What would you do if suddenly you couldn’t work in veterinary practice due to injury, illness, or other unexpected life event? This week we explore how to make a “Plan B” for your career and why it’s important to start thinking about life outside vet med.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin this episode as Beckie recounts a recent injury that made her reflect on whether or not she could complete her responsibilities as a practicing veterinary technician. From the “I got hurt!” conversation launching pad, the duo review disability insurance, promotions, retirement accounts, alternative jobs, and a whole lot more!

Viewfinders, to date the conversation about “exit strategies” has largely been limited to practice owners. We want to take this opportunity to encourage everyone employed in veterinary medicine to imagine “life after vet med” and what it means to you.

You can email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com or drop a message on our social media (Beckie LOVES Facebook messages from you!).

Don’t forget to give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts or your favorite player so we can reach more veterinary professionals! Stay safe and we’ll talk to you next week!

Gas at record prices. Rent is up double-digits. New homes an interest rates skyrocketing. How is inflation impacting the veterinary workforce and what can we do to help?

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT take on the tough topic of post-pandemic inflation and how the workforce shortage is being affected. Viewfinders, there are a lot of helpful tips in this one, but the most important is we need to start talking about tit!

Our veterinary podcasters begin with the current inflation rates around the country and stories from colleagues struggling to pay for gas and rent. Tips for saving money and potential aid for staff are reviewed along with a heaping dose of, “Oh no’s!”

From gas cards to apps to government tax programs, this episode covers a lot of ground. We also touch on childcare challenges and why our most vulnerable staff are likely receptionists (CSRs) and support staff.

Is inflation affecting your team? What solutions are you finding successful? Share your ideas and experiences on our social media! And don’t forget to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a quick 5-star review! THANK YOU!

As veterinary professionals return to the clinic, some are eager to catch up on months of missed gossip. When is gossip okay, when is it harmful, and what should you do about it? Viewfinders, there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to “veterinary gossip!”

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT begin by sharing their definitions of “veterinary gossip.” They each recount several examples of good, neutral, and bad gossip in veterinary clinics and strategies to change a “culture of gossip.”

Beckie reviews some legal requirements about what types of “gossip” are allowed (or not) and tips for creating a “gossip policy” for your clinic.

Dr. Ward offers advice on what to do if you observe intra-office gossiping and why it’s not always the best idea to reprimand employees who are gossiping.

Viewfinders, we hop ethic conversation will inspire you to talk about the conversation occurring in your clinic!

Controversial prong dog collars were recently banned by the government of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef and Gold and Sunshine Coasts. Legislators cited prong collars violated their Animal Welfare standards by “using pain as punishment.”

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the increase in global rules and regulations aiming to improve animal welfare. The pair review the recent Norwegian breeding bans on English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Maryland’s newly-passed prohibition on feline declaw surgery, and other recent legal changes in animal law.

Viewfinders, what do you think about the ban on prong collars? Do you think there is growing interest in passing laws to improve animal welfare? Do you think these changes are happening quickly enough in the US? What changes would you like to see?

This week we’re joined with vet tech/nurse extraordinaire, Harold Davis, RVT, VTS (ECC) to discuss an important (and exciting) new initiative from our friends at the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) - the Veterinary Nurse/Technician Empowerment Initiative!

Harold currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for NAVC and is one of the key drivers behind this expansive seven-part initiative to empower and celebrate veterinary nurses/technicians (and, yes, Viewfinders, Dr. Ward asks Harold to explain that hyphen!). Harold has also been instrumental in many modern-day advancements within the veterinary profession and his story is as much inspirational as impactful. We know you’re going to love this conversation!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss how Harold became an RVT, his secret for remaining enthusiastic about his profession for 46 years (!), his career path, his role in the formation of Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS), and what the NAVC Veterinary Nurse/Technician Empowerment Initiative is all about. So much to talk about!

Viewfinders, definitely check out the links below detailing how you can participate in this initiative. And while you’re clinking away, please stop by Apple Podcasts and click on 5-stars for us! It would make our week!

Thanks again for listening the past five-and-a-half years! Talk to you next Wednesday!

Happy National Veterinary Receptionist Week! This week we celebrate the incredible veterinary receptionists that make our lives so much better! April 24-30, 2022

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share the many reasons that veterinary receptionist are integral - and essential - members of the veterinary healthcare team.

Veterinary receptionists are the initial, and often final, point of contact for pet parents in a veterinary clinic, answer medical and pet care questions, and handle a host of challenging client interactions - Let's Show Veterinary Receptionists the Love They Deserve!

