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Take the pressure downPractical tips on how to

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You’re hired!What it takes to attract

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Best practice Learn what to look for in

practice management software, page 26

The pursuit

SPECIAL REPORTAnnual guide to the best imaging equipment on the market today, page 29

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March 2015

News + eventsA new approach to biosecurity 4South Australia will trial a new approach to managing disease; Bucks for Brains campaign begins; new interview process for vet students; and more ...

Cover storyFrom darkness into light 22How Dr Rob Hill made a conscious decision to inject a delightful dose of happiness into his business

Your worldKeep calm and carry on 10One of Australia’s largest animal hospitals shares their knowledge about pet anxiety

Your businessBetter than cure 14Exploring the benefits of a preventive approach to vet practice

Employee of the month 19What it takes to attract and retain the best staff

Practice makes perfect 26How to choose new practice management software

Your toolsNew products 8The latest and greatest gear for your practice

Product guide 29Vet Practice magazine’s guide to the best imaging equipment on the market today

Tools of the trade 39A stethoscope like no other; the perfect distractor; an illuminated magnifier; and more are under review

Your lifeShutterbug 42A love of photography has seen Dr Andrew Lim of Meadow Height Vet in Victoria help people celebrate the happy occasions and grieve through their saddest moments

Contents

C O N T E N T S

22

14

26 42

PRACTICE Editorial Director Rob Johnson

Sub-editor Kerryn Ramsey

Editor Nicole Hogan

Digital Director Ann Gordon

Art Director Lucy Glover

Contributors Chris Sheedy, Samantha Trenoweth, Natasha Shaw, Alicia Walsh, Chris Canty

Commercial Director Mark Brown

For all editorial or advertising enquiries:Phone (02) 9660 6995 Fax (02) 9518 5600info@vetpracticemag.com.au

Vet Practice magazine is published 11 times a year by Engage Media, Suite 4.17, 55 Miller Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009. ABN 50 115 977 421. Views expressed in Vet Practice magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Engage Media. Printed by Webstar.

19

10

Sales Director Adam Cosgrove

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4

news + events

The World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia will be the focus of a new marine research partnership between CSIRO and BHP Billiton Petroleum.

Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef in the world, extending for 300 kilometres along the northwest coast of Australia.

The five-year, jointly-funded $5 million research program will include both deep and shallow reef research, turtle and shark tagging, a PhD scholarship scheme and opportunities to engage the local community, including BHP Billiton Petroleum employees, in Exmouth, WA.

Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane joined CSIRO executive

director environment, Dr Andrew Johnson, and BHP Billiton Petroleum general manager Doug Handyside to launch the partnership in Perth.

Handyside said the investment in marine science would help the oil and gas industry to understand the reef and help target conservation efforts.

“We are dedicated to ensuring the knowledge on which we base our operational decisions is entrenched in science,” Handyside said.

“The partnership between CSIRO and BHP Billiton supports this valuable scientific research to provide baseline data on the condition of the ecological values of the reef, which will allow assessments over time to determine any changes.

Dr Andrew Johnson from CSIRO said the research would deliver the fundamental knowledge required to manage increasing and varied uses in

the Ningaloo region.“Our research presence at Ningaloo is now entering its 10th year, so we are very aware of the reef’s

many uses—it is the way we manage and balance these different uses which is key to sustainable development,” Dr Johnson said.

“We intend to work closely with the Exmouth community throughout the project, to understand their needs and to build their knowledge of the local marine environment.”

The program follows the successful BHP Billiton Petroleum investment in the Ningaloo Atlas Research program, and builds on CSIRO’s extensive decade-long shallow coral reef and fauna research and turtle tracking using satellite and acoustic technology.

The funding from BHP Billiton forms part of the company’s voluntary community contributions, and is not linked to any statutory requirement or licensing conditions.

“Our environmental commitments go beyond our operational footprint to support areas of national and international conservation significance,” Handyside said.

The five-year research program, of which BHP Billiton will commit $2.6 million, will commence in early 2015, and will include three PhD scholarships.

Turtle and shark tagging part of new Ningaloo Reef research partnership

South Australia will trial a new approach to managing disease and biosecurity on farms, according to an ABC Rural report.

The state’s chief vet Dr Roger Paskin said the One Biosecurity program, being developed by a working group made up of a number of farmers and veterinarians, would score farmers based on the biosecurity practices on the farm, as well as on the disease status of farms.

“What we are trying to do is create a biosecurity program that will address all biosecurity risks, not just a single one, so when you are investing in it you

get more bang for your buck,” Dr Paskin said.He said the plan would address the whole

range of diseases that can be found on farms, including worm species, viruses, Johne’s disease, lice and footrot.

“There’s a whole plethora of things that can assault a farm,” Dr Paskin said. “We’re putting together a program that will effectively deal with those in one blow.”

A pilot of the plan will be run in South Australia from July with a small group of farmers taking part for at least one year.

“Farmers [will] have to score what they do and they have to back up their scores with

evidence, so that if we decide to do a random audit on their property, or do a random audit while they are in the process of selling livestock, what they say matches with what they do,” Dr Paskin said.

“It should be backed up by veterinary evidence. You need to have evidence that you are doing the things you claim to be doing.”

Dr Paskin said the new system should give livestock buyers confidence they are getting clean and healthy stock.

“It also empowers the seller. It gives him the power to do what he needs to do on his property and it incentivises that,” he said.

A new approach to biosecurity on South Australian farms

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6

news + events

The national ‘Bucks for Brains’ campaign asks producers to report animals that display neurological symptoms as they may be eligible for testing and incentives.

Biosecurity Queensland representative Dr Janine Barrett said bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) had never been discovered in Australia, but continuous testing helped to prove to export countries that it was nonexistent in the herd.

“It’s an ongoing program that provides confidence to our international export countries… that we have safe food products for them,” she said.

The program offers an incentive payment of $300 to cattle producers who report animals showing signs of the neurological disease.

The testing can include subsidised veterinary examinations and full

laboratory investigations for other diseases if the producer elects to do so.

“We need the whole brain … and parts of it fresh, that allows us to do the right combination of tests so that we can be confident the disease is or isn’t present.

“In addition to that, the programs allows for any other relevant samples to be taken by the submitting vet or relevant health officer so that an alternate diagnosis can be made.

“For producers the benefit is they not only get the $300 plus GST for submitting the animals’ brain but they can also get a diagnosis for what actually was wrong with their cattle and that can help with how they manage their business.”

Dr Barrett said proving Australia is

maintaining its status as free from BSE is important for all producers.

“For so long as it’s possible for the disease to be there, we will want to be able to demonstrate our freedom; our favourable disease status, to the people who enjoy our animal products.” For more information about the Bucks for Brains campaign, get in touch with the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at www.daff.qld.gov.au.

Aspiring vets who cannot prove their passion for animals or suitability for the profession are being weeded out of university selection by a rigorous new interview process.

For the first time, prospective University of Adelaide veterinary science students and those transferring from other courses have had to pass interviews similar to those needed to gain entry to medicine and dentistry.

The interviews are designed to screen out unsuitable applicants who previously would have gained entry based on stellar academic results.

Under the new system, successful applicants still need a university entrance

rank of at least 90 and to have completed prerequisite subjects, with entry based half on academic results and half on a questionnaire and interview.

The head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Professor Wayne Hein, said the interview process was carefully designed to secure students with a “real aptitude” for the demanding degree.

“In the past there have been applicants who had rarely if ever handled an animal in their life and certainly didn’t know much about the veterinary profession,” said Prof Hein.

“We want to make sure the students can demonstrate a genuine connection with, and passion for, animals and that

they have some real knowledge of what the veterinary profession entails.

“It is a physically and emotionally challenging degree as well as requiring high academic ability.”

Students first do a written questionnaire, which includes detailing their experience with animals. Based on their written answers, the interview is tailored to the individual applicant and sufficiently probing to expose anyone lying about their experience.

There are 37 first-year veterinary science students selected through the new process, as well as 27 transferring from other courses, mostly from animal science.

Rigorous new interview process

Brains wanted

Fel-O-Vax FIV kittens become cats that keep coming back

Based on a survey of 213 clinics around Australia1, 76% of vets believe that FIV vaccination of kittens is likely to increase the number of repeat annual vaccinations throughout a cat’s life.

