Managing a Veterinary Practice

A comprehensive and user-friendly book on creating and managing a successful veterinary practice

Caroline Jevring-Back (Author), Erik Back (Author)

9780702028205, Elsevier Health Sciences

Paperback, published 22 November 2006

372 pages
23.3 x 15.6 x 2.4 cm, 0.572 kg

Many practice managers spend a considerable amount of time looking for better ways of doing thinks, more efficient methods and processes, and new ideas for making or saving money. Many also tend to question what they do and want to know how others deal with the variety of problems they encounter in pracice. It isn't a great deal of published good, realistic advice out there on how to manage a veterinary practice. We often want a one-stop shop that helps to answer our questions about day-to-day practicalities and planning our future strategies for development, expansion and increased profits. This book goes a long way towards achieving just that, crammed as it is with information, good advice and down-to-earth guidance and ideas.
If you are an experienced practice manager, this book will probably not tell you anything you do not already know, although some interesting cameos may stimulate, particulary the sections on management and motivational theories, which summarise succinctly a vast body of knowledge. If you are new to the job, or planning to own your own practice, this book is essential reading and I would recommend it to my students.
Catherine Coates, Veterinary Times, Vol.37, No. 16, May 7,2007

This internationally appealing edition has been largely rewritten and contains new, updated information on leadership, the role of a manager, basic financial management, marketing, communication within the practice, and how to achieve good client compliance, as well as much sound practical advice from the author. Aimed at practice owners and managers, and those with a vested interest in understanding business management in veterinary practice, the book explains the core principles involved in running a business. ‘Big Business' concepts are explained in practical and applied terms to fulfil small business needs using examples from a wide variety of sources, including internationally recognized business management experts such as Peter Drucker, David Maister, Stephen Covey and Michael Gerber.

• Fully updated with a new chapter on financial management written by new co-author and economist Erik Bäck
• Focuses on key management issues including the importance of clear leadership and communication and compliance
• Creates an understanding of the philosophy and background to effective business management
• Demonstrates practical applications of the essential management principles needed to run a veterinary practice
• Introduction of illustrations and photographs highlight and clarify important elements in the text
• Extended appendices which include guidance on conducting market surveys
• Highlighted boxes used to emphasize points, show examples and give advice

1. Leading change

2. Creating a successful business

3. Managing the economy in your vet clinic

4. What leaders really do

5. What does a practice manager do?

6. Effective communication: the vital link

7. Understanding your staff – what makes people tick

8. Developing your practice team

9. Marketing your practice

10. Professional retailing in practice

11. Understanding your clients

12. Achieving excellence in client service

13. Compliance: the art of making effective recommendations

14. Role of wellness healthcare in veterinary practice

15. The future of veterinary business

Appendix 1 Telephone skills

Appendix 2 Planning and managing effective team meetings

Appendix 3 External lecturing

Appendix 4 Process mapping and quality control

Appendix 5 Setting fees in practice

Appendix 6 Practice promotional literature

Appendix 7 Conducting market surveys

Index

Subject Areas: Veterinary medicine: infectious diseases & therapeutics [MZM]