VHMA VetBusiness

Welcome to VHMA's VetBusiness, the podcast where innovation meets expertise in the veterinary industry. Our mission is to empower veterinary managers and leaders by delivering in-depth analysis and discussions on the latest business trends, emerging technologies, and strategic insights crucial to navigating today's dynamic veterinary practice. Join us as we explore critical topics that matter to your practice, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to lead with confidence and drive your veterinary business forward.

VHMA VetBusiness is a business podcast hosted by Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, with 20 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association hosts VHMA VetBusiness, a business show with 20 episodes published.

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  Episode #19

  From Clinic to Customs: Navigating International Pet Travel

  Sep 24, 202632 min

  International pet travel has become increasingly complicated for veterinary practices. Requirements can change quickly, timelines are strict, and even a small mistake can disrupt a client's travel plans. In this episode, we talk with Maria Morgan about why these cases place so much pressure on veterinary teams and what practices can do to make the process more manageable. Maria is the recipient of VHMA's inaugural Kelly Clay Innovation Award and co-founder of Passpaw, a platform created to help veterinary practices manage pet travel compliance. We discuss how her own frustrations with the health certificate process led to the creation of the company. Maria also shares how changing regulations and limited access to government agencies have made international pet travel more difficult for both practices and pet owners. We also look at ways practices can approach pet travel as a defined service instead of treating every case as a one-time problem. Maria explains why clear workflows can reduce last-minute stress and why much of the work can be delegated instead of falling entirely on the veterinarian. We discuss outsourcing options as well and how practices can continue helping clients even when they do not want to manage every administrative detail themselves. Show Notes: [02:04] Maria Morgan joins the conversation after receiving VHMA's inaugural Kelly Clay Innovation Award. [03:28] What the award means to Maria and how frustration with pet travel paperwork inspired PassPaw. [05:30] How quickly PassPaw went from an idea to a working platform. [06:42] Why international pet travel has become increasingly difficult for veterinary practices and pet owners. [08:33] The stress veterinary teams face while managing health certificates, travel requirements, and client expectations. [10:32] A look at what can go wrong when pet travel requirements change unexpectedly. [13:30] Why some veterinary practices are choosing not to offer international health certificates. [15:36] How changing lifestyles and the human-animal bond are increasing demand for pet travel services. [18:12] Why constantly changing regulations make it difficult for practices to standardize pet travel workflows. [21:02] How practices can better use their teams and avoid putting the entire pet travel process on veterinarians. [23:07] Why pet travel should be treated like any other clinical service with a defined process and clear handoffs. [26:02] How outsourcing can help practices continue offering pet travel services without taking on all of the administrative work. [28:26] Where international pet travel may be headed over the next five to ten years. [29:59] Maria's advice for practices that are still unsure whether they want to offer pet travel services. Links and Resources: VHMA Maria Morgan - LinkedIn Maria Morgan - Passpaw VHMA Names Maria Morgan Inaugural Recipient of the Kelly Clay Innovation Award

