How far is too far for veterinary professionals to offer pet care advice? Should veterinary professionals offer unsolicited advice? If so, what are the best tactics? What are the risks? This week we discuss this and a WHOLE LOT MORE!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of if or when should we stick our “professional noses” into pet parents’ business? When is it appropriate or not? This episode is as painful as a prong collar on a Shih tzu… and, yes, we go there, too!

Beckie kicks things off by retelling a recent trip to a pet store in which she couldn’t help but offer unsolicited (and free!) advice on a chew bone purchase. You’ll have to listen to find out how it ended. (Hint: Dr. Ward describes it as “tossing a hand grenade behind your back as you leave the pet store!”)

Dr. Ward shares the colorful names he was called when he intervened after witnessing rather rough treatment of a dog during a run an dBeckie reminds us of a past episode in which we discussed questionable care on an airplane. So much business to stick our noses into!

Dr. Ward shares his top communication tactic he always employs whenever offering advice, so be sure to let us know if you’ve tried his advice with your clients or pet parents.

Viewfinders, this is another tough topic with no easy (or clear) answers, but we share loads of practical tips and assistance.

And a huge thank you to everyone who leaves us 5-star reviews on Apple Podcasts! We read them all and you make all the time and effort to make this podcast for the past 4.5 years worthwhile. If you haven’t yet, please do us a favor and leave us a review! It means the world to us!

Are veterinary medical associations, state veterinary medical boards, and veterinary practice acts only giving veterinary technicians "lip service" when it comes to participation and power? This week we tackle the topic of fair representation (or lack thereof) of licensed veterinary technicians within veterinary medical organizations and regulatory agencies.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their recent conversations with vet techs from around the country at Vet Team Global Stream 2021. Many expressed concerns that vet techs continue to be marginalized and largely ignored within the majority of veterinary medical organizations. We believe that needs to change.

Beckie gives the Viewfinders updates on vet tech issues and legislation from several states, including a potentially controversial move in Colorado. She also gives brief status reports from California, Minnesota, Montana, and other states. And she tells us what's REALLY on her mind!

Dr. Ward expresses the need for more representation and voting power by vet techs at the AVMA (and Beckie apologizes to AVMA President Dr. Kratt for her persistent lobbying on this topic!) and why expanding the legally permissible roles of vet techs could help ease the shortage of veterinarians and boost innovation.

Viewfinders, once we again we're hoping to catalyze conversations for positive change throughout our profession with this wide-ranging discussion. Share your thoughts with us on social media!

Are we inadvertently confusing our clients by using vague terms and acronyms on our invoices? What about unclear communication in the exam room? Do different veterinarians recommend different drugs or preventives, leaving support staff to decipher? This week we tackle a constellation of confusing communications in veterinary practice.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin by discussing a Mother’s Day dilemma in which Dr. Ward’s mom was utterly confused - and upset - by her dentist’s invoice. A medical term with our context led to almost losing a client and certainly sparked some neighborhood complaining.

The pair share tips on avoiding invoice and written communication misunderstandings, why plain language wins in the exam room, and the importance of having unified product and protocol recommendations in your practice.

Viewfinders, we believe this is another topic that occurs much more frequently than we wished. Beckie sums it up by explaining why “Yes” or “No” is rarely a good answer from clients and how we can learn from “comical communications” and misunderstandings to become better communicators.

Loud barking, pooping in parking lots, parking space tensions, and employee smoking breaks can test a veterinary clinic’s relationship with neighboring businesses and homeowners. This week we discuss how you can be a good veterinary neighbor.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin with a legal case in which a neighbor sued a veterinary clinic for excessive noise. The duo discuss how to help reduce the inevitable noise associated with caring for animals, and ways to ease potential misunderstandings (and legal actions).

The pair also talk about the importance of poop patrols, how to keep your clients from taking their pet for potty breaks on your neighbors’ lawns, and staff parking lot drama. Dr. Ward shares his tip to prep (and reward) his business neighbors before busy holidays and Beckie encourages practice leaders to introduce and get to know their neighbors.

This is a jam-packed conversation that will spark conversations and inspire solutions in your practice to this very real-world challenge.

Viewfinders, have you had any issues with your neighbors? Share your stories on our Instagram or Facebook pages! Talk to you next Wednesday!

