VBJ articles

May 2017

Practice planning part 2: an essay on driving growth

Dave Nicol explains how watching client growth like a hawk is the real secret to making your practice fly.

17 mins

April 2017

Fleas and ticks: how to get the compliance message across

Climate change is having a big impact on the threats posed by ectoparasites to the nation’s pets. Here, one of the UK’s leading parasitologists, Ian Wright, looks at what veterinary practices can do to help tackle ticks and fight fleas.

23 mins
Puppies and kittens: invest now for future business benefits

Vicky Robinson discusses why it's important to see beyond the obvious ‘cute factor’ and recognise the significant clinical and commercial factors implicit in the arrival of a new puppy or kitten.

19 mins

March 2017

Fully charged – part 1: balancing the fee to drug ratio

In the first of a two-part series exploring simple, but effective, ways to regain control of your practice finances, Alison Lambert focuses on one fundamental shift that will greatly improve the profitability and sustainability of your business model.

17 mins
Practice planning part 1: starting out on your own

With competition, tighter purse strings and the wonder of the web, setting up a new practice is not for the faint of heart. Adam Bernstein looks at some of the things to think about.

15 mins
Add value to your digital message using the power of AdWords

Google AdWords has grown into a relevant tool for businesses to use as part of their digital marketing strategy. Brooke Wheeler explains how it has become a platform trusted by internet users and can be as valuable as organic search results.

10 mins

February 2017

The smart approach: looking at evidence for responsible antibiotic use

Ernie Ward explains how the rise of antimicrobial resistance and the development of new diagnostic tests mean you could soon be spending more time in the lab.

17 mins

January 2017

Obesity in pets: weighing up the options – a business case

Obesity is now recognised as the most important medical disease in pets1. In the UK alone, at least 59% of dogs and 39% of cats are overweight or obese2,3. This is a big challenge for small animal vets, but it can also provide some big opportunities.

17 mins
Health care compliance: seize the opportunity for your practice

Revenue in the veterinary market has remained largely static, but this doesn’t mean growing your practice is a zero-sum game. Graeme Pack and Giles Pugh look at improving compliance.

16 mins

December 2016

Image is everything: focused approach to multiple modalities

Ultrasound, x-ray, CT and MRI: these machines have helped open up new areas of veterinary medicine over the past few decades, but, for the uninitiated, more options can also mean more pitfalls, says James Westgate.

17 mins
Why your business would benefit from acting like a start-up

As a practice manager, life can be a blur: a multitude of meetings, admin and customer conundrums. It can be difficult to juggle the daily challenges, let alone consider them from a different viewpoint. Yet, doing so could pay dividends, says Holly Kernot.

7 mins

November 2016

Playing the waiting game: why it pays to know the rules

Space comes at a premium and most practices have a finite amount to use when it comes to the waiting area. However, by following a few simple rules, much can be achieved with even the smallest space, as John O'Connor explains.

8 mins
Want to improve your working environment? Join the culture club

If you’re wondering how companies develop a culture, then you’re already moving in the right direction, as Mike Clare explains.

16 mins
The Insurance Act 2015: what it means to you – and your practice

The Insurance Act 2015 came in on 12 August 2016 and brought the most significant reform to insurance law in more than 100 years, according to Simon Brooks.

11 mins

October 2016

Put on a consult room show and become a star performer

Dave Nicol explains how, when it comes to getting good outcomes for pets in the consulting room, it’s all about performance – and not clinical performance, either.

16 mins

September 2016

Integrating holistic and conventional veterinary practice

Wendy McGrandles, one of the UK’s leading exponents of complementary therapies and holistic veterinary medicine, explains how to make it work for you and your clients.

22 mins
Branding – why it matters and how to do it well

Branding has been described as delivering on a promise made. Here, Alison Lambert asks what your practice can do to ensure it delivers on its promises.

16 mins
Straightforward engagement with pet owners

"In the end, we can have a palace of smoked glass and stainless steel with all the toys in the world, but unless we engage with tomorrow’s pet owners on their terms, we’ll struggle to make a viable business," writes Chanticleer.

13 mins

August 2016

Growing obesity in pets: a problem of epidemic proportions?

Pet nutrition specialist Cecilia Villaverde outlines the central role veterinary practices can play in fighting this growing epidemic.

16 mins
Run like clockwork: don’t let wasteful workflow dent cashflow

With heightened competition and rising costs, why are so many veterinary practices poor at maximising efficiency? Adam Bernstein speaks to two leading experts to ask how practices can improve workflow and avoid putting profitability in peril.

20 mins