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

• info@mpequine.com