Whistler Partners’ Post

Recently, my colleagues and I put together our perspectives on evolving trends in the pet care and veterinary sector. Given the recent trends in pet ecosystem, companies have a massive opportunity to innovate and improve performance. The continued complexities, including increases in product and services costs, talent shortages, workforce burnouts, operational inefficiencies, etc. are now resulting in impacting pets’ quality of life, as well as reducing pet ownership. Solving for affordable and accessible pet care requires a collaborative approach across the pet care ecosystem and several encouraging examples have started to emerge. Business leaders can leverage data and collaborate with other stakeholders to improve the operational efficiencies of their businesses and ensure that the pets continue to get the love that they deserve. Take a look at our recent perspectives and reach out if you are interested in a more detailed discussion.

Creating a positive environment in your veterinary practice begins with empowering your staff to handle challenging situations. Here are some strategies: 🎓 Beef up customer service training. Instead of saying 'no,' teach your team to say, "Here's what I can do for you." This approach invites positivity and solution-oriented thinking. ⚡️ Encourage staff to recognize their own triggers. Understanding which comments or complaints might cause defensiveness helps them devise effective response strategies, keeping the situation productive and under control. 👫 Implement a buddy system during patient and client encounters to provide extra support during difficult conversations. 🎈 Establish let-it-go rituals such as taking timely breaks, sharing an inside joke or turning on a positive playlist to help your team process difficult encounters. 🔄 Regularly conduct individual check-ins post-challenging scenarios. Everyone processes experiences differently, ensuring everyone can move past tough situations at their own pace. By implementing these strategies, you empower your staff to handle situations calmly and consistently, resulting in a better service experience for clients and their pets!

AP's Best Friend: How Veterinary Emergency Group Eliminated Manual Back Office Operations with Coupa Software Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gHYWGeNc August 29th, 2023 at 10:00 AM (PT) | 1:00 PM (ET) Veterinary Emergency Group has been revolutionizing the veterinary emergency experience for people and their pets since 2014. At 40 locations nationwide and growing by the week, they needed to replace inefficient, manual AP processes with a scalable P2P platform that could support their complex, decentralized business model. Join Raksmey Pringle, Head of Procurement & Inventory, and Brittany Caruso, Director of AP, to hear how VEG was able to break down silos across finance and gain efficiency, gain end-to-end visibility, and operationalize their compliance and control environment to prepare for a future IPO. Join us on August 29th, 2023 to learn: The benefits of a holistic platform approach to P2P How to achieve end-to-end visibility in a decentralized, multi-location organization How they approached their P2P partner evaluation process, Best practices for achieving a quick time-to-value implementation Successful change management initiative in a complex, fast-growing organization Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gHYWGeNc

Top tips for securing a veterinary specialist role!!! Securing a veterinary specialist role involves demonstrating both your clinical expertise and your ability to fit into the specific practice or hospital environment. Here are tailored interview tips for a veterinary specialist position: 1. Research the Practice 2. Understand the Role:  - Job Description              - Specialty Requirements: Identify how your specialty fits into their current offerings and what unique value you can bring. 3. Showcase Your Expertise              - Highlight Relevant Experience - Use Case Studies to illustrate your clinical decision-making and outcomes. 4. Prepare for Common Specialist Questions             - Technical Questions: Be prepared to answer in-depth questions  about your specialty, including diagnostic techniques, treatment plans, and recent advancements in your field.             - Behavioral Questions: Expect questions about how you handle    difficult cases, communicate with pet owners, and work within a  team of other specialists and general practitioners. 5. Ask Thoughtful Questions              - Show Your Interest              - Explore Growth Opportunities 6. Showcase Soft Skills              - Communication: Emphasise your ability to clearly communicate complex medical information to pet owners and team members.              - Teamwork              - Empathy and Compassion 7. Present Yourself Professionally              - Dress Appropriately: Wear professional attire that is slightly more formal than the typical clinic dress code. 8. Be Punctual              - Plan Your Visit              - Virtual Interviews: For virtual interviews, test your technology            (camera, microphone, internet connection) ahead of time and log in a few minutes early. 9 Portfolio: - Consider bringing a portfolio that includes case studies, research, and any other materials that showcase your expertise. 10. Follow-Up                  - Thank-You Note: Send a personalised thank-you email within 24 hours, expressing your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterating your interest in the role.                  - Reflect: Reflect on the interview to identify areas for  improvement and make notes for future reference. By focusing on these tailored tips, you can effectively demonstrate your qualifications, fit, and enthusiasm for a veterinary specialist position, thereby increasing your chances of success. If you would like to know more great insights, please don't hesitate to DM me for more information. #vetspecialists #careers #jobopportunities

GeniusVets Co-founder, David Hall will be in the learning lounge at Fetch, don’t miss it! --> https://lnkd.in/gE3VaHr9 The Three Things You’re Doing Wrong When Trying To Hire Doctors and Staff: There are three keys to attracting applicants. David Hall will take a look from the perspective of potential candidates and share what you can do to stand out above your competition. The Most Important Thing Veterinary Practices Forget About Customer Service: Over 95% of veterinary practices demonstrate a fundamental disconnect from what pet owners need most. But you can fix this divide with one important mindset shift. David Hall will cover what the standout 5% of practices are doing to grow. The Good, Bad, and Crazy - Reputation Management in a World of Reviews: Whether you like them or not, reviews are here to stay and they are more important than you think. Learn the 3 simple steps to nourish a stellar reputation.

