|
|
Is Your Website
Client Friendly?
|
|
Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT
|
|
Do you wonder if your website is client friendly?
Take this quick assessment and find out. And there are 10 things you can do
to shift into fast gear on the technology superhighway.
Read More...
|
|
Upcoming Seminars
|
|
It's What's Up Front That Counts... And More!
11/4 - Columbus, OH
11/11 - Boston, MA
12/12 - Albuquerque, NM
1/9 - Oklahoma City, OK
1/13 - Rochester, NY
2/3 - Madison, WI
4/13 - Seattle, WA
Smart Moves For Technicians
11/4 - Orlando, FL
12/9 - Lansing, MI
1/27 - Indianapolis, IN
4/6 - Toronto, Ontario
Principles of Veterinary Practice Management
2/24/08 - Raleigh, NC
HR Boot Camp
Nov 7-8 - Chicago, IL
Nov 28-29 - Dallas, TX
Feb 27-28 - Orlando, FL
Mar 12-13 -Bay Area, CA
|
|
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 partner in the firm. Melody Mann Fox
is the Director of Client Services, specializing in Veterinary Medicine.
|
|
Burzenski & Company, P.C.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
News from VMC, Inc.
|
|
I hope you've had a busy and prosperous year so far. Now
it's time to think about that end of the year stuff.
Does business slow down in November and December? Have
you tried a senior wellness program? We have an
entire senior wellness program that makes this process
relatively easy. It comes complete with a step-by-step
approach to implementing the program and marketing
materials. Everything you need is on a CD so that
it's easy to customize for your practice. Call our
office for more information.
Our HR Boot Camp is receiving rave reviews. We expanded
it to two days because we couldn't cover everything we
wanted to in a day and a half. We have expanded the
legal aspects, cover "everything you didn't want
to know but need to", and discuss many different
retention strategies. This new format also allows
attendees to have dinner together and engage in some
pretty intense table discussions.
Monica has developed a new seminar for practice managers and
practice owners; it's called Principles of Veterinary Practice Management
and will be awesome.
Check
it out!
I am sorry to report that Dr. Mary Ann Vande Linde will
no longer be a part of the VMC team. Mary Ann is
pursuing some other interests but she will always be a
part of our team - at least in our hearts. Best wishes
to you, Mary Ann!
Monica should be welcoming that new baby any day
now, we'll keep you updated.
Sheila and I are enjoying our partnership and even plan
on publishing a new book. So it looks like a busy end
of the year for all of us. Let's finish this year by
making it the best year yet!
Mark Opperman
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
|
|
October Exam Room Tip
by Mary Ann Vande Linde, DVM
Successful Exam Room Communication -
A Continuing Series - Step 3: Diagnosis
At this stage, open ques- tions (i.e. what, when, where,
etc) are vital to help you know how much the pet
parent understands about their pet's needs and to help
focus the pet parent on your area of concern. You
should spend about 60% of the time talking
at this stage.
Our
goal is for the client to say it was the best physical
exam they ever had. During the exam, use the otoscope
and ophthalmoscope. This serves several purposes. It
assists with the exam and looks more professional.
Also, it will train the pet for future visits and you
may find something if you look.
Ask
an open question to clarify areas of concern you find
or that are expressed by the client. For example, if
the client expresses concearn over a small area of
hair lost, delve deeper with questions such as
"How are you currently treating this area?",
"How often does she get a shampoo and
bath?", "What products are you using for
both?" Your interest and responsiveness raises
their desire to listen to you. Lifestyle questions are good.
Does
the client see the connection between their concern
and your diagnosis? Open questions will get you there
faster. Repeat their words and clarify their questions
vs. assuming.
Difficult
situations may need further questioning to enable you
to assess the client's fram of mind about their pet's
condition. One tool you can use is the
BATHE
technique:
|
B
|
BACKGROUND
|
|
|
"
What is going on in your life?" will elicit the
context of the client's visit
|
|
A
|
AFFECT
|
|
|
"
How do you feel about what is going on?" allows
the client to report current feelings
|
|
T
|
TROUBLE
|
|
|
"
What about the situation troubles you the most?"
helps the doctor and client focus on one aspect
of the problem.
|
|
H
|
HANDLING
|
|
|
"
How are you handling that?" gives an assessment
of how the client is functioning.
|
|
E
|
EMPATHY
|
|
|
"
That must be very difficult for you."
|
(Click Here for the full series with all 6 tips)
|
nnbsp;
|
Get Ready for the Busy Boarding Season
Now is the time of year to begin planning for the busy
boarding season.
As we approach the holiday season, clients will start
making boarding reservations if they have not already.
It's important if you offer boarding services
to plan in advance so that this revenue center can be
as successful and profitable for your practice as much
as possible. Here are some quick and easy steps to get
you off to a great start.
Read On...
|
|
Local Veterinarian Wins National Award
(From Press Release)
Dr. Thomas Nickerson of Trinity Animal Hospital in
Weaverville, CA has been named as the Western Regional
recipient of the "Thank Your Vet for a Healthy
Pet"(SM) contest, sponsored by Morris
Animal Foundation (MAF), Merial and Bow-Tie Inc.
Publications. The nationwide short essay contest
honors America's veterinarians for their skill,
dedication and commitment to ensuring that pets are
healtheir, happier and living longer lives.
Dr. Nickerson was chosen from over 1,100 participants with
an essay written by Cherie Bradley, a veterinary
technician at Trinity Animal Hospital. Dr. Nickerson
will receive the award at the Western Veterinary
Conference February 19th, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV.
This essay truly illustrates the commitment and passion
that veterinarians have to helping pets live happy and
healthy lives. To learn more about the contest, go to
www.thankyourvet.org.
|
|
|
|