsible for revamping our web site and, in fact, designing this newsletter. We hired Doreen Manvitz to assist Sheila Grosdidier. And we have developed several new services and management tools. Kathy and Doreen have joined our awesome team, which includes Kristine Smith and Alice Holmgren, with whom I am so fortunate to be able to work.

Don't look for 2005 to be any less active. We are in the process of developing an interactive website to take advantage of all the best that current technology has to offer. Our on-site clients will be able to view their financial information immediately and download forms and documents. The new site will also streamline seminar enrollment and management tools ordering. Another exciting feature will be an interactive community. We are excited about the enhanced capabilities we will have to serve our clients. Mary Ann, Sheila and I are also developing new lectures and services as we look forward to continuing to assist you in your practice management activities. All three consultants will be at the three national meetings: North American Veterinary Conference, Western States and Central Veterinary Conference. We anticipate a great year and wish you and yours the very best in 2005.

Mark Opperman, CVPM
President - VMC, Inc.

Let us hear from you - tell us what you'd like to see in future issues. You can contact us at vmc@vmc-inc.com

Feature Article - Perception and Fees
by Mark Opperman, CVPM

The New Year is always a great time to review your practice's perception of value. When was the last time you sat out in your reception area or objectively evaluated the outside physical environment of your practice? Maybe your practice is in need of a fresh coat of paint or a "facelift." This is the time to do it! I would also suggest you incorporate the mystery shopper concept into your practice. Have a family member or friend, who would not be known by others in your practice... Read on...

January Tip - Teams That Work
by Mary Ann Vande Linde, DVM

An integrated marketing program, woven into every aspect of your clinic's day-to-day operations, is the way to teach your clients the value of your services and that taking advantage of what you offer can enhance their pet's lives. A marketing program for dental health or senior wellness is a great way to make sure clients are aware of the range of services you offer but, frequently, hospitals set up marketing programs only to have them suffer because they fail to keep the message consistent. Everyone from the front office to the back needs to understand the program, see its value, and understand how to communicate it consistently to your clients. The key to success here is communication. You have to communicate to your health care team-and they have to know how to communicate to the client. In coming issues we'll talk about improving your communication skills and staying on track with your marketing program.

January Tip - Smart Moves For Technicians
by Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT

It's time to energize your job! Consider what gives you energy and enthusiasm for what you do. If you are energized by:

Learning- Find someone who will teach you something new and find someone who you can teach.

Challenge- Look for that project that will really stretch you and urge you to that next level. Try something you have never done before.

Feedback- Ask for feedback if you are not getting any. Are you getting a performance review regularly? If not, it's time to talk to your boss.

Decision Making- Create a new job process for a common task, make it easier, faster or simpler.

Energy drives energy, so pay attention and know that you can keep it going just by taking that first step. So, what energizes you?

January Financial Tip
by Gary I. Glassman, CPA - Burzenski & Company, P.C.

Keep Bank Fees under Control
No one has to tell you how expensive bank fees have become. And while it is prudent to develop strong, long term relationships with a financial institution, no one says you must maintain such a relationship even when the bank begins raising fees or creating new ones. Here are some things you can do to keep your bank on its competitive toes and thus keep a lid on their fees:

Make sure its management is aware that you will ask for competitive bids on your bank business every few years. That sends two messages to your bank: 1) you are a prudent manager who monitors expenses and, 2) the bank had better think twice before boosting fees or slipping in a new fee category.

Question all fees. You may find you are paying for a service you neither need nor use.

January QuickBooks Tip
by Melody Mann Fox, CPA - Burzenski & Company, P.C.

USE THE QUICKBOOKS� SHORTCUT LIST TO IMPROVE EFFECIENCY
The shortcut list groups together related lists and forms in an easy-to follow format. To show or hide the shortcut list, Select "Shortcut List" from the "View" menu. This will add a vertical list of shortcuts down the left side of your screen. Once created, you should customize and organize the list to include the forms, lists, registers, and reports that you use frequently, and remove those that you don't use. Click on the "Customize" button at the bottom of your Shortcut List to add or delete items or to change the order and appearance. You can add any window that appears on your screen by clicking on the "QuickAdd" button at the bottom of your Shortcut List.

Terminology

This will be an ongoing feature of the newsletter in which we will present new terms that can be used in your practice to enhance your practice's perception of value. If you have some suggestions, please submit them to us for publication.

Old Term New Term

Staff or Employees Health Care Team

Estimate Health Care Plan

Office Visit Comprehensive Physical Examination

Wellness Visit Wellness Comprehensive Physical Examination

Re-Check Medical Progress Examination