Nobody cares…… Specifically, nobody cares about YOU! I used to say this a lot when we were just starting our journey with our VETERINARY INDEPENDENT PURCHASING GROUP - and my very wise wife Helen Kelly told me not to be so harsh! So I refrained However, in a lot of cases, sadly, it’s true. And it doesn’t have to be because you’re small. The other week I was working with an #independent #veterinarypractice who, it’s fair say, have their challenges. In the midst of which their rebates from one supplier had simple STOPPED 🛑 On investigation, it was because they hadn’t signed some random bit of paper! Yes, I know, you contract & legal junkies will jump down my throat, but aren’t those relationships, built up over weeks, months & years worth something? But nobody bothered to make contact… Using the much vaunted”know, like, trust, transact” model, there’s another step not talked about… familiarity. Now familiarity can be a good thing… it enhances trust, BUT as my auld granny would tell you (if she wasn’t upstairs playing the harp), familiarity (also) breeds contempt! So what do we do? We make contact again, we build bridges & we have those rebates restored… or (& in this case this is what happened) we move away, we build a relationship with someone else, or utilise an already strong #relationship with another #supplier… and that helps A LOT! It’s what we do! The only remaining question in this scenario therefore is; If they didn’t notice you when you were there, will they notice you when you’re gone? If you feel like you are being treated poorly, not being listened to or even being ignored, give me a shout!! We care. WE CARE A LOT! 🙂

Nobody cares…… Specifically, nobody cares about YOU! I used to say this a lot when we were just starting our journey with our VETERINARY INDEPENDENT PURCHASING GROUP - and my very wise wife Helen Kelly told me not to be so harsh! So I refrained However, in a lot of cases, sadly, it’s true. And it doesn’t have to be because you’re small. The other week I was working with an #independent #veterinarypractice who, it’s fair say, have their challenges. In the midst of which their rebates from one supplier had simple STOPPED 🛑 On investigation, it was because they hadn’t signed some random bit of paper! Yes, I know, you contract & legal junkies will jump down my throat, but aren’t those relationships, built up over weeks, months & years worth something? But nobody bothered to make contact… Using the much vaunted”know, like, trust, transact” model, there’s another step not talked about… familiarity. Now familiarity can be a good thing… it enhances trust, BUT as my auld granny would tell you (if she wasn’t upstairs playing the harp), familiarity (also) breeds contempt! So what do we do? We make contact again, we build bridges & we have those rebates restored… or (& in this case this is what happened) we move away, we build a relationship with someone else, or utilise an already strong #relationship with another #supplier… and that helps A LOT! It’s what we do! The only remaining question in this scenario therefore is; If they didn’t notice you when you were there, will they notice you when you’re gone? If you feel like you are being treated poorly, not being listened to or even being ignored, give me a shout!! We care. WE CARE A LOT! 🙂

"Perception of quality is more important than actual quality" Last week, I was reading the book 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, and one of their principles around product positioning resonated with the effort we are going through right now at ToxiPets by Chivelab, Inc. "Perception of quality is more important than actual quality. The best way to build a perception of quality is by building your brand. Having a better name (reputation) than competition builds a perception of quality.". When people hear about ToxiPets, we want to be associated with: 1. Reliable: Users should associate ToxiPets with dependable and trustworthy information on pet safety, backed by expert veterinary knowledge. 2. Empowering: ToxiPets should be seen as a tool that empowers pet owners with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions for their pets' well-being. 3. Caring: The brand should evoke a sense of care and concern for pets, positioning ToxiPets as a partner in promoting the health and safety of furry family members. 4. Innovative: ToxiPets should be perceived as a cutting-edge solution, leveraging AI and vision intelligence to provide advanced and up-to-date insights on pet toxicity. #startuplife #branding #productpositioning

Implementing new technology in your veterinary practice can be an exciting process for both your team and your clients. With these tips, you can introduce clients to your new offering and ensure a successful implementation that benefits your practice, your clients, and their pets.

In the veterinary industry, there is a clear distinction between a veterinary leader and a veterinary manager. A veterinary leader possesses strong strategic vision, sets clear goals and objectives, and inspires their team to achieve excellence in patient care and client satisfaction. They are able to navigate complex situations, make tough decisions, and lead by example. On the other hand, a veterinary manager focuses on overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth workflow, and maintaining efficiency within the clinic. They are skilled in resource management, staff scheduling, and problem-solving to keep the practice running smoothly. 🐾👩⚕️🏥📈 Veterinary leaders are often visionary individuals who have a deep understanding of the veterinary industry and are able to adapt to new challenges and changes within the field. They are adept at fostering a positive work culture, promoting continuous learning, and building strong relationships with both their team and clients. Additionally, they demonstrate strong communication skills to effectively convey their vision and goals to their staff, inspiring them to work towards a common purpose. On the other hand, veterinary managers excel in operational efficiency, organization, and problem-solving. They are able to handle the day-to-day challenges of running a clinic, ensuring that resources are utilized optimally and the business operates smoothly. 📋💡💪 In summary, while a veterinary leader focuses on strategic vision, team inspiration, and driving the practice forward, a veterinary manager is adept at operational management, resource optimization, and solving day-to-day challenges. Both roles in a partnership are vital for the success of veterinary practices and complement each other to create a well-rounded and efficient team. However, many amazing individuals in the veterinary profession can bring both types of skill sets into a new role to help the clinic reach its full potential. Understanding the difference between these roles and skill sets is crucial for veterinary professionals seeking leadership positions or looking to enhance their management skills within the industry. 🐶👨💼💼📊 #VeterinaryLeadership #VeterinaryManagement #AnimalCareProfessionals #Petfolk