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Thursday, Feb 02, 2012

Top ten ways to ace a dental appointment

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 04:56

Protocols today are generally based on current clinical evidence and include statements about agreed best practice - in contrast to similar approaches in the past, which were often based on tradition or self-appointed authority. So a clinician today, in a veterinary practice which has established agreed protocols will be obliged to understand and acknowledge those protocols but as a professional, will retain authority to decide whether or not to follow the detailed recommendations in an individual case. The prime objective is to raise standards of clinical care and one of the issues which is commonly covered by a protocol in veterinary practice relates to the diagnosis and treatment of dental disease. See Mary Berg, a veterinary technician specialist in dentistry describe her top ten ways to ace a dental appointment in Episode 065 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Jan 26, 2012

Knowing your worth in your career in veterinary practice

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 05:50

Here's a story about a inexperienced business consultant who presented his proposals to a potential business client . At the end of his presentation the firms chief executive handed him a piece of paper and asked him complete the form. The consultant was surprised because he was expecting a lengthy, complex contract but instead, there were only four words on the paper -- rate, hours and other conditions. The consultant had expected a difficult fee negotiation at best or a rejection at worst and simply replied by saying 'I will take whatever is the going rate with your other consultants with similar experience." He got the job, the business relationship worked well and some months later the Chief Executive said "I know that you hadn't been in business for yourself for very long but whether you're self employed or an employee, you must be conscious of your worth all the time. I was willing to pay you twice as much as you asked because that's what we calculated your time was worth if your advice could achieve the targets we sought. We have achieved those results with your help so now -- how much are you worth? See what Robin Downing has to say about the importance of knowing your worth in your career in veterinary practice in Episode 064 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Jan 19, 2012

How to create a working environment that fosters loyalty and stimulates achievement.

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Jan 19, 2012 04:12

Saying thank you to your employees is probably one of the easiest and best tools you can use to create a working environment that fosters loyalty and stimulates achievement. People appreciate recognition and are motivated by praise which validates and strengthens their commitment to the team. Rewarding your employees by thanking them for a job well done also demonstrates how much you value them. It builds pride and reinforces a sense of belonging. See how vets, managers and practice advisers acknowledge staff achievemen in Episode 064 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Jan 12, 2012

New DVD business tool from Veterinary Business Briefing

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 10:23

Which statement best describes your situation? you don't currently use web-based software but are exploring the practice management IT market to find the most appropriate system to meet your specific needs you want to find out whether or not the Vet-One Practice Management Software programme might be just the system you are looking for you already use Vet-One web-based software and you know the importance of training new staff members to give them the skills and support to use the system accurately and effectively. This Step-by-step DVD video guide to the Vet-One web based software for veterinary practice has been designed with you in mind. This Step-by-step DVD video guide to the Vet-One web based software for veterinary practice is a single DVD with an easy-to-navigate menu and 21 video clips ready to play on your PC or TV DVD player Best regards

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Thursday, Jan 05, 2012

The challenges of the post-recession era in veterinary practice

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 07:00

The economy here in the UK remains pretty flat, the future of the Eurozone looks more and more problematic and the economic outlook for 2012 looks equally grim. So it was appropriate that one of the key sessions during the London Vet Show was concerned with Adapting to the Challenges of the Post Recession Era presented by Mark Moran. See what Mark Moran had to say in Episode 063 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Dec 29, 2011

Practice business prospects for 2012

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Dec 29, 2011 03:58

One of the regular exhibitors at the London Vet Show this year was Steve Beddall and his team from Animus4Vets. Animus offers a range of specialist management support services to the profession and Steve is always in touch with current developments in the market. I took the opportunity to have a chat and asked him how practice owners were feeling about their practice business prospects in the current economic climate. See what Steve Beddall had to say in Episode 062 of the of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Dec 22, 2011

Getting to grips with practice websites, social media and interacting with clients online

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Dec 22, 2011 06:24

Do you have a facility on your practice website for animal owners to contact the practice on line, describe symptoms and receive first aid, advice and clear guidelines about the need to see a vet? One of my fellow speakers at the London Vet Show was Susie Samuel, vet and an expert in internet marketing for the veterinary profession. See what Susie Samuel had to say about websites, social media and interacting with clients online in Episode 062 of the of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Dec 15, 2011

Creating a realistic workable marketing plan in practice

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 03:58

There may be practice owners who still regard marketing as a sort of upmarket topic which sounds more sophisticated than advertising but is still too commercial and somehow inappropriate for a veterinary practice. There are of course, dozens of definitions of marketing but the one that I think best sums up marketing in a veterinary environment and which should be acceptable to even the most sensitive professionals is concerned with understanding the marketplace in which the practice operates, recognising the needs of animal owners in that market and the development and profitable delivery of professional services and products designed to satisfy those needs. The most successful, efficient and profitable practices are those that have a very clear vision of what they are trying to achieve and how they will achieve it -- and that implies a written marketing plan. See what Amanda Donnelly has to say about creating a realistic workable marketing plan in practice in Episode 061 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Dec 08, 2011

What's the difference between administration, management and leadership?

