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November 2023


Trends November 2023

In this issue:

  • A Passion for Search and Rescue
  • Team Roles in Chronic Disease
  • Helping Clients Retain Information
  • 2023 Accredited Practice of the Year


PDF of full issue

October 2023


Trends October 2023

In this issue:

  • Spreading Wellness Through Social Media
  • Teams@Work Photo Contest Results
  • 2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines
  • Technicians and Dermatology


PDF of full issue

  • Inside AAHA October 2023

    AAHA board member Scott Driever, DVM, offers his take on some of the issues surrounding the staffing shortage in vet med. The Community weighs in on tips for effective bite prevention and safety training for new hires.

  • Notebook: October 2023

    News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: UC Davis Experimental Trial Saves Kitten with Deadly Disease; FDA Approves BIAH Anti-Parasite Drug; VHMA Names 2023 Practice Manager of the Year; Nonsurgical Contraceptive Alternative for Cats; and more!

  • Techs Take Wellness Online

    Compassion fatigue and burnout are rampant among veterinary technicians. Some techs are taking to social media to promote wellness and spread encouragement to others.

  • Technician Utilization in Dermatology

    Using a credentialed technician in the role they were designed for increases the number of cases the team can see, and it can increase overall revenue. In this article, we will cover some of the many ways that trained technicians can contribute to dermatology appointments.

  • 2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines

    Optimal utilization of trained and educated credentialed veterinary technicians brings benefits to veterinary teams and to the veterinary industry as a whole. These new guidelines include practical tools to implement and evaluate credentialed technician utilization in individual practices.

  • Teams@Work

    October is when the country celebrates technicians with National Veterinary Technician Week—and the Trends photo contest. This year we renamed it Teams@Work to reflect that veterinary assistants are also featured.

  • Managing Pain in a Community Clinic

    In this hypothetical case, our patient, Teddy, is at a free clinic where you are volunteering for the morning, and you will have to communicate all the options to the owner without making her feel like the best ones are financially out of reach.

  • Technician Retention and Leadership

    Technician retention and good leadership are inextricably tied, as we discuss in this Central Line podcast episode with Natalie Boursiquot, RVT, and Liz Hughston, MEd, RVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM, ECC). From the role individuals can play in systemic change to insights into how leadership can show technicians—and other employees—they truly matter, this conversation was full of helpful ideas for increasing tech retention.

  • Employee of the Month, October 2023

    This month’s prize winner is Client Care Specialist Tana Rafter, of Edmond East Animal Hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma!

September 2023


Trends September 2023

In this issue:

  • Veterinary Social Workers
  • Humor Therapy
  • Debate Over Noncompete Clauses
  • Telehealth and Dental Care


PDF of full issue

  • Inside AAHA September 2023

    Margot Vahrenwald DVM, AAHA’s president for 2022–2023, shares an anecdote that illustrates the toll that poor mental health can take on a team, and how a caring attitude can unite the team. The Community shares memories of accreditation and its importance, 90 years after AAHA began.

  • Notebook: September 2023

    News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: Pet Insurance Industry Surpasses $3.5 billion; New Center for Veterinary Social Work; Clemson Approves New College of Veterinary Medicine; Research Finds Dogs Have Better Health Outcomes With Another Animal in the home; and Veterinary Supplier Sentenced for Misbranded Drugs.

  • JAAHA Abstracts

    Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.

  • Beyond the EAP

    Veterinary professionals can “give ‘til it hurts,” sacrificing their mental health and wellbeing while helping pets and the people who love them. In this article, veterinary social workers and other wellness experts share tips on ways to bolster mental health in the day-to-day and why it’s so important.

  • Laugh to Lighten the Load

    It can be hard to find humor in a profession filled with burnout and high rates of mental health issues. But some professionals say that is precisely why it is so important to bring the element of humor into vet med.

  • Noncompete Clauses and Veterinary Practice

    A proposed FTC rule could ban noncompete clauses. The debate is fierce and ongoing. This article explores some of the challenges and repercussions of the proposed ban.

  • Improving Patient Care with Diagnostic Dental Imaging

    Internationally recognized veterinary dental expert Brook Niemiec, DVM, DADVC talks about the benefits of dental teleradiology for the practice, the patient, and the client.

  • Pain Management Is a Team Sport

    The prevention and management of pain in veterinary patients is a core responsibility that should be shared by all members of the veterinary team. This article explores creating a team that is focused on pain management—from the CSR to the client.

  • Stress First Aid for Veterinary Teams

    Melyssa Allen, MA, CHWC, DACLM, aims to make first aid for stress just as second-nature for veterinary professionals. Allen describes the Stress First Aid framework, first developed for the US military and now available for healthcare workers, and why it should be part of every veterinary practice, just like antihistamines, Band-Aids, and an eye wash station.

  • Employee of the Month, September 2023

    This month’s prize winner is Practice Manager Ericka Ivey, from All for Pets Veterinary Clinic in Cabot, Arkansas!

August 2023

Trends August 2023

In this issue:

  • Cat Champions
  • The Cat-Only Practice
  • Improving Cat Visits
  • Cats and Dermatology

PDF of full issue

July 2023


Trends July 2023

In this issue:

  • TikTok Docs
  • Mentorship: A Student’s Perspective
  • Mentoring Guidelines
  • Improve Client Service—Virtually


PDF of full issue

June 2023



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In this issue:

  • Rethinking Recruitment
  • Social Media: Your Secret Weapon
  • Selected Endocrinopathies Guidelines
  • Bridging the Gap to Belonging


PDF of full issue

  • Inside AAHA June 2023

    AAHA director Cheryl Smith, CVPM, weighs in on the challenges of recruitment and the need to encourage technicians’ professional development. AAHA Community asks how to re-assign caseloads after a veterinarian leaves the practice.