Change and progress are inevitable, especially in veterinary medicine. But what happens when your clinic boss, manager, or supervisor fails to keep up with medical advances and clings to outdated protocols and procedures? This week we discuss how you can help make positive procedural changes in your veterinary practice.

Host Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of confronting and changing the attitudes and policies of a clinic’s leadership.

Dr. Ward shares his top tactics for presenting new medical information to reluctant staff members, why we need to bring more “solutions, not complaints” to management, and his favorite way to solicit feedback to improve an idea using a “On a scale of 1 to 10…” method.

Beckie discusses why we need to surround ourselves with smart people - and then listen to them! She also challenges vet techs to negotiate with leaders and her experiences in getting managers to accept updated procedures and treatments.

Finally, Dr. Ward reminds practice leaders that the first thing to maintain progress is to let go of hubris and ego and he explains why leaders that can say, “I didn’t know that!” excel above those who always have all the answers.

Viewfinders, this is a jam-packed conversation! How do you approach your boss or manager when it’s time to change? What have your experiences been?

Don’t forget to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave us a “Hello!” and 5-start rating. You’ll make our week! Thank you!

This week we are honoring the often unsung heroes of a veterinary clinic, the veterinary receptionists or CSRs!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT have a “Conversation of Celebration” detailing the many amazing and inspiring abilities of the support staff that allow vets and vet techs to be their best!

Dr. Ward Ability marvels at how veterinary receptionists are able to recognize pets by their family’s cars! He also explains how receptionists/CSRs CSRs represent the clinic personality, mission, and standards and are integral to client loyalty. He also explains why we need to train and pay our receptionists better.

Beckie shares her recent experiences taking both her sister’s and her own dog the vet and how a receptionist really made her feel welcome.

Dr. Ward shares why he believes our receptionists are so essential to a successful client experience because “they own:”

• The client’s first impression

• The first smile

• The first “Hello”

• Are asked the first question

• The last goodbye

• The client’s last question

• Provide the last reminder

Viewfinders, this week we hope you’ll take time to celebrate and recognize your clinic’s “Jack or Jill of All Trades.” Our veterinary receptionist are true multitaskers and multi-disciplinarians. Every day, they deal with conflict management, sometimes serve as grief counselors, and are responsible for emergency triage. All while answering phones, billing out, scheduling, and fetching meds - ALL WITH A SMILE! I’m exhausted reading this!

Viewfinders, let us know how you’re celebrating National Veterinary Receptionist Week!

Many veterinary professionals are asked by young students whether or not they should become veterinarians or veterinary technicians. This week, we ponder that question within the context of two professions in flux. Viewfinders, the answer is "Definitely maybe?" and involves a multitude of challenges and opportunities we discuss this week.

This podcast covers everything from student debt, pay inequality, lack of vet tech representation in national and state veterinary organizations, outdated practice acts, corporatization, generational differences, and a whole lot more.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their current answer to this timeless question along with some of the (good and bad) advice they received form mentors.

Viewfinders, this is another conversation that packs A LOT of topics confronting our profession today into a half hour. Are there issues we touch on you’d like to hear us magnify and explore further? Let us know!

Thanks again as always for listening for the last four years!

What happens when your personal social media blows up in your veterinary clinic? Can you post controversial content on your personal pages without professional consequences? Viewfinders, this is one tough topic we tackle this week!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT address people being fired, reprimanded, or causing conflict in their workplace because of something they posted or shared on their personal TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter feeds. Where are the online boundaries between work and private life, if there are any?

The duo divulge times they’ve stepped out of bounds online, stories from colleagues who have experienced consequences of their content, and strategies for everyone scrolling and posting these days.

Viewfinders, have you witnessed workplace tension because of online messages? How do you navigate these potentially stormy waters? Share your stories!

Thank you again for listening! Talk to you next Wednesday!

Veterinary professional continuing education (CE) is changing. Conference closures accelerated the shift to online CE, and now we’re seeing widespread changes in how veterinary CE conferences are innovating and adapting. There’s a lot going on we need to talk about when it comes to maintaining your license through required CE.