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Dec 08, 2011 04:33

It's said that the single most important factor employees want to see in their leaders is inspiration and you can be sure that people are unlikely to be inspired by exciting management accounts or business plans. People will work for a manager but they will excel themselves for a leader. Martin Luther King didn't say 'I have a strategic plan' but declared 'I have a dream' and what he did say created inspiration, self-respect and a sense of excitement and confidence. See what Kathleen Ruby has to say about management and leadership in veterinary practice in Episode 061 of the http://www.veterinarybusinessvideoshow.com Best regards

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Thursday, Dec 01, 2011

Eight keys for calming cranky clients

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Dec 01, 2011 09:11

Dealing with difficult clients? It's important to remember that they're people with needs. Determining and addressing that need is one of the most effective ways of managing difficult situations. This is just one of the topics included in the December issue of the Veterinary Business Briefing newsletter. This month's topics include: I'm tired of hearing about impossible challenges A problem shared.... Attract Your Ideal Clients and Charge What You're Worth Six Reasons why Twitter beats Facebook for vets Journey begins to find brightest stars in UK practice management 8 keys for calming cranky clients Find them all in this months News and Views from Around the World Best regards

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Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011

How many of your patients, receive the treatment you recommend?

By John Sheridan

Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 05:59

The results of a recent Quick Poll on the Veterinary Business Briefing website suggest that the majority of respondents believe that compliance in their practice was better than 60%. Detailed audits in many practices reveal figures much lower than that and my own conclusions are first - that poor compliance isn't a client problem, it's a practice management problem, second -- that improving compliance by the whole practice team is an essential first step in making sure that veterinary patients receive the treatment they need and third -- that maybe measuring and monitoring compliance in your practice should be high on your management 'To Do' list See Marty Becker offer what he describes as a bizarre tip to encourage more of your clients to say 'Yes' in Episode 060 of the http://www.veterinarybusinessvideoshow.com Best regards

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Thursday, Nov 17, 2011

Have you ever been accused of "putting 2 and 2 together and making 5"?

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 05:41

In your management role you may feel that you are constantly under pressure to act now, rather than spending time thinking things through and coming up with a reasoned conclusion. The pressure could lead you to a wrong conclusion, but it could also cause conflict with other people, who may have drawn quite different conclusions on the same issue. So on the one hand, you don't want to procrastinate but on the other, you need to make sure your actions and decisions are founded on reality. See Ed Muzio explain how the ladder of inference can result in poor management judgement and decision making in Episode 059 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Tuesday, Nov 08, 2011

The latest Quick Poll from Veterinary Business Briefing

By John Sheridan

Tuesday, Nov 08, 2011 05:24

I have just posted the latest Quick Poll on the Veterinary Business Briefing home page. This time the question concerns the issue of compliance and asks wheteher you routinely monitor compliance in your practice. Please take a look and record your own vote Here are the results of the most recent Quick Poll

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Thursday, Nov 03, 2011

Benchmarking in Veterinary Practice - 2011 Update

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Nov 03, 2011 10:12

Today I want to return to the issue of benchmarking in veterinary practice. Two reasons -- first because I'm a committed fan of the value of good benchmarking as a business tool to improve practice performance and second because I want to draw your attention to the 2011 Study of Well Managed Practices published jointly by Veterinary Economics magazine and Denise Tumblin of Wutchiett, Tumblin and Associates. I referred specifically to good benchmarking because we need to acknowledge some of the pitfalls that can result from a poorly designed benchmark initiative. They can include inconsistent data definitions, a work overload to assemble the required information, the selection of inappropriate KPI's or metrics, confidentiality issues and an over-reliance on the value of two or three measures as indicators of business health or weakness. In contrast, a well designed benchmark service can help you identify the key performance drivers for your business, understand what makes your practice unique and can serve as a foundation for a successful strategic development plan. See what Denise Tumblin has to say about the value of the annual Benchmark Report in Episode 058 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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Thursday, Oct 27, 2011

Neurolinguistic Programming and the benefits it can bring to the business of veterinary practice

By John Sheridan

Thursday, Oct 27, 2011 03:34

If you were to offer a list of 'wants' to your practice staff and it included options such as more money, holidays, CPD, facilities, involvement, recognition and so on -- I'll bet that a happy working relationship with a group of like-minded individuals would come high up on their list of top choices. The problem is that our formal education for whatever role we play in our careers in veterinary practice probably didn't include 'how to feel good' or 'how to develop great relationships'. That's why I was delighted to accept Diederik Geldermans invitation to sit-in for a couple of hours during his recent NLP meeting in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. See what Diederik Gelderman has to say in Episode 058 of the Veterinary Business Video Show Best regards

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