New! Career Choices for Veterinary Technicians: Opportunities for Animal Lovers Rebecca Rose, CVT & Carin Smith, DVM Every year, the variety of career choices for veterinary technicians expands to include more and more options that offer upward mobility, appealing challenges, and monetary rewards. "This book provides a wealth of resources for anyone looking to enhance their career or to start one from scratch with a full complement of internet resources... chock-full of interesting information on a variety of jobs [which] range from the challenges of high-energy emergency work with the sickest of the sick, to the possibility of a directorship within a national organization. There is a path for anyone who loves animals within the field of veterinary technology, and this book will guide the reader through them all.—Oreta Samples, VIN book reviews This book is full of career choices for working and aspiring animal lovers like you, including positions in general practice, specialty practice, industry, higher education, and government. Learn about daily responsibilities, salaries, required qualifications, and pros and cons for each career. See quotes from veterinary technicians around the country, who offer advice and insight about the career moves that led to their success in the veterinary community. You'll also find resources to discover even more about the fields you're interested in. Order Career Choices for Veterinary Technicians directly from the American Animal Hospital Association

A years' worth of consulting advice in one book! The definitive resource for organizational and team development in veterinary practice. Action lists and team exercises included in every chapter. CD provided with all team exercises.

"Good communication is vital in any practice, and this book is an excellent resource for improving your hospital—great information!" — Karen Felsted, CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM

"Content is excellent and long past due for our industry." —Patricia Rutherford, CVPM, Rutherford Resource Consulting

"This achievement in 'putting it all together' is unprecedented in our profession. The recommendation to evaluate and measure based on clear goals and measured 'deliverables' is right on target. The section about 'defining friendship-work place relationships' is excellent—I have yet to ever see these subjects in print! Team meeting information may be one of the best chapters in the book. Finally, Dr. Smith's points about communicating with clients is the best perspective in the industry." —Pamela Cole, Owner, Irvine Veterinary Services

"Dr Smith has created a wonderful resource for the veterinary profession. It has value for every person, with every job function. I will keep it handy as a practical tool that I will refer to often as I consult with veterinary hospitals." —Philip Homsey, Esq.

"One of the best 'Teams' books in the industry. Common sense, systematic approach to building quality teams in veterinary hospitals." —Lorna Parson, MSHR, SPHR, Insights Into Business

"This book is an excellent resource and training guide for all practice owners, managers and employees who truly care about growing in their roles in their practice. Dr. Smith does a fabulous job touching on the major challenges veterinary practices face today and then provides excellent solutions!" —Tracy Dowdy, CVPM, Management Resource Group

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Click here to order

1. For the Employer:
   • Utilize part-time veterinarians to fill your long-term need for extra help. Use relief veterinarians on a temporary basis to fill your need when you are away at CE or vacations. (See book for tax tips on the differences.)
   • Welcome your Flex-Vet as part of your team. Express enthusiasm to your entire team about the role of the part-time or relief veterinarian.
   • Provide pro-rated benefits to every part-time veterinarian.
   • Make an effort to educate clients about time-availability of each veterinarian. Entire team must express positive support of every veterinarian so that clients feel confident about their pet's care, no matter who the vet is who sees them.
   • Create standards for service and medical approaches to ensure consistency. Medical record keeping must be outstanding!
   • Create a time to talk with your Flex-Vet, both individually and with the team (team meetings must be coordinated).
2. For the Flex-Vet:
   • Help your employer with communicating about cases. Medical record keeping must be outstanding!
   • Make an effort to attend team meetings.
   • Help come up with ideas to ensure that everyone on the team knows what is going on, all the time. Ensure that you are working in a practice with standards and a culture that are congruent with your values.
   • Clearly communicate with clients about your availability and hours; express positive support for team veterinarians.

• Setting up your business:
  • Estimating your costs of doing business.
  • How to charge for your work - by the day, hour, or job.
  • Charging for mileage, hotel, meals, and more.
  
  
• Getting work:
  • Let your professional attitude set you apart from the rest.
  • How networking can help you get clients.
  • Using agencies.
  • How to get free advertising.
  
  
• Preparing for the job:
  • Learn what you're legally allowed to do, whether certified, registered, or not
  • Gauging practice quality
  • Learn to use new equipment
  • What to ask before every job
  • How to turn down work
  
  
• Tax and insurance tips:
  • Determining your insurance needs.
  • Tax deductions you can and can't take.
  • How to be sure you're correctly identified as an independent contractor - or employee.
  
