The first North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) HiVE has arrived! This week, we’re joined by Paige Allen, MS, RVT, a familiar voice to the Viewfinders, to discuss her exciting new collaboration with NAVC to usher in a new era in veterinary technician/nurse conferences. And if you use the code VIEW, you can register for only $15! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, welcome back a dear friend and colleague, Paige Allen, to share news of the first NAVC HiVE to be held October 16-18, 2023, at the Palmer Events Center in “Keep Austin weird” Austin, Texas! Paige shares how HiVE ca ..read more

The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) has proclaimed September as Animal Pain Awareness Month, and this coincides with human medicine’s Pain Awareness Month. This episode features one of the outstanding veterinary professionals behind this initiative, a familiar voice on the podcast, and our friend, Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (anesthesia and analgesia). Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, discuss the origins of Animal Pain Awareness Month and how Tom Hanks’ 1989 movie, “Turner and Hooch,” played a pivotal role in the life of Tasha McNerney. Don’t judg ..read more

Hypothetically speaking, have you ever encountered a veterinary staff member who added their parent’s pets to their personal account? Do those pets receive the same discounts, priorities, or privileges as other staff member’s own pets? What about calling for after-hours assistance on behalf of friends and family? Viewfinders, how far do pet care discounts and benefits extend? Do you have written policies governing these rules? Let’s get into it. Host Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, share their experiences with veterinary team members skirting on the edge of extending their pet care bene ..read more

Veterinary medicine has a diversity and inclusion problem. While an issue that large may not be something most veterinary professionals believe they can solve, Dr. Valerie Marcano is committed to trying. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, are thrilled to introduce you to one of the founders of Pawsilbilities Vet Med, Dr. Valerie Marcano. Pawsibilities Vet Med is an organization created to provide mentorship to minorities, LBGTQ+, and other marginalized communities in veterinary medicine. Dr. Marcano shares her journey from growing up in the Dominican Republic, to moving to ..read more

Who would guess that choosing a software subscription or medical equipment could cause division and disharmony within a veterinary practice team? Join Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, in The Veterinary Viewfinder's latest podcast episode: "Who Decides What To Buy? Veterinary Team Decision-Making For Software and Equipment Purchases." This week our hosts delve into the critical aspect of choosing software and equipment in the veterinary world and discover the thought process behind these crucial decisions. With expert insights from Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, this episode sheds ..read more

Who gets to go when it’s slow at your veterinary clinic? This week we tackle a tough topic rarely talked about, yet it happens in a variety of ways. Who gets to leave early can be divisive among your team if you don’t set boundaries and guidelines. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, begin with an overview of this seemingly innocuous issue. They share their own personal experiences, and lessons learned the hard way! This conversation is full of practical advice, and we think it should be shared with your clinic leaders! Viewfinders, what do you think? Has this been an issue in your cl ..read more

What happens when an animal needs emergency care, and you can’t contact the owner? What if you don’t have adequate equipment or medications? Do you tell the owner? What if that animal is under your care or being boarded? What about giving a boarding pet an anti-diarrheal without explicit permission? Viewfinders, this week we’ve got a multitude of ethical dilemmas concerning veterinary medical consent. It’s a good one! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, share stories from the trenches regarding sticky situations concerning the consent of care. Our anchors cover many moral and ethical ..read more

We talk a lot about the importance of rewarding and recognizing your veterinary team members, but what about celebrating them? This week we discuss the difference between benefits, incentives, and rewards and why all are essential in maintaining a harmonious and healthy workplace environment. Viewfinders, there’s much more to this topic than an “Employee of the Month” certificate! Host Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, take a deep dive into what it means to celebrate veterinary clinic employees. Dr. Ward suggests “inspiring” should be an essential element of any celebration, and Beckie of ..read more

Have you ever talked smack about another veterinary clinic? Have you ever had a client bad mouth their previous vet? This week we examine how we talk about our veterinary colleagues and how we may be inadvertently “talking trash” about each other. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, explore the intentional and unintentional ways our comments and questions may negatively impact our colleagues. From clients questioning prior care to veterinary professionals publicly dismissing others’ opinions and actions, this episode features a bevy of thorny ethical and moral dilemmas. Viewfinders, h ..read more

Do you have a boss or manager who constantly checks everything you do? Do you feel excessively supervised? Does your boss tell you what task needs to be accomplished and by when… but then watches your every move and frequently criticize your work and processes? If so, you may be micromanaged. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, begin this podcast by defining micromanagement in the veterinary clinic. They discuss a micromanager's typical traits and actions and why some people are more likely to micromanage than others. They explore how harmful - and counterproductive - micromanaging ca ..read more