I support ammending Section 70 of the BVM Regulations to accept continuing education courses in business management and finance for the following reasons:
Business management topics would include education in communication which could serve to enhance not only communication within the members of a practice team, but also communication with clients. Good client communication has been shown to increase compliance and patient outcomes and decrease misunderstanding of anticipated medical outcomes and complaints by dissatisfied/upset pet owners.
According to research from the Society for Human Resource Management [PDF], about 50 percent of hourly workers quit within the first four months of being hired, while half of senior-level hires resign within the first 18 months of taking a new position. Additional education in practice management and human resource management could have a positive effect on turnover in practices and help retain experienced veterinary technicians and veterinarians in the profession.
The topics of grief counseling, compassion fatigue and conflict resolution are not currently accepted as professional CE. Inclusion of these topics and the subsequent increase in education on these topics has the potential to provide a significant resource to clients and empower veterinary team members with the tools needed to cope in the often high-pressure world of veterinary practice.
Enhancing the business and financial skills of practice owners/managers allows them to stay competitive in the ever changing veterinary marketplace. With the increase in corporate and non-profit veterinary service providers it becomes more and more difficult for small businesses to thrive. Small businesses have long been the backbone of the American economy, the mainstay of the veterinary profession and the place that most people choose to obtain care for their furred and feathered family members.