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References: 1. Boehringer-Ingelheim data on fi le.

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8

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testing with 10 panels to choose from requiring two drops of blood. The VetScan VS2 is amazingly simple and intuitive, with precision reference laboratory quality results in 12 minutes—making it ideal for veterinary clinics, mobile practitioners, research laboratories, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

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The cartridge is designed to perform blood coagulation tests using citrate stabilised whole blood. The test simultaneously measures the Prothrombin Time (PT) and the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) giving the veterinarian fast and valuable information on the functionality of the blood coagulation cascade.

For more details, contact 1300 VEPA LAB (1300 837 252).

l VetlinkSQLVetlinkSQL is a modern Veterinary Practice Management Software designed using the very latest tools, providing one of the most powerful and flexible packages available on the market today. It has been carefully designed with a feature set that caters for businesses of all sizes, ranging from a single location practice to large multi-branch operations.

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Vetmedin.com.au User name: veterinarian Password: livelonger Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited. Animal Health Division. Level 1, 78 Waterloo Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113. Toll Free 1800 038 037.

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Reference: 1. RSPCA. How many pets are there in Australia? 14 March 2014. http://kb.rspca.org.au/How-many-pets-are-there-in-Australia_58.html

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10

Pet anxiety is experienced by veterinarians on a daily,

even hourly basis. So, the team of a non-profit animal

hospital decided to share their knowledge and experience

by holding educational workshops. Chris Canty reports

11

AS THE LARGEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT animal hospital in Australia, Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne is also the busiest, where over 40 vets and 70 nurses work together in eight consult rooms, four theatres and 11 wards. Among this hive of activity, groundbreaking programs, such as the Low Anxiety Animal-Handling Workshop, have started to win plaudits and are changing the way animals are treated across the country.

HELPING ALLDr Russell Harrison is the general manager of veterinary services at Lort Smith Animal Hospital. He arrived in 2001 as a vet student doing work placements and immediately knew he wanted to work in a busy environment that was open to everyone. “I found the case mix very interesting, but was also impressed by how the organisation helped owners who had limited financial means,” says Dr Harrison who completed his veterinary surgery degree at the University of Melbourne in 2001. “When the general manager veterinary services job became available in 2011, I applied. My role is mainly administrative, but I still do occasional clinical work.

“It’s rewarding to read the feedback we get from clients regarding the vet care they receive and, in many cases, would not have had access to if Lort Smith didn’t exist.”

In 2014, an average of 28 emergencies a day were handled, 45 vets performed 37,918 consults, 7675 emergency consults and 6260 surgeries for the year. Seventy nurses cared for an average of 50 patients a day, while the adoption centre helped more than 2000 animals (re-homing; emergency boarding; treating wildlife; keeping pets of the homeless healthy).

“The care we provide is exceptional and that is irrespective of the owners’ circumstances,” says Dr Harrison. “I am continually impressed by our staff who have to deal with complex medical and surgical cases every day and despite cost constraints, get great outcomes for both the animals and owners.”

LOW STRESSUnderstandably a visit to a vet can be stressful for animals, and that often results in bites and scratches to owners and veterinarians. Under the guidance of Dr Gabrielle Carter, a Melbourne vet specialising in the field of animal behaviour, Dr Harrison and staff learnt how to handle animals with the least amount of stress through the Low Anxiety Animal-Handling Workshop.

“We were concerned by the number of animal-related injuries that were occurring—bites and scratches—so we decided to provide additional staff training on animal handling,” says Dr Harrison. “So we have implemented a series of steps to reduce animal stress, which has led to reduced injuries.”

Small steps undertaken at the hospital to mitigate aggression and escapist behaviour have started to show results.

“At reception we have towels that have been sprayed with Feliway which we

give to cat owners on arrival to place in the cat carrier, while dogs are provided with a piece of fabric sprayed with Adaptil to tie on the collar,” explains Dr Harrison. “This reduces the stress before the animal goes into the consult room.”

And it is not only in the consulting rooms where changes have been felt, as other parts of the hospital have seen the benefits

Visits to the vet are understandably stressful for animals.

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she says. “Most animals are much more attuned to non-verbal communication than humans are, so we need to make sure we are communicating a sense of calm and confidence.

“We also need to be mindful of what the animal is trying to tell us. Look for the signs they are giving and respond to them, so that they learn you are trustworthy.”

2. Give the animal a sense of control“Use minimal restraint to avoid making the animal feel powerless. Often the restraint is actually the trigger for aggression or stress. For example, if an animal shows fear during clipping, then give them a break and let them relax for a minute. Try to guide them so they know what you want them to do, rather than forcing them to comply. For example, instead of physically removing a resisting cat from its carrier, give it the time to come out by itself.”

3. Be predictable“Uncertainty is one of the most common triggers of stress in both humans and animals. Apart from the obvious things like speaking to the animal first, or perhaps just giving it a gentle stroke before you pick up its paw, try to give it an indication of what you want so it can comply rather than be forced; so it is a more active participant. For example, if you need the animal to lie down for examination, guide it and let it know what you want it to do, rather than

just flipping it on its back.”

LEARN MORELort Smith Animal Hospital supplies a fact sheet to help people deliver their pets in the most relaxed state possible. Dr Harrison also recommends DVDs and books from the late internationally acclaimed veterinarian/animal

behaviourist, Dr Sophia Yin. The veterinary hospital also

runs seminars regularly on topics of interest to the veterinary

industry. For more information, go to www.lortsmith.com.

12

of the workshops. “Surprisingly, one of the participants who found the anxiety reduction techniques most useful was a surgeon who spends most of his time with unconscious animals,” he says.

“He found the calming technique worked particularly well on cats. If any animal is stressed, its response to sedation and anaesthetic will be less predictable. The symptoms of stress might interfere with other clinical symptoms we are monitoring, so it’s vital we keep the animal as relaxed as possible.”

THREE CORE PRINCIPLESAccording to Dr Gabrielle Carter, there are three core principles that other veterinary practices can use, and these can just as easily be practised by owners at home …

1. Communicate effectively“You need to be aware of your

body language and what it is telling the animal,”

“You need to be aware of your body language and what it is telling the animal.”Dr Gabrielle Carter, Melbourne animal behaviourist  

Dr Russell Harrison, Lort Smith Animal

Hospital.

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Y O U R B U S I N E S S

14

Three vets explain the benefits of a preventive approach to vet practice. Samantha Trenoweth reports

Better than cure

DOUGLAS WILSON HAD STUDIED TO be a vet in Scotland, and worked as an intern at Cornell University in the USA, as a senior research scientist in Australia and private practice vet on three continents before he began to suspect “there were limitations to conventional veterinary treatment”.

He was frustrated with the “fire brigade approach” of most vet practices. “When there was a problem, you called the vet,” rather than developing a lifelong pattern of consultations, where problems could be identified early and lifestyle factors corrected before they led to disease.

He was also beginning to suspect that many conventional treatments were merely suppressing symptoms rather than affecting a cure, while others caused harmful side effects. Skin problems were a particular bugbear.

“Vets often use corticosteroids,” he explains. “These suppress the symptoms but the problem remains. So, when the treatment stops, the symptoms can recur.”

Dr Wilson began exploring holistic and preventive approaches to animal care. He studied veterinary homeopathy, which he began to integrate into his practice. Today he teaches and lectures internationally

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“Health problems and diseases can be prevented by improving lifestyle and nutrition, decreasing stress and increasing exercise.”Dr Emily Yan, All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, NSW

on homeopathy and integrative veterinary care and he applies his knowledge in a real-life practice, in Lismore in northern NSW, and a web-based service called Holistic Vet Online.

Dr Emily Yan, who practises at All Natural Vet Care, in Sydney’s Russell Lea, grew up in Hong Kong, where she encountered Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and tai chi, and learned that “everyone needs to eat the right type of food for their constitution.

“I grew up understanding there are medicinal foods that can strengthen the body and help prevent disease,” she says.

As a child, Dr Yan treated her pet dog with a herbal product designed to combat human inflammatory disease and was delighted when it worked. So, it was no surprise that, after training to be a vet, she went on to study veterinary homeopathy, veterinary acupuncture and herbal medicine.

