7 August 2022 | Product and Promotions Guide
The Team
I don't think it's possible to
overstate the importance
of the surgical team you work with
before, during, and after a surgical
procedure. It starts with choosing
the right team, and then focusing
on the development and success of
that team.
We all know that money spent
can be viewed as either an
investment or an expense.
Spending money on the education
and development of your surgical
team and staff members is by
far the best investment you can
make. In addition to sending
our team to meetings to gather
necessary Continuing Education
credits, we always make it a
priority to include the team in
various learning opportunities. For
instance, I actively share journal
articles and research results
with the paraprofessional staff.
I also make sure to include them
in discussions with sales reps to
learn new product options and
technological developments. I
regularly invite industry and vendor
partners to share information with
our team. These actions have a
two-fold effect: First, my team is
knowledgeable and skilled, and
more importantly, they feel valued
as they grow and develop their
professional skills.
I am also a strong believer in
finding the right people for the
job, and then not meddling in their
affairs while they do it. Trust in
the people you have chosen is
paramount to building loyalty
and morale.
This commitment is a win-win all
around, especially for the pets we
see in the operating room.
Communication
The first step to successful
outcomes in veterinary
surgery is communication. Your
clients need to fully understand
what defines success. What are
the goals for this surgery? What
can the client expect to achieve?
What are the potential risks and
complications? It is not fair to a
client to simply be told "We are
going to do surgery to fix your dog's
ACL." What does this mean? What
are they paying for? And what
should they expect?
Clients not only deserve to have
these conversations and upfront
communication, but they're a
necessary component for ensuring
success and go a long way towards
preventing and responding to
potential complaints and concerns.
Spending money on
the education and
development of your
surgical team and staff
members is by far
the best investment
you can make.