This week, we’re joined by 3 of the 4 founders of one of the first, if not the original, completely virtual online veterinary conferences, Vet Team Global Stream (VTGS). Superstar licensed veterinary technicians Beckie Mossor, Monique Feyrecilde, and Julie Legred share the podcast (so sorry Jade Velasquez couldn’t make it this time!) to tell us why the trend toward online CE is important and permanent!

The “Quad Squad” discuss the origins of VTGS, their commitment to providing world-class CE at an affordable price, and why virtual communities and networks are essential to veterinary professionals.

Viewfinders, what do you think about online CE? Do you think state VMAs should allow veterinary professionals to receive our CE online or is this just a “pandemic patch?”

If you’d like to learn more about Vet Team Global Stream, visit them at https://www.vtgsconference.com/ of follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VirtualVetConference/)or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vtgsconference/).

Viewfinders, we’ll talk to you next week! Thanks for listening!

Antibiotic resistance is an issue that affects every veterinary and human healthcare provider. There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Antibiotic resistance is a very real existential threat for humanity.

The problem is many small animal veterinarians don’t see themselves as responsible or contributing to antibiotic resistance. This week we’ve got a veterinary expert who research proves small animal vets and vet techs are part of the problem — and solution.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT are joined by a veterinarian who has been conducting research on veterinarian and veterinary technician’s attitudes toward prescribing antibiotics. Dr. Dan Taylor recently successfully earned his PhD at Colorado State University and discusses some of his findings.

Dr. Taylor also shares how he found his passion for this topic after years of general practice and even a stint as food inspector, and why this topic is even more important after the Covid pandemic.

Dr. Taylor gives practical advice for the common scenario of a pet parent demanding “But you’ve got to give my pet SOMETHING!” The trio also review communication and treatment options to dispensing antibiotics, and why vet techs are essential in calming nervous pet parents (and young vets!) worries about not giving an antibiotic.

Viewfinders, this is another tough topic that small animal veterinary professionals need to talk more openly about. How do you handle pet parents who “want some medication” or “just refill his last antibiotic prescription?”

If you want to learn more about Dr. Dan Taylor’s current research project evaluating pet parents’ attitudes toward antibiotics, email him at: dantaylordvm@gmail.com

This week we’re delighted to be joined once again for an exclusive interview (and special surprise!) with Northe American Veterinary Community (NAVC) CEO Gene O’Neill.

Gene gives hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT an update on the 2021 VMX conference June 5-9, 2021, the health and safety precautions that will be in place, and what you can expect when you arrive.

Gene then discusses the strategic shift and focus for NAVC. Gene reveal his vision to make NAVC a year-round veterinary CE destination accessible to all veterinary professionals. The focus on “micro-learning” opportunities, regular and monthly CE events, and the ability to engage with experts both in-person and virtually are just a few of the exciting initiatives we can expect from NAVC over the next couple of years.

Gene then takes Dr. Ward and Beckie on a virtual tour of the upcoming NAVC immersive 3D CE platform. He teases the coming expansion of veterinary CE into virtual reality (VR) and explains why the virtual platform matters for a more enjoyable and effective educational experience.

Dr. Ward likens the experience to the Oasis from “Ready Player One” and expresses how “familiar” the 3D experience is to him. Beckie emphasizes the importance of fostering community, whenever online or in real life. Both our hosts left the simulation impressed and excited for the future of a “Virtual NAVC.”

Viewfinders, what do you think about virtual CE? Is it here to stay or will it disappear as soon as the pandemic is over? Are you interested in a 3D immersive CE experience? Did you read or watch "Ready Player One?" How about "Armada" or "Ready Player Two?" Asking for a friend... Share your thoughts!

Once again, over the past couple of weeks, the US veterinary profession has been devastated by news of a series of suicides by colleagues. This week we speak with the President of Not One More Vet (NOMV) Dr. Carrie Jurney to find out what we can do to help prevent suicides in veterinary medicine.

Co-hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT have a candid conversation about the current trends in suicide both in the US and abroad, the warning signs of self-harm, and simple steps you can do to help a colleague or loved on tin need.

This episode also discusses some of the reasons veterinary professionals may be at greater risk of suicidal ideation and depression, and the impact student debt has on overall wellbeing.

Viewfinders, this is a tough topic we need to keep talking about until we no longer receive news about losing another friend, coworker, or colleague.