“A lot of health problems and diseases can be prevented by improving lifestyle and nutrition, decreasing stress and increasing exercise,” she says, “and these principles are fundamental to Chinese medicine.”

In recent years, Dr Yan’s clients have shown a steadily increasing interest in preventive and integrative animal care.

“People are buying supplements, vitamins and ‘green food’ both for themselves and their animals. They are sourcing fresh, organic produce, and eating wholefoods rather than fast food. Pet owners are experiencing better health and higher energy themselves, and they recognise they can do the same for their pets,” she says.

Drs Wilson and Yan agree that, in their practices, a preventive approach has meant a focus on good nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and reducing the unnecessary use of chemicals (both topically and in the diet). But a preventive approach doesn’t necessarily mean an exclusively ‘natural’ approach.

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

“the implementation of strategic programs to reduce the likelihood of disease, or to stop subclinical disease manifesting as clinical disease. This can mean applying nutrition, laboratory tests, routine health examinations or parasite strategic drenching programs to prevent disease before it appears clinically.”

All three veterinaries recommend similar steps in switching a practice from the more stressful “fire brigade” approach to a preventive model.

First, says Dr Wilson, the preventive vet needs to book regular consultations with clients. “It’s important,” he explains, “that there’s a consultation when the animal is young or when it first comes to its new owner. If you see an animal then you can sort out their diet, which can help to prevent all kinds of problems later on, including arthritis.

“You can also address parasite control and prevention and behavioural problems that lead to stress. So there’s a lot of preventative work that can be done when you first see an animal.”

“Thereafter, I think it’s valuable to have an annual check-up to identify and address any problems that may be developing. But keep in mind that a year in a dog or cat’s life is equivalent to about seven human years, so a six-monthly check-up is more

16

“Immunisation is a case in point,” says Dr Yan. “A preventative approach can involve the prevention of viral diseases by vaccination—but not over-immunisation—and the use of antibody titer testing when possible.”

Dr David Ward, a senior vet at Animal Medical Services in Dee Why in Sydney, has worked in zoos and on farms, as well as in small animal practices, and has created preventive health farm practice management plans that include shed design, ventilation and feed evaluation.

”We prevented calf mortality with measures like these when I was working in the Hunter Valley,” he explains.

Dr Ward’s fascination with preventive care dates from his time at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW. “It’s more difficult to treat wild animals once they contract a disease,” he says. “Preventative parasite control programs and routine health examinations have led to very good control measures being implemented at Western Plains and limited outbreaks of disease.”

In his small animal practice, Dr Ward has used elimination diets and Chinese herbs to combat skin problems “and they have greatly improved the animals’ health”, he explains.

He describes preventive medicine as

A preventive veterinarian likes to book regular

consultations with clients.

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Y O U R B U S I N E S S

Consider age and breed-specific issues.

appropriate for some animals, certainly when they grow older.”

Communication is also crucial to the preventive practice. Dr Ward suggests reviewing the animal’s current regime for parasite control, nutrition, skin and coat care, and teeth care, and outlining “the optimal preventative options”.

He also recommends that vets “discuss age and breed-specific issues and demonstrate, with examples, how internal health checks via faecal samples, urine samples and blood tests can pick up early non-clinical diseases. These tests can be used as a base-line with physical exams yearly.”

The cornerstone of any preventive practice is nutrition. So, all three veterinarians recommend that you brush up your background knowledge of animal nutrition. You might also begin to stock nutritional supplements (such as psyllium husks for the prevention of gastrointestinal or anal sac issues) at your practice.

Finally, all three have gained much from extra studies in holistic therapies (including homeopathy, acupuncture and Chinese herbs), which they integrate with traditional remedies and techniques.

Like the other vets, Dr Ward sees “only positives for the vets, animals and clients”, when a practice adopts a preventive approach. “The advantages for the vets are increased, but less stressful, consultations for lab testing, examinations, parasite control and so

on. The clients are also happier because they’re not paying for the expensive treatments that are required when serious illness manifests, and they know that their pets are healthier.

“As people become closer to their pets,” adds Dr Ward, “and as more pets are living indoors, they are becoming more interested in the day-to-day welfare of their animals. The average pet is a much more treasured family member than in previous times.”

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19

YO U R B U S I N E S S

AS YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LOT MORE than just a love of furry friends to become a vet or vet nurse. Sure, a passion for animals is a great start, but this quality is only the tip of the mountain of requirements needed in each of your staff. And hiring the right people for a successful practice is just the beginning. There’s the ongoing training required to keep everyone at the top of their game, and then retaining those all-important team members.

This is no small task, especially in a busy practice (and, let’s face it, what practice isn’t run off its paws?), so here are some tips to help you build a capable team that is as happy as a pack of puppies in a ball pit.

AttractingMarketing your vet practice as the place to work can be tricky. According to an IBIS World report released last October, around 23,000 people are employed in just over 3000 practices in Australia, equating to an average of just seven employees at each business.

There are a few things you can do right now to

attract and retain the best people for your practice. Natasha Shaw explains

of the month

Employee

With so few people circulating throughout the industry, securing the best people for your small or large practice can be difficult.

Larger practices appear to have an advantage. Greencross Vets is a national organisation employing more than 1300 veterinarians and nurses. It touts that its vets and nurses “benefit from the resources that the largest veterinary group in Australia provides including an industry leading

20

YO U R B U S I N E S S

It is wise to discover how job candidates operate in the real world as well.

asks past employers: ‘Given the chance would you employ this person again?’

TrainingAs with all medical professions, vets and nurses need to maintain a high skill level to stay current in their field. Practices that offer internal training programs through increasing employee knowledge or schooling new vets and nurses will always have an advantage.

“Personally, I think it is vital to offer knowledge and cross-train as many of the staff as possible. I aim for 100 per cent,” says Dr Parsons. “The more everyone can do, the more everyone learns, and the better you will work as a team by sharing the workload. This helps the practice grow.”

Dr Nicol has noticed his nurses seem to enjoy training junior colleagues. “Although we’re all busy, we don’t have an ethos of ‘we’re too busy to train anyone else’,” he says. “That’s a trap a lot of practices fall into. Instead, I expect everyone to help train their colleagues, so teaching and helping each other is big for us. If you don’t like to learn, my practice would be a nightmare for you!”

Going one step further, the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in Sydney runs a 12-month internship program for qualified vets whereby the interns are rotated through the hospital’s services under the guidance of specialists to gain new skills. SASH also offers a trainee nurse program.

Meanwhile, Greencross Vets offers school-based traineeships in NSW and Queensland for eligible students in grades 10 to 12. The students study a Certificate II in Animal Studies in among their other subjects.

General manager of the Great Western Animal Hospital, veterinarian Dr Belinda Parsons, also looks for personality over qualifications when hiring. “It is much easier to teach skills than it is to teach the ability to work well as a team and communicate clearly with clients to help them feel at ease when we are treating their much-loved family members.”

Dr Parsons also relies on first impressions during an interview. “You can often tell pretty quickly if the prospective staff member will fit into your practice,” she says, adding her favourite interview question to ask is: Why would you like to work in our practice? “I also take them on a tour and introduce them to the staff. I watch how they interact with them—if they struggle in this situation, they are unlikely to be able to interact well with clientele.”

Finally, reference checks are paramount. Vets and vet nurses can look great on paper, but it’s wise to discover how well they operate in the real world. By calling a previous employer, you can find out how your interviewee performed at their job, coped in stressful situations, and how they interacted with other staff and clients. Dr Parsons often

education program, business support for better work/life balance and career opportunities throughout the 100 plus veterinary-related businesses in the Greencross Vets family”.

Although this may be daunting to private practice owners, managers can still offer similar benefits to employees. It just means they have to strive harder to help potential employees realise their practice’s attributes, perhaps through marketing campaigns, including online marketing, and by forging a great reputation.

Services provided by online recruitment agencies can help clinics locate people looking for work but, at the end of the day, a practice manager needs to see these people as being the right fit for their team.

HiringDr Dave Nicol of Dr Dave’s Pets & Vets in Sydney’s North Ryde says he looks for “someone who shares my values, is fun to work with, knows how to get a job done and is keen to learn and develop. Actual experience in the role, beyond basic competence, is far less important as we can teach this along the way.”

