Authors of several AAHA Press publications turned up in the bookstore during the AAHA Yearly Conference in Phoenix last month to meet with and answer questions from readers. The authors were: Marsha L Heinke, DVM, CPA, CVPM; Philip Seibert, CVT; Linda White; Rebecca Rose, CVT; and Carin Smith, DVM.

Heinke’s book, “Practice Made Perfect,” is a comprehensive guide to veterinary practice management. The book builds on the foundations of the previous incarnation of the book, John McCarthy, DVM’s “Basic Guide to Veterinary Practice Management.”

“It’s very reader-oriented,” Heinke said. “I keep it at a level where people without a veterinary background can pick it up and get a handle on all the pieces of a veterinary practice.”

Her book covers everything from front desk procedures to employment laws to inventory control.

“It allows a total novice to have a basic knowledge of management,” she said.

Seibert’s “Be Safe Suite” includes posters books and DVDs aimed at keeping your practice as safe as possible. The series focuses on awareness of safety issues as well as OSHA guidelines.

White, a trainer, wrote “First Steps with Puppies and Kittens” to allow practices to implement a new revenue stream without extra cost. The book outlines a team-based approach to help veterinarians and their staff address puppy and kitten behavioral needs before they become behavior problems, according to the introduction.

“This is a way for practices to retain patients and bond clients to their pets,” White said. “Seventy percent of pet owners look to their veterinarian for behavior help.”

White said she hopes the book can help practices address some of the issues that clients bring to them.

“I want them to have a place to go where they can get some guidance and some answers,” she said.

Rose and Smith co-wrote “Career Choices for Veterinary Technicians.” This book discusses the many options for technicians outside traditional veterinary practices. Practice management, consulting jobs, writing, and government work are some of the fields technicians can enter. It also speaks to the majority of technicians who actually work in practices.

“It’s about how technicians can succeed in veterinary practices, and become more of an asset,” Rose said.

Smith has also written “Client Satisfaction Pays” and “Team Satisfaction Pays,” also published by AAHA Press. The books take a look at management techniques that work, not only from veterinary practices, but using other business models as well.

“A lot of management books are written from a large corporate viewpoint,” Smith said. “A lot of this is looking at ‘how can we create an environment for people to be their best?’”