opportunities in equine veterinary practice for technicians
DESCRIPTION
Elise Wickett, RVT and Mike Pownall, DVM of McKee-Pownall Equine Services gave this presentation to the OAVT on December 19, 2011TRANSCRIPT
Opportunities in Equine Practice for
Veterinary Technicians Elise Wickett, RVT Mike Pownall, DVM
McKee-Pownall Equine Services
www.mpequine.com
slideshare.net/mpequine
Transition to a new future
• What’s wrong with the current model
• Give examples of a new model
• What are the opportunities
• How you can be part of the change
Let’s start at the beginning
What’s wrong with this picture?
Lessons from small animal
The MPES Way
•Non- DVM tasks•Client Education•Training•Billing•Making app’t go as smooth as possible•Special Projects
School- round one
• Equine Certificate
School – round two
• Diploma in Agriculture
Off to ride horses for a year!
School – round two and a half
• Finished Diploma in Agriculture
First job as equine technician
What I loved…• The horses• The challenge of the tasks• Learning• Opportunity to learn about
and help people and their horses
… and not so much• The hours• The lack of work-life
balance (not having time for my own horse)
• Some days I felt like all I had to offer was the ability to carry equipment
So what happened next?
Burnt out and unhappy
Eventually returned to work
A lot of self analysis
Still something missing
School – round three
• Veterinary Technician Diploma
• Part time job working in research
The Externship!
• General technician duties
• RVT designation• MRI• Podiatry• Head Technician
Why am I telling you this?
• Happiness
• Get you thinking of potential opportunities and let you know where we see the opportunities
• Combat some of the challenges of being an equine ambulatory technician
Some things to consider
• Self Analysis
• Culture
• Resources
Some Ideas
I like..
• English, journalism or have a strong writing background
I can..
• Create a practice newsletter, write protocols or staff handbook, write a blog
MPES Blog Page
I like…
• Horticulture
I can…
• Become the toxic and poisonous plants expert
I like…• Teaching and
Mentoring
I can…• Develop client
education initiatives• Train staff• Run student
education programs• Educate clients at
appointments
I like… I can…• Be the social media
guru
Challenges
•Ambulatory•Culture–Vets–Other staff
ChallengesAmbulatory Practice
Vets
How does this impact others?
• Patient• Client• Veterinarian (non owner)• Other staff(support staff, other technicians)• Practice owner
Impact on MPES
• Quicker billing• Better collections• Fewer missed items• Better customer compliance• Better customer relationships
The bottom line
•Happy techs = happy clinic•Less turnover– $30,000
•Institutional memory•Happier clients with familiar techs
Making your case
•$300,000 ave full time vet•Decrease missed billing 5%= $15,000•decrease AR = 2 hours/week $2000•Less turnover = $30,000•Increased efficiencies of 10% = 30,000
•Total benefit of $77,000
Key points
• Self analysis• Practice analysis• Have a plan• Communicate your ideas• Flexibility within your plan• Be realistic• Re-evaluate and reassess frequently
Tech Tasks
• Client education initiatives• Laboratory duties: blood
work, fecals, PRP and IRAP processing, plate and culture swabs, semen evaluation
• TPR• Vaccinations• Artificial Insemination• Stallion Semen Collection• Radiography
• Nutrition• Dentistry• Place catheters• Monitor anesthesia in field
surgery situations• Shockwave Therapy• Laser Therapy• Bandage Change • Administer Medications• Digital Pictures & Video• Gait analysis
Future opportunities
•Fewer vets want to do equine•Enhanced tech specialization•Tech practitioners
Questions?
Contact Us
• http://www.slideshare.net/mpequine• www.mpequine.com• YouTube/mpequine• Facebook.com/Mckee-Pownall-Equine-Services• Twitter– MckeePownall– McKeePownallES– MelissaMckeedvm