RetainingHigh stress and having to cope with loss are the unfortunate side effects of any practice and can impact on the longevity of an employee.

In 2009, a study reported in the Australian Veterinary Journal on the psychological wellbeing of 2125 Aussie vets found that about a third suffered poor psychological health. Therefore, it truly pays for a practice manager to stay on top of their staff’s mental state and make each member feel valued.

There are many options a manager can take. Dr Parsons suggests the following: offering permanent part-time work, investing in staff education (helping or paying for continuing education courses), looking after staff pets and treating them well (not as an afterthought on a busy day), as well as adopting a decent staff discount scheme.

“Vet nurses, in particular, are often only paid award wages, so discounted pet care should be a reward for their hard work,” she adds. “Also, try to show empathy to your staff when they are sick or going through a difficult time. It is my experience that guilting staff for being unwell is only going to push them into the arms of another vet practice.”

A good work/life balance is essential in today’s busy world. So, once you find your perfect team members, do everything you can to hold on to them. That old mantra, ‘If you look after your staff, they will look after your business’, is relevant even at vet practices.

Practice managers should keep on top of their staff’s mental health.

C O V E R S T O RY

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WHEN DR ROB HILL PUT A NEW sign out the front of the Australind Veterinary Hospital in Western Australia indicating a change of name to The Happiness Centre, it attracted enormous attention and the reaction was mixed. Some clients thought the introduction of positive emotion into the business of vet science was a wonderful idea. It was a vision they could support. Others felt the good doctor had lost his mind. And without realising it, they weren’t far from the truth.

Six months earlier, Dr Hill had reached the end of his tether emotionally, thanks to what he describes as a “completely toxic culture” within his vet practice. For several years, the environment within his business had been in a downwards spiral, and that pattern had repeated in his personal life.

Having leased the business in 2002 and purchased it two years later, his hours were extreme, with seven days a week of 10- to 12-hour days as well as regularly interrupted nights as he was on call.

“I had no real idea of how to run a business so I just blundered along and for a little while that worked,” Dr Hill says. “I started out in business wanting to do my own thing and not get very big but the demanding nature of a 24-hour emergency service drives a person to the edge of mental and physical endurance. The business started to grow after about five years as a single practitioner.”

Before he built one of Australia’s best respected and most highly awarded vet clinics, Dr Rob Hill’s business had all but ruined his life. Then he made a conscious decision to inject a delightful dose of happiness, discovers Chris Sheedy

darknessFrom

intolight

Award winning!Awards for the Australind Vet Practice, aka The Happiness Centre, and for Dr Hill, have been many. They include:

n 2012 South West Business Person of the Year

n 2013 South West Business Person of the Year

n 2014 South West Business Person of the Year runner-up

n 2012 South West Employer of the Year

n 2013 South West Small Business of the Year 5-10 Employees

n 2013 South West Small Business of the Year—overall winner, all categories

n 2013 WARSBA finalistn 2014 Telstra Business

Awards WA finalist Small Business

n 2014 Telstra Business Awards WA finalist Regional Business

n 2014 South West Small Business of the Year 10-20 Employees

n 2014 WARSBA finalist

23

to get rid of quite a few people and start again by hiring very carefully. A successful business is all about the people, and I had made some very poor hiring decisions.

“Looking back, I probably was on the edge of madness. I was at such a pain point that I had to change or I was going to take my own life. I had three children under five and I had grown up without a father so I knew that wasn’t very nice. I was able to rationalise that I needed to dig myself out of this enormous hole. So I shook off the dirt and stepped up.”

Dr Hill decided to challenge the paradigms of what a veterinary hospital is. He introduced ‘happiness meters’ for staff to wear and to adjust as they went throughout their day according to their level of happiness. At the meeting during which he introduced this system, several staff members simply refused to take part. Others thought the idea was stupid.

“This actually helped me determine who I wanted in the business,” he says. “I was looking for a radical new direction. I’d had enough of unsupportive staff and people who were toxic to the environment I wanted in my business. Over the next few months these people were let go, or left of their own accord. Those who had been thrilled by the happiness idea formed the core of the new business, which eventually became known as The Happiness Centre.”

And so it came to the day when he put

“This growth was probably through good luck rather than good management. We reached a tipping point when my poor management skills began to show and at this point the business completely fell apart and I felt helpless and disempowered. I hired a consultant, Dr Diederik Gelderman, to help and his advice was fantastic. But I was unable to implement the ideas and drive the necessary change. The business had become a nasty place to be and I hated even showing up each day. The staff were incredibly rude to me and very disrespectful. They were openly defiant at times. The environment was toxic.”

It was at this point, Dr Hill says, that he suffered a mental breakdown, spiralling into a deep clinical depression. “Suicide seemed the only way to end the pain and misery,” he admits. “During this time, the many poor hiring decisions I had made meant the lunatics were in charge of the asylum and the business was terrible.”

Without the “undying love and unfailing support” of his wife Lisa, Dr Hill says, he may not have made it through. At his very lowest point, in 2011, Dr Hill realised he had to make major changes. After Dr Gelderman set up a meeting with another consultant, this time a leadership expert and ex-SAS officer, Dr Hill was armed with the ammunition he needed to change.

“After some leadership training, I got my mojo back,” he says. “I realised I had

the new sign out the front. By this time he was mentally strong enough to ignore any negative reactions. He says he chose not to let that negativity into his life.

“Vet hospitals can be very negative places,” Dr Hill says. “There are a lot of egos and there can be a lot of internal bickering and back-stabbing. The clients can also be very negative because it is a ‘user pays’ system. Veterinary costs can cause a lot of dissatisfaction. There is a lot of emotion around the family pet and often, when it comes to visits to the vet, that emotion can be anything from

From left: Amanda Vanstone (head vet nurse), Mandy du Pre (vet nurse), Jasmine Greminger (reception), Dr Rob Hill (owner/vet), Josie Perrella (host/events co-ordinator) and Narelle Pollard (head receptionist).

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Dr Hill’s Smile-A-Lot series of books teaches children about positivity and empowerment.

concern, to worry, to sadness, to anger about the cost. This can create a negative culture, as it had in my business. But I was determined to change the direction of my business to give it a happiness-centred culture. The majority of people thought it was a great concept.”

New hires were very carefully selected, measuring each individual’s fit to the desired culture. “I had to learn to hire great people with great attitudes,” Dr Hill says. “You really have to drill down into what motivates them to know whether they will be a great match for your team. Once I got that right, it made all the difference to the way the business has performed.”

The funny thing is, he says, that it wasn’t very difficult to turn the ship around. After three dark years of depression and struggle, the answer was as simple as hiring talented people with the right attitude.

“Whatever your chosen culture or vision might be, you have to hire people who share the vision and support it,” he explains. “People are not interested in the employer’s goals but they can be inspired by the leader’s vision. They have to buy into the vision and the team culture. High-performance teams are built on trust and you cannot have trust when there is a constant negative diatribe about other team members. Out of all of the things I have learned, that is the most important.”

In the three years since he made the change, Dr Hill’s practice has doubled its turnover. So successful is the business that it now employs 17 staff, including five vets, and a completely new custom-designed vet hospital is currently being built for them to move into later this year.

“I went from hating my work, and therefore hating my life, to loving coming to work every day,” Dr Hill says. “When

i PA D

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you begin to attract the right people they then create a strong culture and suddenly finding the right people becomes much easier. You develop a magnetic culture that draws great people in.”

If Dr Hill had placed a job ad five years ago, he would have been lucky to receive responses from three applicants and none would have been a good fit, he says. These days when he places a job ad, Dr Hill receives hundreds of applications, often from extraordinary people.

“There is a law of attraction, so when I was in a dark place I attracted negative people and you could see that within the business,” Dr Hill says. “There was a fundamental lack of respect within the business for other staff members and even the clients. The staff were always fighting and team morale was low and the clients picked up on that. A change in personnel to supportive, motivated and very talented people turned the business around. When you have a positive culture and the first thing you see when you walk in the door is a very happy and motivated receptionist, the vibe completely changes and you attract better clients, happier people and team players.”

