Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

The controversies began before the official opening of the 2023 AVMA Convention in Denver. One debate that resurfaced this year was expanding the scope of practice, review of licensed veterinary technicians’ roles, and their permitted professional duties. Despite having no regulatory or enforcement abilities, the AVMA proclaimed it would pledge “to defend against expanding the scope of practice,”...

Most U.S. veterinary professionals are required to complete continuing education (CE) to maintain their professional licenses. But who chooses those CE opportunities, and who pays for them? How are you paid for time away from the clinic? Who decides when you can take CE? This week we discuss the perils and pitfalls of providing veterinary CE for employees - and the dangers of not. Viewfinders, the...

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...

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 choo...

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 l...

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 cons...

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 W...

As PRIDE Month comes to a close, we wanted to share our thoughts, experiences, and tips for being a better ally for the veterinary profession’s LBGTQ+ community. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, reveal their experiences and learnings from their own LBGTQ+ advocacy efforts. Dr. Ward shares lessons from his political campaigning, and Beckie reviews how she has grown in her allyship effor...

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 colleag...

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 veterin...

“Sweetie, can you help me?” “Hey, Doc, can you check this out?” “Honey, that’s very kind of you.” Do any of these terms make you feel disrespected? Uncomfortable? It doesn’t matter why; if terms like these make you feel uneasy, you’re entitled to speak up. This week, we discuss inadvertently hurtful words and phrases that veterinary professionals frequently encounter in practice. We also discuss a...

Veterinary appointment no-shows can wreak havoc on your schedule, decrease revenue, and lower team morale. This week, we examine strategies for dealing with veterinary clients who fail to show up for their appointments. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, tackle the too-common problem of veterinary appointment no-shows. Dr. Ward shares the history of strategies to deal with no-shows over...

Veterinary Clinic Violence - Shively Animal Hospital Fatal Shooting This is another conversation about violence in veterinary clinics that we wish we didn’t have to have. This week we want to discuss some of the lessons veterinary professionals can learn following the fatal shooting of a veterinary team member at the Shively Animal Hospital in Kentucky. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT,...

Viewfinders, we've got lots of questions about swapping stuff with other veterinary clinics! Chances are you've asked to borrow or been asked by a neighboring veterinary clinic for medications or supplies you've run out of. How do you charge for them? What happens if you discover your price is significantly different than your competitor's? Do you even send clients to another practice or business...

We know there are significant health benefits to sharing your home with a pet. So why don’t more older people have a companion animal? This week, we explore the possible stigma and biases faced by seniors who could benefit from pet ownership. Viewfinders, this is a good one! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, tackle a tough topic rarely talked about: the fears, concerns, and even biases...

“Lasting hope starts here.” This week, we’d like to introduce the Viewfinders to a fantastic new veterinary support organization, the Veterinary Hope Foundation. We’re thrilled to speak with one of the co-founders, Dr. Blair McConnel, and the head of the Mental Health Professionals for the organization, Krista Martin, LISW-CP, LCSW. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, review veterinary pr...

It’s Veterinary Receptionist Appreciation Week, and we’ve got the person who started it all, Ethel Pawlak! Joins us to celebrate our amazing veterinary receptionists April 23-29 as Veterinary Receptionist Week! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, are joined by the person who started Veterinary Receptionist Week some nineteen years ago, Ethel Pawlak. We share her story of decades in veteri...

This week, we’re delighted to bring you a special episode on large animal and livestock veterinary technicians featuring The Cattle Vet Tech, Meg Harrington, BS, CVT. Meg shares the latest update (and back story) on the recent changes to expand the scope of work veterinary technicians in her home state of Arkansas can perform and why she’s so passionate about large animal medicine! We don’t talk n...

There have been a lot of legal moves lately regarding the roles, regulations, and titles of U.S. veterinary technicians. This week we look closer at what’s happening in several states and why all veterinary professionals must stay informed. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, review the recent legal maneuvers in Arkansas and what impact these changes may have around the country. This week...

This week we’re delighted to have one of the founders of The Bridge Club join us. Catherine Haskins has spent much of her career behind the scenes in veterinary medicine, and now that she’s stepping out front, she’s got a lot to say! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, share the mic with Catherine Haskins of The Bridge Club. In her words, The Bridge Club “is a critical conversation compan...

Chances are, if you’re a veterinary technician, you were asked for a “working interview” during the hiring process. This week, we’ve got a veterinary technician who cautions that not only may working interviews be illegal, but that may put interviewees at considerable risk. Viewfinders, you don’t want to miss this one! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, are joined by Amy Newfield, MS, CV...

Working in a veterinary clinic can be stressful and downright depressing at times. A positive leadership team and support structure can make your job more enjoyable and meaningful. This week we’ve got Josh Vaisman to discuss his survey called “Leadership & Workplace Experience Study: The Impact of Positive Leadership on Veterinary Teams.” Viewfinders, this is a conversation we think you’ll find he...

Many veterinary professionals are familiar with Class IV or “cold” laser therapy for pet patients suffering from arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. The challenge many pet parent face is bringing their dog or cat to the vet clinic for regular treatments. This week, MedcoVet’s CEO, Alon Landa, joins us to discuss how veterinary professionals can prescribe in-home laser therapy for their pa...

Title protection for medical professionals, particularly veterinary technicians, continues to be an issue in the US. This week we’re joined by two of our favorite - and outspoken - vet tech friends, Stephen Cital and Liz Hughston. They review a recent article they co-authored titled “Why title protection matters: A look at where we’ve been, where we’re going, and why it is still an issue.” Viewfin...

This week we’re proud to bring you a conversation with a fundamental change agent within the veterinary profession, Paige A. Allen, MS, RVT. Paige has guided both veterinary technician organizations and held the highest office in the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) - FOR TWO TERMS! This week she shares her story and vision for the future of veterinary medicine. Prepare to be inspired! H...