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  Episode #18

  The AI Advantage: Smarter Strategies for Veterinary Leaders

  Aug 6, 202645 min

  AI is no longer just something you open in a browser and ask a question. It is beginning to work across the systems people already use, take on routine tasks, and change what clients expect from the businesses they interact with. Veterinary medicine is right in the middle of that shift. The technology is moving quickly, and practices are starting to figure out where it can genuinely make work easier while improving the experience for clients and their pets. Dr. Adam Little joins me to talk about what that change looks like in practice and where it may lead next. Adam is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and speaker who has spent more than a decade working at the intersection of technology and animal health. Through Exponential Vet and his work throughout the profession, he has focused on helping veterinary teams understand emerging technology and find practical ways to put it to use. Our conversation looks at the move from AI tools that simply answer questions to systems that can actually complete work. Adam also explains how AI could change the way clients find veterinary practices, make appointments, research care, and communicate with their veterinary teams. We also look further ahead at personalized medicine, connected devices, new areas of specialization, and why experimenting with a small problem you already want to solve may be the best place to begin. Show Notes: [02:10] Dr. Adam Little shares why he has long been interested in how technology can change veterinary medicine and open new ways to serve patients and clients. [05:09] Technology has repeatedly reshaped the veterinary profession, creating new specialties, organizations, and opportunities rather than reducing its importance. [08:00] An early interest in veterinary medicine, international development, and technology helped shape an unconventional career path. [10:00] AI is moving beyond answering questions and generating content to actually completing tasks and working across business systems. [13:03] Veterinary practices are still in the early stages of AI adoption, even as some users are already pushing the technology much further. [15:47] Rapid improvements in AI agents show why practices need to keep experimenting instead of judging the technology by what it could do months ago. [18:27] Strong client relationships can become even more valuable as pet owners use AI to research health concerns and prepare for veterinary visits. [21:07] AI-assisted research and triage could help pet owners understand when veterinary care is needed and arrive better prepared for treatment decisions. [24:29] Practices may increasingly separate into transactional and relationship-based models as client expectations and digital communication continue to change. [27:13] AI can expand access and handle routine interactions outside normal business hours while allowing veterinary teams to focus on more complex needs. [30:23] Greater pricing transparency can help practices explain the value behind their services as AI makes comparison shopping easier for clients. [33:02] More personalized veterinary care could combine genomics, connected devices, and ongoing health data instead of relying on a brief annual snapshot. [36:09] New technology may create entirely new veterinary niches and specialties while giving entrepreneurial professionals more ways to serve specific patient needs. [39:55] The Kelly Clay Innovation Award celebrates veterinary teams that develop practical solutions to problems within their own practices. [42:52] The key takeaway is to lean into AI, start with problems worth solving, and put these new capabilities in the hands of people who understand those problems best. Links and Resources: VHMA Dr. Adam Little - LinkedIn Exponential Vet Kelly Clay Innovation Award

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  Episode #17

  Workforce Watch: Recruiting Trends for Practice Leaders

  Jul 23, 202631 min

  Finding the right people has become one of the biggest challenges facing veterinary practices. Veterinarians often have several opportunities to consider, and salary is only part of what influences their decision. Mentorship, scheduling, workplace culture, flexibility, and the chance to build a life outside of work all matter. For practices, that means recruiting cannot begin only when someone leaves and the team is already stretched thin. In this episode, I talk with Gwen Delavar, senior recruiter and owner of VetProCentral. Gwen has more than 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine and has worked in many areas of practice, giving her a firsthand understanding of how veterinary teams operate. She founded Progressive Veterinary Management Services in 1992, which later became VetProCentral, and now helps veterinary practices across the country recruit veterinarians and management professionals. She is also the founder of the National Veterinary Talent Acquisition Association and the author of Your Veterinary Dream Team. Gwen shares what she is seeing in today's hiring market, including what new graduates are looking for and why meaningful mentorship often matters as much as compensation. We also talk about the risks that can come with large sign-on bonuses, common mistakes practices make during the hiring process, and why simply filling an open position is not always the answer. From writing a more honest job posting to looking beyond a résumé, Gwen offers practical ideas for attracting the right candidates and building teams that are more likely to stay. Show Notes: [02:20] Gwen shares how she entered veterinary recruiting and began helping practices find managers and veterinarians. [05:02] The ongoing veterinarian shortage has created intense competition for candidates, especially in rural communities. [08:18] Waiting until a staffing need becomes urgent can make an already difficult recruiting process even harder. [11:43] New graduates are becoming more selective about location, mentorship, and workplace fit, while practices are working harder to improve retention. [14:07] Large sign-on bonuses may come with lengthy commitments, repayment requirements, and production expectations. [17:30] A closer look at the recruiting process covers practice culture, candidate interviews, compensation needs, and negotiations. [20:27] *Your Veterinary Dream Team* offers guidance on job descriptions, recruiting strategies, advertisements, and finding stronger candidates. [23:01] Telling an honest and memorable story can help a practice stand out and attract the right applicants. [25:47] Gwen shares a memorable example of what can happen when recruiters do not understand the veterinary profession. [27:08] Employee support, workplace culture, technology, family needs, and community involvement will continue shaping veterinary recruitment. [29:03] The value that industry knowledge and a strong recruiting network can bring to a competitive search. Links and Resources: VHMA VetProCentral Gwendolyn Delavar - LinkedIn Your Veterinary Dream Team: A Practical Guide to Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