Having risen from a period of financial, personal, professional and emotional struggle to the very heights of success and happiness, Dr Hill has decided to spread his wings further by writing children’s books. His Smile-A-Lot series

“When people are happy they actually have an advantage over people who are not.”Dr Rob Hill, The Happiness Centre

is intended to pass valuable lessons on to children through positive and empowering messages told by animals. The book series currently contains four titles, with many more on the way.

The Australind Vet Practice, aka The Happiness Centre, has realised astounding success both financially and within its community since putting happiness at the centre of everything it does. And perhaps most importantly of all, staff members love going to work each day.

“I had a terrible struggle for years,” Dr Hill says. “But with a change of culture and a change of people, things became really easy. When people are happy they actually have an advantage over people who are not. They think more clearly, are more creative and have more energy. This translates to better care for people’s pets, which is what the vet business should be all about.”

Narelle Pollard with Dr Rob Hill.

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QUALITY PRACTICE MANAGEMENT software is as integral to productivity as well-trained staff or the latest digital equipment. It’s not just a matter of computerising records—it’s all about what can be done with the data.

Modern software uses the electronic medical records of patients to perform a variety of tasks, from helping capture all related visit and lab charges through to more sophisticated features, such as interfacing directly with suppliers to manage inventory and stock supplies.

While most practices have some kind of management software in place, is it doing as much as it can to help the business?

Dr Tony Karolis of Nepean Animal Hospital in New South Wales manages a multi-branch practice and has been using RxWorks since 2005. “A lot of fees are missed by vets in a rush, such as hospitalisation visits that miss anaesthetic charges,” he says. “I really like the ability we have to standardise fees now through the software. Vets always underestimate the number of minutes they charge, but

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Practice makes perfectNeed to update your practice management software? Alicia Walsh uncovers the options

27

marketing capabilities of software to generate newsletters and competitions, share regular tips on care and nutrition, as well as building loyalty programs.

Mark Lawrie, RxWorks general manager, Asia Pacific, advises practices to invest in their software the same way they would with any other major equipment purchase. “It should be your most important business tool,” he says.

This is echoed by Dr Karolis. “Everything about the way we run our day revolves around our practice software.” It makes sense to push the software to encompass more of the day-to-day tasks. Boarding animals is a big part of his business and the practice has just finished implementing a new RxWorks program to manage those clients. Says Dr Karolis: “We don’t need to create spreadsheets now to manage them. It’s integrated with our client database.”

Effective software is not only having the right features but also about providing the right training and support. Lawrie emphasises that software companies gain longevity because of their ability to build and grow through development and listening to their clients’ feedback. “A practice needs to feel comfortable that there’s a return on investment, the technology is still going to be around in five to 10 years and the company is keeping up with the times.”

Lawrie also advocates planning for training to maximise the software’s efficacy. “There is wisdom in having a regular

now the software allows our vets to invoice for the procedure rather than the time. It’s a lot of revenue saved.”

This ability to account for all the work undertaken by a vet is essential in capturing lost charges. Dr Malcolm Webb of Albany Veterinary Hospital in Western Australia runs a practice mostly dealing with small animals, but had a similar need to Dr Karolis. Using VetlinkSQL, he is continuously writing procedures to be implemented by the software.

“Our ultimate aim is that all our routine visits will have procedures or protocols written for them. We can apply those as a billing item, which will then become a prompt to ensure the vet either has to do the procedure or remove it from the bill.”

Not only revenue is increased, but quality of care: “This then means the vet will look at it and think ‘this is Albany Vet Hospital’s minimum standard, so I’d better do it all’ so we don’t drop the ball. Our clients then get the same standard and procedure each time they visit, no matter which vet looks after them.”

Sometimes what works for one practice might not be as effective for another. Talking to experts is a good way to start refining what are the most useful features for your particular practice.

Deven Patel, sales and marketing manager for VetlinkSQL, says: “We try to think ahead for the practice and to suggest ideas and solutions to problems they have not yet encountered.”

At VetlinkSQL, as well as developing the core modules for more effective billing and diaries, there’s an emphasis on innovation and adapting new technologies such as apps and mobile applications. Patel is also keen to keep ahead of what the client is looking for.

“Clients are younger, and they would rather be reminded of appointments and vaccinations via their smartphone or tablet than letters or emails, and we are able to make that happen, just by touching a few buttons. It’s almost seamless, the interaction between client and practice,” says Patel.

He also champions the automated

Vets always underestimate the number of minutes

they charge.

half day of staff training. Some of the larger practices do this; they close for an afternoon. It’s simply a matter of setting up a screen while we run through training remotely,” he says.

But when things go beyond the scope of staff’s knowledge, it’s essential to have support staff at hand to help. “Sometimes

a problem is complicated and needs to be fixed

immediately, so we can remotely access

the computer and fix it if that’s the best solution at that time,” Patel says.

Dr Karolis agrees that having the security of technical expertise and immediate assistance is a big drawcard. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 3am or 3pm—they’re there.”

Not only vets use the software. “The staff enjoy the software a lot,” says Dr Webb. “We leverage our nursing staff heavily, and the software frees up everyone’s time from

admin.” There’s an added side effect he’s noticed using VetlinkSQL. “One of

the good things with the invoicing is the capability to have multiple people billing items on a given invoice. And having multiple people adding history pages under their own name to the same visit is also great. I think this gives everyone a bit more pride in what they’re doing, as well as a bit of ownership as in, ‘I helped work that out and fix that problem, and these are the bits I contributed’.”

Upgrading to software that supports your practice management ultimately allows a vet to get on with the business of caring for animals. It’s a decision to be made with some consideration, and probably one best made sooner than later.

Mark Lawrie says, “Technology in vet practices is not going to stop. You want a system that’s well grounded, has enough users to sustain continued development, has good advisors and support staff, and good credibility among peers—one that can help to make your practice more sophisticated when you want it.”

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PRACTICE

P R O D U C T G U I D E

Imaging

equipmentProduct guide

Vet Practice magazine’s guide to the best imaging

equipment on the market today

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A D V E R T O R I A L

Imaging equipment Product guide

30

The speed at which imaging technology is improving creates both opportunities and challenges for your general veterinary practice. On the one hand, the relentless progress of image quality means veterinarians have a powerful tool for diagnosing difficult patients, or difficult conditions linked to, say, cardio or musculoskeletal problems. But on the

Good things in small packagesother hand, investment in a new ultrasound scanner (which can be pricey) carries the risk of having outdated or redundant equipment in a few years time.

A possible solution lies in the Mindray M9, a portable ultrasound system featuring an advanced imaging system and processing power. “It’s got a quad core processor, so it’s built on today’s technology, not three-year-old technology,” explains David Miskimmin of BCF Ultrasound. “So this would suit a cardiac specialist, but it’s also at a price point in a way that can also suit a high-end general practice.”

Combining advanced features only to be found in heavy cart based systems into a compact portable system, M9 is

the industry’s most advanced premium level portable ultrasound

system offering easy handling and mobility.

Based on new mQuadro platform and rich in technology

such as the 3T transducer technology™ with single crystal,

Echo Boost™, UWN+ Contrast Imaging (Ultra-Wideband Non-linear Plus) and Natural Touch elastography, M9 offers an added advantage of being able to utilise all the features patient side proving to be the ideal solution suitable

to be used within multiple clinical settings.“One of the more attractive things about

this unit is that it’s ‘groomed to grow’—it’s already foreseeing the future, and it’s the newest possible product,” Miskimmin adds. “Often imaging products build a name for themselves and then for the next five years will be sold on the promise that comes with that brand and name.

But think about what your cell phone looked like five years ago,

compared to what you’ve got in your pocket now. “Technology is so dynamic and ever-changing that people need to be refreshed

and updated all the time. The processing, the hard drive, and all

the internal make up of this machine is brand new technology, as well as the actual software itself.”

The compact size of the Mindray M9 is another selling point, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it significantly increases the unit’s resale value if you do decide to upgrade. There are a number of practices that aren’t sufficiently flush with cash to buy a new unit, and don’t have a lot of space to have a dedicated imaging room. Alternatively, the small-animal practitioner can onsell to an equine practitioner, for example, who doesn’t want to cart a large trolley of equipment around.