Our hosts discuss the evolving terminology of veterinary receptionists, including customer service representatives (CSR's) and Dr. Ward's own "Client Coordinators."

They share why front desk turnover rates may be affecting a clinic's growth, and why low wages and benefits may be a part of the problem. Roles, responsibilities, and training are also covered in this dynamic conversation.

Viewfinders, we hope you'll find this podcast inspiring and encourage you to celebrate your veterinary receptionists this April!

For more information, visit https://www.veterinaryreceptionistweek.com

What happens when a person appears at a veterinary clinic claiming to be a pet’s owner? How do veterinary professionals know they’re the rightful - and legal - owner? How does the client prove it? Who can make medical care decisions and how do we hold them accountable? Viewfinders, there’s a lot more to discuss on this topic than simply, “I found this pet. Can I keep it? Thanks.” You don’t want to miss this one!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the tricky topic of how veterinary clinics determine who is a pet’s owner, who can make decisions, and, ultimately, who is responsible for paying?

Even more complicated, what happens when a spouse or partner rejects the other’s decision? If you’re like us, you’ve probably already experienced a bit of this, but don’t worry, we’ve got even more worst-case scenarios to share!

We also review how, and how far, should a veterinary practice go to ensure a pet parent is truly the “pet’s owner.” What happens when we ask too much - or too little - verification and things go horribly wrong (and they do)? As Dr. Ward says, “There are so many ways these situations can go sideways, it’s hard to keep your head on straight!”

Speaking of keeping your head, what happens when a spouse or partner claims their significant other “wasn’t in their right mind to make that decision”? The hits keep on coming in this episode!

Viewfinders, this is another tough topic our profession needs to do a better job addressing. By alerting you to potentially problematic scenarios, we hope you’ll be better prepared and able to create staff training and clinic policies to, as Beckie always says, “Get ahead of it!”

We’ve been saying for the past two years that there’s never been a better time for veterinary professionals to change jobs or renegotiate your contract. This week we review what you should be looking for if you’re “checking out how green the other lawns may be.” Hint: Pretty green!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share what attributes to search for when you’re scrolling job listings, questions to uncover the “real workplace conditions,” and tips for negotiating wages and benefits. Whether this is your first or fourteenth job in a veterinary practice, there’s something for everyone in this week’s podcast!

Share your thoughts on our social media or write to us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com

And don’t forget to leave us 5-stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. It really helps get these conversations to other veterinary professionals interested in making our profession better! Thank you for listening the past 5-1/2 years!

Many veterinary professionals have been asked by pet parents to omit, edit, or alter a pet’s breed or history on a form for housing, travel, insurance, or other “official” forms. This week we discuss the medical ethics surrounding designating a “pit bull mix” as “mixed breed” and other potentially uncomfortable scenarios. Viewfinders, this is a good (and important) one!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT get real about requests they’ve received from clients trying to move or visit loved ones, obtain vaccine status, or pet insurance. Most of these conundrums involve banned breeds, and pets that are well-mannered or otherwise healthy. These request seem to come out of nowhere and there are no easy answers.

Our hosts offer advice on politely - and legally - handling these pet parent pleas along with their concerns on veterinary professionals’ future liability and the impact of emerging technologies.

Dr. Ward reviews how he believes genetic testing will both transform - and potentially complicate - client petitions to “delete” certain breeds or physical attributes on legal forms.

Beckie explains how veterinary technicians are often caught in the middle of veterinarian and client disputes over these forms and how to navigate those turbulent waters.

Viewfinders, this is another good conversation on a topic we don’t often discuss publicly. Share your thoughts with us on our social media channels or at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com

Also, please do us a HUGE FAVOR and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! It helps us reach other colleagues and keeps these important conversations going!

Have you ever had a job benefit or workplace perk suddenly taken away? What about a new hire that is given compensation above long-time team members? Are some employees allowed to bring their pets to the office while others aren’t? In the past were you offered free or “at cost” vet care but now you have to pay? Viewfinders, we’re hearing more of these stories about workplace inequities, so this week we’re going to tackle it!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore what happens when the benefits or perks of working in a veterinary clinic are suddenly taken away or reduced. What happens when veterinary professionals depend on these perks to make up for poor pay?

We’re hearing of veterinary practice owners and mangers blaming inflation, workplace shortages, and increased demand as reasons they’re cutting back on certain benefits. We’re also learning of situations in which new hires are offered more CE pay, association dues, and other perks to get them to join a practice, while not offering similar wages and benefits to existing staff. And that’s causing all the feels.

Viewfinders, this is another topic quietly percolating out there in veterinary world. We’ve got a chance get ahead of this potential issue before it damages your team morale.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us on our social media channels or at VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com