Wendy's Blog
Communication education, resources, and information to grow your veterinary practice.
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When Curbside Care Takes Too Long: Do This
WHEN CURBSIDE CARE TAKES TOO LONG: DO THIS It’s freezing outside and getting dark earlier. Curbside appointments are taking 45 to 60 minutes. How can your team be more efficient? 1. Get A TEXTING SERVICE OR APP WITH MESSAGING. A veterinarian sees an average of 30...
Phone Frenzy? 7 Ways to Cut Call Volume
Phone frenzy? 7 ways to cut call volume Call volumes have more than doubled at practices nationwide, according to GeniusVet survey data (1). Front-desk teams are struggling to answer the onslaught of calls to schedule the three-month backlog of checkups and elective...
How to Keep Employees Safe When You Reopen
How to Keep Employees Safe When You Reopen In mid-May 2020, more than half of states have started to reopen their economies under restrictions, including allowing fewer customers, requiring workers and customers to wear masks, and enforcing social distancing.[1] In...
5 Ways Your Practice Can Recover From COVID-19
5 ways your practice can recover from covid-19 Some veterinary hospitals have gone to urgent and emergency care only, cancelling all non-essential appointments and elective surgical and dental procedures. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advocates...
How to Prevent No-Shows
How to Prevent no-shows His frustration had reached the boiling point. After three no-shows this week, a veterinarian asked me if he should start asking clients to prepay for surgeries. While I empathize with his angst, don’t punish 99.9 percent of good clients for a...
THE NON-SALESY WAY TO ASK CALLERS TO SCHEDULE
THE NON-SALESY WAY TO ASK CALLERS TO SCHEDULE I get it. Your receptionists HATE feeling like salespeople. Yet they are directly responsible for answering price shoppers' questions and recruiting new clients. A technique that will engage callers and have receptionists...
Avoid a Meltdown When Dr. Popular Isn’t Available
A longtime client calls and requests an appointment with Dr. Popular. While this veterinarian is blessed to be busy, you don’t want clients to have meltdowns when they can’t see their preferred doctor. What should you do?
Lead clients to book overdue pets
LEAD CLIENTS TO BOOK OVERDUE PETS Did you know a dog owner will spend $700 annually on preventive care while a cat owner will invest $600? Having your client care team call clients about overdue pets DAILY will have a significant impact on patient care and hospital...
Why Your Front Desk Team Sucks
Do you remember the first time you told a pet owner that her dog was dying? You were sweating bullets, struggling to find the right words, and tried your best to be honest and compassionate. I’m going to have the same conversation with you. Your front-desk team is in...
Tell, Don’t Ask to Fix Compliance Blunders
Wishy-washy conversations may cause clients to dismiss necessary follow-up care and to refill medications, putting patient care and practice revenue at risk. Pet owners expect clear, specific guidance from your veterinary team. Here are common compliance blunders and...
Stop Hiding Patient Care “In the Back”
While consulting a practice, I observed client after client challenge receptionists over fees for exams and other professional services. The high-volume hospital performed exams, gave vaccines and delivered other services in the treatment area in the interest of...
Call Client’s Who Don’t Refill
Have receptionists call clients to schedule the heartworm test and other services that are due so you may refill preventatives. “This is <name> with <Your Veterinary Hospital>. I’m calling because <pet name’s> prescription for heartworm preventatives...