“Also, the benefits of its portability are serviceability,” adds Miskimmin. “When it comes to breakdown, maintenance and repair, you don’t have to harbour the costs of having somebody come to your clinic, assess the machine there, repair it onsite while waiting for parts. With portable equipment, you can send it off for repair and during that time, we would provide you with a breakdown loan system—so there’s at maximum a day of downtime. And it will be repaired in-house, in a proper workshop here where we’ve got anti-static mats, the proper oscilloscopes and everything else to repair this equipment correctly and then send it back out and do a changeover again. So the benefits of portability are huge in any practice, especially if you can get a machine that’s got the capacity of a lot of cart systems, but in a portable package.”

BCF Ultrasound has fully operational service centres situated in Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand they offer high quality service and repair to the veterinary industry. With over 30 years’ combined experience in the field and focusing specifically on veterinary ultrasound makes specialisation one of their core strengths.

To find out more, contact BCF Ultrasound AustralasiaTel: 1300 798 747 / +61 3 9894 8980 Sales@bcfultrasound.comwww.bcfultrasound.com

Mindray M9

Most advanced portable imaging platform

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Contact us for a demoCall 1300 798 747 or email sales@bcfultrasound.com

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Vetpractice M9Vet .indd 1 3/12/14 10:02 PM

Mindray M9

Most advanced portable imaging platform

Higher resolution, greatly enhancing your diagnostic experience

Innovative transducer technologies

Premium capability.Easy mobilty.

Contact us for a demoCall 1300 798 747 or email sales@bcfultrasound.com

t:1300 798 747 | +61 3 9894 8980 sales@bcfultrasound.com | www.bcfultrasound.com

Vetpractice M9Vet .indd 13/12/14 10:02 PM

A D V E R T O R I A L

Imaging equipment Product guide

32

Case report: Elderly dog presenting with unilateral facial swelling.Adjunct Associate Professor Anthony Caiafa, North Coast Veterinary Specialists, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

IntroductionA 9 year old desexed male Golden Retriever cross Labrador “Foster” was referred to a Veterinary Specialist Referral Practice with a history of a sudden onset of a firm swelling ventral to the left eye. The dog had a history of occasionally being offered bones to chew as well as playing games of retrieval of large sticks with the owner. The dog had also recently been on a farm with other dogs. Since the swelling had come up, the dog had become slightly lethargic but was still eating but had no pyrexia on presentation to the referring veterinarian.

The referring veterinarian did not have intraoral radiography capabilities and assuming that the swelling was dental in origin and mostly likely a tooth root abscess involving the maxillary 4th premolar (208) or maxillary 1st molar (209), the veterinarian could only offer the client extraction of one or both teeth. The referring veterinarian did however offer the option of referral to a facility that could take intraoral radiographs and thus determine the origin of the swelling. The client accepted this advice.

Extra- and intra-oral examination under general anaesthesiaUnder general anaesthesia, an examination of the facial mass revealed it to be firm and slightly mobile. A fine needle aspiration revealed some whole blood. There was no purulent discharge present in the sample. The draining left mandibular lymph node was slightly enlarged.

An oral examination revealed evidence of abrasive wear of the teeth (rocks, bones, sticks). Periodontal probing depths were generally 4mm or below (normal is

Intra-oral radiographs to rule out pathology

<3mm) and there was some evidence of generalised gingival hypertrophy (a known side effect of long term cyclosporine use). There was also a papilloma like mass just dorsal to the left maxillary 3rd premolar (207). Another known side effect of cyclosporine usage is verruciform lesions or papilloma formation.

Because of the dog’s age, the client requested a whole mouth series of intraoral radiographs to rule out any other oral pathology. A whole mouth series of intra-oral radiographs were taken using a size 4 phosphor storage plate (5.7 x 7.5cm) (CR7 VET,iM3 Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia). Because the dog was a large breed (32Kg), the size 4 plate was ideal for the task and reduced the number of exposures required to do the whole mouth series of radiographs from the usual 14 or sometimes more exposures (with a size 2 film) down to 6 exposures. This helped reduced anaesthesia time, as well as being more diagnostic by covering more of the oral and nasal cavities in the one exposure. Imaging of the left and right caudal maxillae revealed no obvious dental or nasal problems (if in doubt, when faced with unilateral oral disease, radiograph the other side for comparison).

Having ruled out an obvious dental cause for the swelling, it was decided to make a small incision into the mass and with a 5mm skin biopsy punch, and take incisional type biopsies of the facial mass. The biopsied tissues were firm and greyish- red in appearance. The oral papilloma type mass apical to the left maxillary 3rd premolar (207) was also excised just in case it was associated with the facial swelling. On biopsy of this wart-like lesion, the lesion disintegrated and revealed a mucous blood tinged discharge. Mosquito forceps were used to enlarge the cavity

below the intra-oral lesion and a size 60 gutta percha point was placed into the facial swelling and found to communicate with the intra-oral lesion.

Exploration of the lesion inside the mouth revealed a small grass seed and this was removed. No other grass seeds were found.

A diagnosis of foreign body granuloma was made and the dog was discharged on amoxicillin/ clavulinic acid combination for 7 days. Within 4 days post- surgery, the facial swelling had reduced significantly (>80%) and by 7 days had disappeared and has since not returned. “Foster” is back to his normal self, but is having his teeth brushed regularly to help control plaque accumulation due to the cyclosporine induced gingival hypertrophy.

ConclusionsSometimes, diagnostic tests such as radiographs are taken to rule out pathology rather than to detect it. The referring veterinarian was to be commended in referring this case. Years ago, when intra-oral radiographs were not available, unilateral facial swellings were always assumed to be related to dental pathology unless proven otherwise (often belatedly after the tooth had already been extracted). This lead to a number of healthy teeth being extracted without the resolution of the patient’s presenting complaint. It is my opinion that before too long, a minimum standard of companion animal practice will require veterinarians to either offer intra-oral radiographs to their clients or to refer patients with oral disease to a practice that can offer such a service. It is well accepted that without the use of intra-oral radiography, a number of feline tooth resorptions will be missed and a number of teeth will have fractured roots left behind after extraction, often leaving the patient in continuing pain and discomfort. To read the full case report, go to www.vetpracticemag.com.au

A gutta percha point (flexible radio-opaque root canal filling point) is placed into the facial swelling. It is following the path of least resistance (the sinus tract) and is pointing to the LHS Maxillary 3rd premolar (207)

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CR7 VET - Small, Compact Dental Scanner Highest resolution veterinary dental scanner available Flexible image plates in 7 sizes Largest HD plate 5.7 x 9.4cm available, suitable for extremities Images can be viewed throughout the clinic No service contracts, iM3 technical support for life of scanner

The Revolution 4DC features the latest technology and the full-swivel ball-joint is revolutionary in every sense. The tube head revolves freely around the sphere, so that practically any position can be achieved, including vertical. An automatic touch-sensitive lock-on/lock-off device enables effortless repositioning of the tube head between exposures.

Another iM3 Veterinary First! Smallest focal spot available 0.4mm - better image quality DC technology reduces radiation dosage compared to AC Wireless remote control - activate x-ray oustide of room Approved for use in all states of Australia Max arm extension 230cm from wall

The ultimate dental radiology package:Revolution 4DC X-ray (wall mount) and the CR7 with size 2 & 4 plates and software

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Simple wireless control

T h e V e t e r i n a r y D e n t a l C o m p a n y

iM3 Pty Ltd - The Veterinary Dental Company21 Chaplin Drive, Lane Cove, Sydney NSW 2066 Australiap +61 2 9420 5766 f +61 2 9420 5677 e info@im3vet.comwww.im3vet.com

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Imaging equipment Product guide

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With the ever-increasing demands on veterinary professionals to run practices more efficiently, the productivity of both staff and equipment is a serious issue. Equipment in the veterinary profession often requires a large outlay, affecting both business cash flow and debt, so the last thing you want is unproductive assets.

Even worse is equipment still in use well after its used by date, which has a negative impact on productivity and the team.

Some of our consultants are former vets, providing us with years of experience and a deep understanding of your niche needs and career trajectory. For example, after a vet hits the 10-year mark practicing

they are often looking for their next challenge and, for example, may consider moving into more surgical procedures. We anticipate and facilitate such moves, which in turn require investment in further equipment.

By taking this long-term view of your career development, BOQ Specialist remains one step ahead, ensuring that your equipment purchases and leases complement the growth in your business and experience.