  
• Contracts, letters, and forms:
  • Essential items for every contract.
  • Sample contracts and letters - and how to customize them for your service.
  • What a contract can - and can't - do.
  
  
• Avoiding hassles:
  • Special policies for special situations.
  • How to evaluate practices before you work.
  • When to turn down work.
  • What to do when the facilities are inadequate
  • How to educate veterinarians who under-utilize their technicians and staff

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• For veterinarians;
• For those considering a veterinary career, who want to know about all the options that will be open to them upon the completion of their education.

• Detailed descriptions of hundreds of job choices available to veterinarians—without going back to school.
• Basic requirements for change.
  
• Questions to consider with any career change.
  
• How to assess your skills and knowledge.
  
• How to apply for a job in any new field.
  
• References for further information, including Email and web addresses.
  
• Answers the questions: Aren't I wasting my veterinary schooling if I change jobs, or if I'm not in private practice? What about going back to school? (Why don't I need another degree?); tips for those who want to get further education beyond their DVM degree; a list of veterinary specialties.
  
  

"Clearly written, brutally honest, and packed with excellent references, it is a book that is badly needed in our rapidly changing veterinary profession. This book is a must for the veterinary student, the restless practitioner, or anyone thinking about a career in veterinary medicine." — JAVMA review, 213(7):972 10/1/98.

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• Set your own working hours and days.
• Develop closer relationships with your clients.
• Appreciate a deeper understanding of the pet’s environment on its health and behavior.

• Busy professionals can more-easily fit in pet appointments
• Seniors and others with limited transportation get the service they need
• Pets that are shy or anxious get health care without upset.
• Pets with behavior problems or those that need hospice care can receive the attention they need.

• Setting up your business:
  • Advantages and disadvantages of housecall practice.
  • Uncover your hidden costs of doing business.
  • Find funds to start your business.
  • Vehicle tips.
  • Scheduling your time.
  • Hospital connections and relationships.
  • Hiring employees - office help, technician, or another veterinarian.
  • Setting your fees and taking payments.
  • Practice tips and practice philosophy.
• Marketing:
  • Target your potential clients.
  • Advertising: when to pay for it, and how to get it free.
  • How to use a press release to your advantage.
  • Your yellow pages ad.
  • Getting referrals from established hospitals.
  • How community involvement increases your client base
• Taxes, insurance, and paperwork:
  • Determine your insurance needs.
  • Find often-overlooked tax deductions.
  • Record keeping for your business.
  • Tax paperwork you should fill out.
  • Record keeping for employees.
  • License and registration requirements for your area.
  • Evaluating your insurance needs.
• Your home office:
  • Find a place for your office.
  • Furniture and computer tips.
  • Telephone tips (services and equipment).
  • Solutions to home office hassles (family interruptions, scheduling, getting help, organizing).
  • Keeping in touch with the profession in spite of working alone.
  • Inventory and drugs.
  • Security.
  • Paperwork: client records, business papers, brochures.

NEW 2007 Edition with CD — Click here to order

• Your Client Comes First. Find out why client satisfaction is the most important concept of service. Learn about your clients' expectations and find out what they want to know.
  
• Teamwork Improves Client Satisfaction. Learn how to be a leader and keep your staff satisfied, empowered, and educated. Includes a section for practice managers only.
  
• Let's Get Specific: Service Improvement for Client Retention. Understand what clients want and how to provifde it so that they keep coming back. Includes specific tips for the telephone, scheduling, client retention, and service recovery (how to recover when you goof).
  
  

Book Contributions by Dr. Smith

Associate's Survival Guide. AAHA Press 2005. Several chapters written by Dr. Smith.

KPMG LLP Study Report: Abridged Version. Current and Future Market for Veterinarians and Veterinary Medical Services in the United States. National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues, 2000. Carin Smith, Editor.

Mastering the Marketplace: Taking Your Practice to the Top. Ross Clark, Veterinary Medicine Publishing Group 1996. Dr. Smith's material is included in Chapter 2, Human Resources, and is titled "What staff members say about owners."

Animal Rescue in Flood and Swiftwater Incidents. Slim Ray, CFS Press Floodfighters Series, 1996. Forward by Dr. Smith.

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