  • Notebook: June 2023

    News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: CDC Warns of Emerging Threat of Cat-Transmitted Sporotrichosis; UC Davis Study of Symblepharon in Kittens Breaks New Ground; New Research Shows Environmental Impact of Small Animal Parasiticides; and more.

  • Rethinking Recruitment

    It’s a job-seekers market, so we need to work even harder to make a career in veterinary medicine appealing to as many people as possible. Melody Martínez, CVT, talks about building workplace cultures that are welcoming to people of all cultures, races, and genders.

  • Your Secret Weapon for Recruiting

    In today’s era, social media has perforated almost every area of our lives, and in recent years, the business world has certainly noticed. Digital marketing specialist Nicole Scott-Jones explains how by leveraging the power of social media, you can showcase your clinic's culture and team dynamics while also highlighting the unique aspects of each job position.

  • 2023 AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines

    Executive summary of the latest from AAHA, the 2023 AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines.

  • Authentic Leadership: What It Is and Why You Need It

    This article defines authentic leadership. It also outlines the roles of one’s personal history and life experiences, the larger social context, and self-awareness in it. Questions are provided to prod the reader to examine his/her/their authentic leadership style.

  • This Job BITES!

    Education, Protocols Can Lessen Risks of Bites and Scratches

  • Bridging the Gap to Belonging

    In the midst of more conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging than ever before, people with whom we share critical patients and break room donuts are being forced to hide who they are, flee their homes, and live in fear simply for existing as they are. A conversation with Ewan D.S. Wolff, PhD, DVM, DACVIM, sheds some light on this critical problem.

  • Employee of the Month, June 2023

    This month’s $500 prize winner is Heather Stitzel, RVT, of Edmond East Animal Hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma!

May 2023


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In this issue:

  • Active Shooters: Be Prepared
  • To Board or Not to Board?
  • The Art of Bandaging
  • Josh Vaisman on Culture


PDF of full issue

  • Inside AAHA May 2023

    AAHA treasurer Dermot Jevens, MVB, DACVS, discusses the importance of having a team that is well-prepared to face any type of emergency or disaster. AAHA Community discusses the best ways to handle inactive clients and pets.

  • Notebook: May 2023

    News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: Statement Issued on The Standardization of the Abdominal Ultrasound Examination; Dry Food Effects on The Antioxidant Profile of Dogs; Genetic Test Can Detect Deadly Bleeding Disorder in Dogs; and more!

  • JAAHA Abstracts

    Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.

  • Preparing for the Unthinkable

    Mass shootings are unfortunately a fact of life in the United States. Being prepared for such an emergency as well as other forms of workplace violence is critical to keeping staff, patients, and clients safe. This article looks at some ways to prepare for the worst.

  • To Board or Not to Board

    It might seem like a no brainer for animal hospitals to offer boarding—after all, clients trust their veterinary teams. But is there enough revenue potential to make the staffing issues and added workload for veterinarians worth it? This article interviews experts at AAHA-accredited practices about the pros and cons of offering pet boarding at veterinary hospitals.

  • The Rules of the Game: Employee Handbooks

    Introduce new employees to your clinic and enable them to shine.

  • Dental Case Study: Tella

    Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP and his team had to get creative when trying to intubate a dog with such severe periodontal disease that its mouth could not be opened far enough to see the larynx.

  • It Takes a Village

    Being an ally, an advocate, and committing to diversity are important steps toward making the veterinary profession a safer and more equitable place for everyone. This article outlines some ways to make that happen.

  • The Art of Bandaging

    Bandaging is an art. It is a skill that every technician, new or experienced, should continue to hone throughout their career. Bandages themselves are multifaceted. Proper selection and application are critical components of wound healing. Understanding the properties and functions of bandages is key to correct selection and will aid in a successful application.

  • Why Care about a Positive Culture?

    A Healthy culture has all the vibes.

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Veterinary Education and Beyond

    In an interview for Central Line: The AAHA Podcast, Tina Tran, DVM, associate professor and clinical relations lead veterinarian at the University of Arizona discusses how intertwined diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are with her work in helping veterinary students enter the field as confident, empathic colleagues with the ability to handle conflict and to examine their own biases.

  • Employee of the Month, May 2023

    Jamie Swick, Veterinary Assistant, of Pine Grove Veterinary Hospital in Severn/Ontario, is the May 2023 EOTM winner!

April 2023

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In this issue:

  • Parasite Conversations
  • Preventive Care Communication
  • New Cancer Tool
  • Tufts Simulation Lab


PDF of full issue

March 2023

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In this issue:

  • The Gender Pay Gap 
  • Assessing Behavior Virtually 
  • Remote CSRs 
  • Being a Mom in Vet Med


PDF of full issue

February 2023

February 2023

In this issue:

  • Marketing to Owners of Senior Pets
  • How Old is Too Old for Dentals?
  • 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
  • Communicating with Infographics


PDF of full issue

January 2023

Jan 2023

In this issue:

  • Sharing the Load with Techs
  • Using Techs to the Fullest
  • Client Education: Respiratory Distress
  • Hiring and Keeping Great Staff
 

PDF of full issue