With over 20 years’ experience providing tailored service to vets, BOQ Specialist is an expert “tools of the trade” lender committed to the ongoing process of assessing and modernising your equipment. It is through everyday conversations with you and your equipment suppliers that BOQ Specialist stays ahead of the ever-changing technology and

innovations in your profession.While it’s important that you choose the

right assets and equipment, it’s equally important that you are guided towards the right kind of financing.

When it comes to deciding whether a loan, lease, chattel mortgage or commercial hire-purchase is best, we work closely with your financial advisers and accountants to tailor an arrangement which fits with your tax structure.

As part of our distinctive service BOQ Specialist also conducts a cash flow projection, considering factors such as how many clients need to be seen over the life of an asset to ensure it is profitable.

Like all medical professions, you of course have two lives – your work life and your home life. BOQ Specialist recognises that they need to be considered together, which is why we allow you to put your equipment finance payments for selected contracts on your credit card* and earn frequent flyer points which you can use for flights to fund your next family holiday in the process.

Your local veterinary finance specialistNSW/ACT Paul Catanzariti, 0406 664 377QLD/NT Todd O’Reilly, 0419 230 053SA Kingsley Valladares, 0406 428 827VIC/TAS Kelly Gall, 0406 429 268WA Richard Curia, 0404 871 660

There’s more to equipment purchase than just finance

To understand financing options and to enable practitioners to make an informed decision, speak to a professional in the industry with experience in providing finance for healthcare professionals. BOQ Specialist has over 20 years experience working with medical professionals and understands their specific needs. For further information on lending products, contact one of our financial specialists today on 1300 131 141 or visit our website at boqspecialist.com.au

DisclaimerFinancial products and services described in this document are provided by BOQ Specialist Bank Limited ABN 55 071 292 594 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 234975 (BOQ Specialist). BOQ Specialist is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740 (BOQ). BOQ and BOQ Specialist are both authorised deposit-taking institutions in their own right. Neither BOQ nor BOQ Specialist guarantees or otherwise supports the obligations or performance of each other or of each other’s products.

BOQ Specialist is the credit provider. Terms and conditions, fees and charges and lending and eligibility criteria apply. We reserve the right to cease offering these products at any time without notice. BOQ Specialist is not offering financial, tax or legal advice. You should obtain independent financial, tax and legal advice as appropriate.* A 1.5% fee applies. Points are earned on eligible purchases only. Fixed term finance contract is to be approved prior to purchase.

Andre Karney

Financial products and services described in this document are provided by BOQ Specialist Bank Limited ABN 55 071 292 594 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 234975 (BOQ Specialist). BOQ Specialist is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740 (BOQ). BOQ and BOQ Specialist are both authorised deposit-taking institutions in their own right. Neither BOQ nor BOQ Specialist guarantees or otherwise supports the obligations or performance of each other or of each other’s products. BOQ Specialist is the credit provider. Terms and conditions, fees and charges and lending and eligibility criteria apply. We reserve the right to cease offering these products at any time without notice. BOQ Specialist is not offering financial, tax or legal advice. You should obtain independent financial, tax and legal advice as appropriate.

Equipment and fit-out finance / Credit cards / Home loans / Commercial property finance / Car finance / Practice purchase loans SMSF lending and deposits / Transactional banking and overdrafts / Savings and deposits / Foreign exchange

Is your equipment finance getting you all tangled up? It’s time for a second opinion.

As you well know, running a practice involves balancing a myriad of priorities. Purchasing equipment is high on the list, but it’s often devilishly complicated – it takes specialist expertise to put together a simple, cost-effective solution.

This is where BOQ Specialist comes in. We’re experts in providing financial solutions for veterinary professionals, so our team thoroughly understands the pros and cons of different methods of funding your equipment.

Whether it’s buying outright or leasing, you can rest assured we’re on the ball when it comes to your needs.

Visit us at boqspecialist.com.au/medical or speak to our financial specialists on 1300 131 141.

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Radincon imaging equipmentONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES when taking patient images is time. “The first thing I noticed about the Radincon imaging system was the rapidity of which you can take x-rays,” says Dr Jeffery Lee of Northside Emergency Vet Services, Sydney. “Then I noticed the clarity and simplicity.”

After researching the market, Dr Lee and other board members asked for recommendations. “I sought specialist radiologist’s advice, they gave me certain criteria to look for. The RAD-X HF Premier Vet DR from Radincon was highly recommended. This model has a good reputation in the market, there are many practices that have it and specialists who use it and they’re happy with it, so we looked at all the positive recommendations and thought if everybody is very happy with it, why wouldn’t we be?”

Armed with this information, Dr Lee purchased the RAD-X HF Premier Vet DR System. “It is a radiography unit—a digital x-ray unit with a fixed but movable plate that directly transfers images to a touch

screen monitor—that means we don’t have to develop films or anything like that, it just goes straight into the computer.” The simplified system allows for x-rays to be processed impressively fast. “In fact, you can take several views very quickly, which is paramount for unsedated /unanaesthetised patients who are not going to stay still for long. Another benefit is that the exposures factors are easy to determine. Overall it is quick, accurate and clear.”

These features are essential for any veterinary practice. “I’ve also found you need fewer staff— you can take images quickly with only one or two staff members to do the job. And the results are there instantly. If you don’t like the particular view, you can take another one, if you don’t think the exposure is adequate for the area that you are looking at, you can take another one very quickly. So having the flexibility of being able to take many x-rays in a short amount of time with minimal resources is tremendously beneficial.”

It was the advanced technology that

also helped Dr Lee make his decision to purchase the RAD-X HF Premier Vet DR System. “Compared to what we used to have—the older technology—this is certainly a major step forward. In particular the direct imaging—that means the image capturing plate is fixed under the X-ray table where the plate doesn’t get handled therefore not likely to be broken or dropped, so you just place the animal on the table, point the x-ray on the animal and click to take the pictures, that’s it—it is that simple! If the animal moves, then you just try another shot until you get one that shows what you want to see or are looking for. That’s it,” says Dr Lee.

It’s peace of mind to know you can rely on your equipment to perform consistently. “We use the machine frequently, when an animal is injured or sick. We need to quickly find if there’s a growth, a fracture, or a puncture in the lungs—we have the capability to take x-rays straight away. If a patient has a condition we think needs x-rays to make a diagnosis, then the x-ray equipment is absolutely an asset as a diagnostic tool.”

RADINCON X-RAYRADINCON X-RAYEst1979Est1979

QUALITY PRODUCT - RELIABLE SERVICE - HONEST ADVICE

Phone: 1300 721 734sales@radincon.com.auwww.radincon.com.au

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SPECIALIST IMAGING SUPPLIERS

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Imaging equipment Product guide

A D V E R T O R I A L

Imaging equipment Product guide

TA K E T H E B E S T R O U T E T O T H E F U T U R E O F I M A G I N G .

MAKE MORE ROOM FOR CARE.

TRANSFORM YOUR PRACTICE FROM FILM TO DIGITAL.Meet Vita Flex. The highly affordable, new CR X-ray system that can take you from �lm to the bene�ts of digital imaging – easily, economically and all in less than ninety minutes. You’ll save space with the compact design. Leave �lm and harsh chemicals behind. And, with our powerful Image Suite Software, see high-quality images on-screen in just minutes.

