This professionalism expands not only one's business but one's reputation...

"This has been an incredible learning experience for me and I can only encourage others who want to stand up and be proud! To do, be, and put into action this course.

To look back and see that I am truly a determined being, creating my massage business for 30 years with a somewhat “what am I doing?!” attitude because I did not have the actual “tools” of running a business ethically, effectively and with less stress more fun and lots of professionalism which is just respect and application for doing a great job rather than just getting by!

Following the precepts in this course, this professionalism expands not only one's business but one’s reputation for going and doing more than one expects.

Since the inception of this course I reached my target for the month and now know how to keep the stats up each month!

Thank you VPS for this course and for your patience in my completing it."

Shelora Dalen, DMT and Massage Studio Owner, Unique Wellness Studio, BC
Basic Hat for Employees

Understanding and managing staff in ways I would not have thought of...

"I thought I knew all the small words in the English vocabulary. Come to find out I didn't. Knowing how to read them and learning how to clear words really makes a difference on how I read and understand sentences. Knowing the three barriers and check outs will help with understanding and managing staff in ways I would not have thought of. Thank You."

Maureen Johns, Office Manager, Florida Veterinary Leauge, FL
Study Skills for Life

PRACTICE TIP: Do you really know where your clients are?...

When a practice gets bust our attention turns to addressing client and patient issues and we neglect the very important day to day task of internal marketing. The purpose of internal marketing, vs. external marketing for brand new clients, is to communicate with your existing clients in such a way that they stick to your practice, agree with your preventative healthcare, and don't wander off to your competition (client attrition). This is not a casual thing but a series of proactive activities that lets your clients know that you are there for them and they need to return at scheduled times.

So next time you wonder where your clients are:


1) Scan your practice management software for the number of active clients (not just your Gross Revenue) and see whether or not this is up or down over last month. The bottom line? It needs to be UP!

2) Look around your practice - there should be NOTHING that is offensive to a client or pet that would cause them to resist coming in... Things to look for would be smells, unsightly quarters or staff uniforms, how someone answers the phones, cleanliness, cheerfulness of staff and doctors to name a few...

3) Always, always, always set the next appointment on their way out thether it's for 7 days, 1 month or 6 or 12 months. They don't know what they're doing in a year? Well you do! They're coming back to see you!


Need more info on this subject? Call us to start getting more out of your practice.

Your 2nd Quarter Fee Increase Nudge

3% SECOND QUARTER END FEE INCREASE

Dear Practice Owner: Yes - it’s that time of year again. This is your 2nd Quarter Fee Increase nudge to pull the trigger and increase your fees by 3% across the board. Don’t forget that the cost of living increased this last year, creating a relative drop in your fees. The answer to this problem is small scheduled quarterly fee increases to either or both your front-end fees (I.e. quotable items such as exams, spays, neuters etc…) and back-end fees (I.e. radiographs, lab work, surgery fees etc…).
As of this June 30th 2009 we recommended the following fee increases:

- 3% Front-end fee increase (q6Mo)
- 3% Back-end fee increase (q3Mo)

Next fee increase: Third quarter ending Sept 30, 2009

We can become the cause for future success...

“Working through the Basic Organization Addendum is a great exercise. I finally feel like we have a solid blueprint upon which we can build out our management program and become the cause for future success.”

Newley Spikes (MBA), Office Manager, A Animal Clinic
Basic Organization Addendum

We feel a lot more confident hiring...

“The biggest successes from the program have been hiring, the training manual ,and staff meetings. We feel a lot more confident hiring and have been able to get the right people on board. The training manual has been a great tool to train the new employee correctly and efficiently. Having weekly staff meetings and talking over the practice vision and goals has helped us function better as a team.”

Jolie Davis, Senior Tech, Pequot Lakes Animal Hospital
Management Basics Implementation

It gives me the pulse of the practice...

“The Management by Statistics is awesome for an analytical like me. It gives me the pulse of the practice and also points to areas that need correction, adjustment, or even accolades for a job well done. It provides a gauge for the staff to measure their successes and failures and see how their efforts affect the whole. Then the treatment plan will be easier to see and the results to support it over time can be seen as well. This course is the ‘how to’ of checking the pulse of the business.”

Dr. Deb Forster, DVM and Practice Owner, Four Paws Veterinary Hospital
Management by Statistics