PRACTICE NEWS
tasks. We are an industry that tends to have owners that like to micromanage every aspect of our respective busi- nesses and that can reduce revenue and require you spend time on things someone else could easily handle. Let your staff assist you in managerial duties – chances are very good that you will lighten your workload and decrease stress levels. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well most employees can assist in these functions. With that thought, support staff members may very well be the glue that holds everything together. For without them, we be- come poorly efficient and revenue diminishes quickly. Pay them well. Treat them well. Train them. Provide a safe and enjoyable workspace and allow for appropriate time away from the hospital as we are all working terribly hard and need to escape. Our jobs are often physically demanding, emotionally taxing and mentally exhausting. I’ve always considered my job as part social worker, part psychologist, and part banker. It can consume you and that bleeds onto the staff. Add to that the seemingly rude permissiveness our society seems to have developed and fosters. Many clients are demanding, unrealistic and fail to respect the decorum needed in a professional medical office. Make every effort to provide relief for your staff. Make your of- fice THE place to work in your town because you take care of employees.
When I opened my first practice almost 30 years ago, a seasoned veterinarian told me to remember that “You can- not be all things to all people”. I was not exactly sure what that meant, but as the years passed, it certainly has come to fruition. Cater to your best clients (the A’s and B’s). You know, the ones that treat your staff courteously, allow you to work up cases, and provide 80% of your revenue. I con- tend that 95% of our headaches come from the C, D, and F clients. Get rid of them and become happier – your staff will thank you!
In closing, 2023 will undoubtably will present challenges for all of us. Fee schedules MUST be aligned appropri- ately for your demographic area.
If you fail to charge
appropriately, you risk losing staff, not being able to up- grade or replace equipment and so much more. NO! Your clients will not leave you when you charge a fair fee for what you do. If you do lose clients due to fees, it’s not always a bad thing. I contend that the majority of clients will pay what you ask IF they feel like they received great value. Low-cost hospitals/ providers are at the greatest risk as our costs climb. Adjustments in these practice fee schedules are the most dramatic and noticed by clients. Focus on being the place to go when someone has a sick animal. None of us went into this field to get rich. Be the best and the rewards will follow.
Buffalo Trace Meeting
J. A. Keith, D.V.M., M.B.A., M. Econ Versailles, KY
859.753.5000
vetau94@aol.com Winter 2023 35
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