C O M PA C T. D I G I TA L . A F F O R D A B L E .C O M PA C T. D I G I TA L . A F F O R D A B L E .carestream.com/�exv

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The new Carestream Vita Flex CR System effortlessly transforms your traditional radiography into a powerful digital imaging solution with minimal cost or downtime. It delivers impressive image quality at 30 or 45 PPH (for 14x17 cassette), incredible flexibility, field-tested durability, simple servicing and more room for care.n Effortless install — Connects in seconds. Software can be preloaded to reduce downtime. n Impressive image quality — Utilises Image Suite Acquisition software.n Small footprint — The Vita Flex CR is only 25kg/55lbs and takes up less room than a water cooler.n Simplified x-ray workflow — you no longer need to go through the time-intensive process of developing film or retaking under/over exposed images.

n Supports multiple cassette sizes — Ideal for all major exam types. n Change throughput — The Vita Flex can transition from 30 to 45 PPH with no additional expensive equipment or hardware modifications required.n Flexible and portable — Take advantage of limited space with either horizontal or vertical scanning orientations.n Easy servicing — The Vita Flex CR Field Replaceable Units can easily be disconnected and replaced by the user without tools or technical skills.n Highly reliable — Carestream products are rigorously tested in the most extreme

conditions including field hospitals and military operations. n Smart software — Image Suite V4 is the advanced workflow solution for image acquisition and management. It’s easy to use, and features all the tools your practice needs. COMPACT. DIGITAL. AFFORDABLE.Discover more room for care at carestream.com/flexv

Carestream Vita Flex Effortless simplicity that is compact, digital and affordable

Littmann Master Classic II veterinary stethoscopeby Dr Katria Lovell, Redlands Veterinary Clinic, Thornlands, QLD

I was a nurse for a long time before I became a vet and I’ve used a lot of different stethoscopes in my time. This particular stethoscope is well suited to our type of practice. I really believe it is one of the most useful tools to have on hand.

What’s good about itThis stethoscope has a very durable construction and the sound quality is excellent. It has a sealed head which greatly reduces the chance of it getting dirty and grimy. It also has a slightly longer tubing system than most other stethoscopes. It allows you to put a little more distance between yourself and your patient if that’s desirable. If you have a fractious cat or you’re trying to monitor anaesthetic around the surgeon, it’s really useful.

I’ve noticed that when new vets arrive into practice, they often lack the ability to use their stethoscope to its full potential. I really think we are becoming reliant on newer technology and there’s a lack of emphasis placed on the information you can get from a stethoscope. Being able to use the knowledge we have as vets with such a simple and non-invasive instrument is really important. I tell all our junior vets that the most useful information they can obtain is by using their ears, their stethoscope and their brain.

Don’t get me wrong—the new technologies certainly have their place but I don’t think we should lose focus on the importance of a tool that can be easily used in the consultation or in the field. The Littmann stethoscope is a valuable piece of equipment I use with every patient.

What’s not so goodWe do quite a lot of paediatric work with pocket pets like rabbits and guinea pigs and this particular model is not suitable for smaller patients.

Where did you get it Med Shop (www.medshop.com.au).

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A stethoscope like no other; the perfect distractor; an illuminated magnifier, and more are under review this month …

TOOLS TRADE

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EDAN Veterinary PC ECGby Dr Julian Sze, Northcote Animal Hospital, Northcote, VIC

We use this electro-cardiogram monitor to look for any heart disturbances, abnormalities, irregular rhythms or changes to the chambers of the heart. All our patients receive an ECG trace—from puppy and kitten checks all the way through to older patients with clinical signs of congestive heart failure.

What’s good about itThe clips that attach to the patient are padded and animals tolerate them very well. There’s a dongle that can be fitted to any of our computers and the software wirelessly brings up the ECG results immediately. We can link the results back to specific patients’ files or we can place them in separate storage in a different folder. It removes the need for hands- on record keeping.

The results can be printed out with all the appropriate measurements for referrals or for the owners to take home. Most of the traditional machines are purely paper tracers and give the results as a printout. The vet then has to take measurements from that printout.

This machine allows you to manipulate the size of the trace. When the size is increased, the measurements are extremely accurate. It’s a very handy tool that’s simple to use.

What’s not so goodYou still need the clips, the patient has to be kept very still and the unit occasionally picks up interference. None of these problems are new—they are common to every ECG machine—but there hasn’t been any improvement in regard to these issues.

Where did you get itSound Veterinary Equipment (www.soundveterinary.com.au).

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Vorotek M Scopeby Dr Damian McShane, East Bentleigh Veterinary Clinic, VIC

This is an illuminated magnifier you wear on your head. We purchased it for examining eyes but have found it to have a multitude of other uses.

What’s good about itWhen wearing loupes, you are looking at a very small field of view and you have no peripheral vision. The Vortex M Scope is just a rectangular magnifier that drops down in front of your eyes. It has a large field of view while leaving both hands free when examining the patient.

It’s a fantastic tool for many procedures. We use it when there are a lot of small sutures to remove. After ear surgery, there is often a lot of scabbing and the magnifier lets you visualise the sutures clearly. I recently used it during a total ear canal ablation. I was able to see right down into the middle ear and check if the dissection was clean.

It’s great for looking into knee joints, particularly when cleaning up the meniscus that’s torn when a cranial cruciate ligament is ruptured. When combined with suction, you can visualise everything rather than having to guess.

There are three different lenses of increasing magnification though we have found that the lens with least amount of magnification is quite sufficient. The attached LED light is what really makes it all work. We have great surgery lights but sometimes you just need really focused light in one spot.

What’s not so goodThe only slightly annoying thing is that the light source has a cable that runs down to a battery clipped to your belt. It might be an improvement if a lightweight battery could be built into the light source.

Where did you get itSound Veterinary Equipment (www.soundveterinary.com.au).

Stifle distractor (small, 5-30kg)by Dr Claire Lowy, Brandon Park Veterinary Hospital, Glen Waverley, VIC

I use this tool for orthopaedics, mainly cruciate ligament and patella surgery. It was recommended to me by Dr Guy Yates, a specialist small animal surgeon in Melbourne, as a replacement for a Hohmann retractor. The stifle distractor is a huge improvement.

What’s good about itI use a five-inch distractor that’s perfect for surgery on small dogs and cats. It allows me to separate the femoral component of the stifle from the tibia and gives good visualisation of meniscus, particularly the caudal pole of the medial meniscus which is often where a painful tear is located. I can also rotate it 90 degrees and use it to retract the joint capsule and fascia.

Prior to this, I used a Hohmann retractor and I found it really fiddly. It felt like I didn’t have enough hands and my assistants had to hold things in certain positions. The distractor has freed up my hands to examine and probe the meniscus, and to remove remnants of torn cruciate ligament. It also gives me more freedom to deal with any other issues that may be revealed.

I would urge vets who struggle to see the meniscus to consider buying a stifle distractor. It’s not that expensive, it saves time and makes the surgery a lot easier.

What’s not so goodInitially, I found it a bit tricky to get used to the handle and lock mechanism as it moves in the opposite direction to most instruments. You also need to be careful that the tips of the retractor are positioned correctly. Otherwise, it can damage the articular cartilage.

Where did you get itSt Lucia Surgical Services (www.stluciasurgical.com.au).

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“Photography is all about angles. Exclusion, rather than inclusion, is an important principle in the making of any photograph. The photographer’s thought process and skill makes all the difference between a record of a scene and a really creative image.

“I find photography immensely enjoyable and challenging. It can take me a very long time to frame a shot. However, when it comes to capturing more fleeting moments, the process is far less deliberate and instinct takes over. Practising the art of photography allows me to exercise my creative side and highlight the subjective way each of us interprets the world.

“I first became interested in photography in 2002 when I was a vet student, doing work experience at sheep, cattle and mixed business farms in rural areas. As a migrant from Singapore, I was struck by the beauty of the Australian landscape and this inspired me to take up photography.

“Initially, I concentrated on landscapes but soon moved on to photographing animals, people and very small macro subjects. I’ve even covered a few weddings and that’s the most demanding discipline in photography. You simply cannot afford to miss any key moments, like the exchange of rings or the first kiss as a married couple.

“To me, travel and photography go hand in hand and beautiful locations really spark creativity. I recently visited the west coast of the USA, travelling to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego and San Francisco. One of my biggest dreams is to go on an African photographic safari trip.

“As a veterinarian, I have also had the opportunity to work on special projects for people who own pets with terminal illnesses. In these cases, my mission is to create a portfolio of images that captures the essence of the human-animal bond. This leaves pet owners with a lasting memory of their beloved companion, and I’m sure it helps them through the grieving process.

“Even though these projects put a lot of pressure on me to get some really great photographs, I soon discovered that such success comes easily. You just need to know how to feel with your heart, and to have sympathy and a real empathy for people and their animals. I believe this comes naturally to veterinarians and such projects are simply an extension of what I do every day.”

A love of photography has seen Dr Andrew Lim of Meadow Height Vet in Victoria help people celebrate the happy occasions and grieve through their saddest moments

i PA DOur iPad edition of this article features more incredible

images. Search for Vet Practice Magazine in the App store.

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