Resources
Where To go from here?Professional Growth for Managers Within Their Practices
Resources
Staff Meetings
We know that you are very busy as a manager and might not have time to plan a staff meeting, as everyone starts to come back together and staff meetings are beginning to take place again. Let us take the work out of your hands! We have 14 free staff meetings for you! All of our staff meetings include a video to play for your staff, as well as different materials, handouts and activities that go along with a specific topic.
Staff Meeting in a Box: Growth Opportunities for the Team
Included: Video, Downloadable Resources, Activity, and a Quiz
Staff Meeting in a Box: Time Off For Veterinary Wellness
Included: Video, Individual Activity, Group Activity and a Quiz
Staff Meeting in a Box: Stress Management
Included: Video, Downloadable Resources, Group Activity, and a Quiz
Staff Meeting in a Box: Your Workplace Culture - It's Up To You
Included: Video, Several Activities, Downloadable Handout, and a Quiz
Staff Meeting in a Box: Nutrition
Included: Video, Jeopardy Game, and a Downloadable Handout
Wellness Tip
While having time for good, quality life away from the practice is important – some of these professional growth goals may require time to be allocated from your personal life. It is a very personal decision to pursue professional growth but can be made easier by having a clearly defined plan before getting started.
- What is the ending goal? Is this this a role expansion? Is this a role change? Is this enrichment and expansion of a specific aspect of your role?
- What is the timeline expected for education/skill building in this area?
- What are the resources needed? Include monetary?
- How can the clinic support you?
- What benefit to you and to the clinic will this development result in?
Employee Handbook Tip
It’s essential to not only budget, and invest in the education of the team; but also yourself as a manager. In the 2019 Well-Managed Practice Benchmarks (WMPB) publication it was noted that 0.5% of the practice’s revenue should be budgeted for continuing education. Priority is generally given to DVMs, and any other licensed employees who have to have CE hours to maintain their licenses. From there, the management team members should be allocated an amount to obtain management-level CE.
While it is up to the discretion of the practice owner/management team, the WMPB 2019 publication provides some guidelines on amounts for CE per position. For Associates the benchmark is $1,900. Management is $1,300, and credentialed veterinary technicians is $800. The takeaway, however, is that there should be a budget in place. Aside from practice-sponsored lunch-and-learns, management and credentialed employees should have allocations for CE. Client services and veterinary assistants can be a part of the budget also, at a benchmark of $450. Keep in mind, not all staff would take advantage of this, but priority should be given to those with licensure.
Book Review/Recommendation
Practice Made Perfect by Marsha L. Heinke
This book is not only on the reading list when studying for your CVPM (Certified Veterinary Practice Manager) through the VHMA (Veterinary Hospital Managers Association) but it is one that I recommend to all managers who are looking to grow in their role to encompass more overall practice management.
A bit of a disclaimer on this book is that it is detailed and technical. It is not necessarily an easy read but it is stuffed with so much great information that it is must-have. If you are brand new to practice management – don’t get overwhelmed! No one expects you to know everything overnight. Use this book as intended, a resource and foundation to build upon.
For applications for the purposes of evaluating where you want to take your career, there are a couple of different ways to utilize it.
- Read cover to cover. For any manager aspiring become a CVPM, manage multiple hospitals or just really become involved with the inner workings of what it takes to run a hospital – this is the recommended route.
- Since we know that professional growth can take many different forms, if you aren’t ready to tackle the entire concept – pick a direction. Are you already passionate about HR and Communication? This book provides such a valuable foundation for many different aspects of management that you can get a good foothold on where you may need to direct your efforts by focusing on specific sections.
- If you don’t know what direction may interest you, one of the ways that I’ve started out with books like these is to browse through the table of contents and even some of the more compelling sections. Are there areas that interest you or stand out? Are there areas that you don’t know much about but are intrigued?
Regardless of your path, this book won’t sugar coat the work that goes into managing a practice and all the moving parts it includes. This is a must-have for budding managers.
– Carol Hurst, LVT, CVPM, CVJ, CCFP
Veterinary Practice Manager's Weekly Planner
Veterinary practice managers are pulled in a lot of different directions, and have a wide range of responsibilities. As a result, they often struggle with managing their time and accomplishing everything on their plate. This weekly planner is specifically designed to organize each week in a straightforward manner, with a methodology that organizes your workweek by categories found on the CVPM Task Analysis list. Purchase of your planner includes Brenda Tassava’s online course for improving your time management skills.
This is the perfect desktop planner for veterinary hospital administrators, practice managers, and departmental supervisors.
Podcast Recommendation: Vet Med After Hours
Tune in to The Vet Med After Hours Podcast Season 4, Episode 6 – Carving Your Own Life
Episode Description:
Dr. Aziza Glass is making a difference with her Dr2Dr Initiative, as she works to bridge the gap from high school to the medical profession for 1st generation Americans and people of color. Aziza knows first hand what it is like to have to forge her own lane and we are so thankful that she shared her story with us. Once a gospel singer on the path to Carnegie Mellon, Aziza ended up in Cornell veterinary school on a National Geographic reality show and now has her own mobile and relief veterinary business! This lane didn’t come without struggle and Aziza, like many of us, allowed stress to affect her health before she realized you have to learn to say no. Aziza has so many lessons to teach us and is actively making a difference. You will want to listen to this entire episode to learn how you can make a difference too!
Recipe: Quick and Easy Veggie Toast (or Wrap!)
I love this simple and easy recipe! It contains very little ingredients and you don’t have to cook anything! It is also versatile, because you can make it as toast, a wrap or a sandwich!
- Bread of choice if making toast (or tortilla wrap of choice if making a wrap)
- Your favorite hummus (For this particular toast, my favorite hummus to use is jalapeno hummus for an extra kick!)
- 2-3 slices of tomato
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- Any seasonings you might want to add – sometimes I like Everything Seasoning!
Directions:
1. If making toast, pop your slice(s) of bread into the toaster and toast to your liking!
2. Once bread is toasted, spread your favorite hummus on the toasted slice(s). If making a wrap, just spread your favorite hummus on a tortilla wrap.
3. Place slices of cucumber on top of the hummus.
4. Place slices of tomato on top of the cucumber.
5. Add any seasoning you might want (when I use jalapeno hummus, I love the toast as-is, without any additional seasoning!)
6. If making a wrap, roll up your tortilla and enjoy!