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  Episode #16

  Spectrum of Care: Meeting Clients Where They Are

  Jun 25, 202636 min

  Spectrum of care gives veterinary teams a practical way to move beyond all-or-nothing treatment decisions and think more carefully about what is possible for each client, patient, and practice. A client may want to say yes to care and still run into real obstacles once they leave the exam room. They may not have a ride for a recheck, may struggle to give medication on schedule, may need to talk through the plan with someone at home, or may be worried they will be judged for waiting too long. The patient can be part of the challenge too, especially when stress makes diagnostics or at-home treatment harder. Dr. Kate Boatwright brings both clinical experience and a practical teaching perspective to this discussion, helping veterinary teams think through what it looks like to offer care with more flexibility, stronger communication, and a clearer understanding of each case. She is the founder of Write the Boat, a platform focused on a spectrum of care, access to care, mentorship, burnout, and finding a healthier balance in veterinary medicine. Dr. Boatwright is a speaker, author, and practicing small animal veterinarian who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 and has worked in rural Pennsylvania as both a general practitioner and emergency clinician. Since beginning her writing and speaking work in 2019, she has published in veterinary trade magazines and academic journals, self-published The Veterinary Mentorship Manual, and contributed to upcoming textbooks. Throughout the episode, Dr. Boatwright defines access to care, spectrum of care, and contextualized care while explaining why communication and informed consent are central to this work. She also discusses how hospital culture, team judgment, workflow, equipment, and fear of liability can limit the options a practice feels able to offer. Show Notes: [02:45] Dr. Kate Boatwright shares how she knew from a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian and how her path led into general practice. [06:55] Defining access to care, spectrum of care, and why veterinary care is not always an all-or-nothing decision. [09:15] Why contextualized care may better capture the goal of finding the right option for the patient and client in the moment. [11:17] Barriers that can keep clients and patients from getting care, including transportation, education, and fear of judgment. [14:46] The importance of clear communication, written instructions, and helping clients follow through after the appointment. [17:16] Dr. Boatwright shares a case example where limited diagnostics required a thoughtful, transparent plan with the client. [20:10] Recognizing judgment within the veterinary team and taking small steps toward offering a broader range of care options. [23:57] Why veterinarians should avoid judging colleagues' decisions without understanding the full client conversation. [25:19] Spectrum of care, liability concerns, and the importance of informed consent. [28:19] Documenting options, risks, declined recommendations, and client conversations clearly in the medical record. [30:32] How veterinary schools are beginning to incorporate spectrum of care into curriculum and clinical training. [33:49] Dr. Boatwright's final thoughts on helping teams offer some level of care to the clients and patients who walk through the door. Links and Resources: VHMA Write the Boat Veterinary Mentorship Manual Dr. Kate Boatright - Today's Veterinary Practice Dr. Kate Boatright - LinkedIn Write the Boat - Instagram

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  Episode #15

  NAVTA's Review of the Midlevel Model

  May 28, 202630 minS0

  <p >The conversation around Veterinary Professional Associates and Mid-Level Practitioners has raised important questions across the veterinary industry. At the center of the discussion is how to address workforce challenges, protect the quality of patient care, and create meaningful career growth for credentialed veterinary technicians without building a separate path that leaves many of them behind. Today, I'm joined by Anna Santos, Animal Health Supervisor with the University of Georgia's Office of Research Animal Resources and president-elect of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, or NAVTA. Anna brings nearly 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, along with a...

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