Q: I’m worried about the mental health of a couple of employees who have been with me for over five years. I own a small practice and don’t know how to help them or if I can afford it. Any suggestions?
A: The fact that you noticed your employees struggling and are eager to help is an excellent start. Too many practice owners and managers ignore signs of personal struggle or don’t get involved because they consider the situations none of their business. You’re right to be concerned. After all, a team’s well-being directly impacts patient care, client service and revenue.
If you have a trusted relationship with the employees, start by privately asking whether they are doing OK. Don’t be discouraged if they don’t reveal their challenges at first. Your recognition and concern can be reassuring and appreciated. It also allows the opportunity for future conversations or advice.
The great news is that providing your employees with mental health services is more obtainable and affordable than ever. I’ve encouraged veterinary clinics to include an employee assistance program (EAP) in benefits packages. EAPs often provide counseling services and access to therapists specializing in the demands of professional life. They also might offer legal, financial and child care resources.
Veterinary group purchasing organizations can provide EAPs to small clinics at manageable rates. Set one up and inform your team of the types of available assistance.
And while you’re at it, take the opportunity to assess and improve your clinic’s culture. Ask team members where you can make improvements, and invite their involvement in altering systems and processes. Finally, lead by example whenever possible and encourage your employees to prioritize their well-being.
Thank you for committing to making our colleagues’ lives healthier and more meaningful.
Q: We have a conflict in our clinic over vaccine protocols. Two new associate veterinarians insist on three-year core immunizations, but our older owner demands annual shots. Our team is caught in the middle, and everyone, including clients, is confused. How can we broker a peace treaty that leaves everyone happy?
A: Welcome to 2004, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the first three-year core combination vaccines for dogs and cats. I was on the three-year team (and still am) and embarked on several nationwide tours advocating for extended-duration vaccine protocols. I lost, but that doesn’t mean your patients, clients and team must lose 20 years later.
While my opinion on this issue is clear, you must begin arbitration by assembling everyone’s views and supporting evidence. Medical debates are based on facts, so each stakeholder needs to set aside emotion and bring data. Disallow personal anecdotes and arguments such as, “We’ve always done it this way.”
You also must secure everyone’s commitment to accepting the debate’s conclusions. Meet with the key players beforehand and ensure they’re fully committed to a civil democratic process. If not, you’re working under tyranny, and your team must accept the boss’s decree or leave. Sorry to put it so bluntly, but it’s true.
Change can be challenging when someone has long-held beliefs based on dated science. I prize open-mindedness and progress in my peers, and I hope you can persuade your team to approach the controversy in a neutral, unbiased manner centered on science. Easier said than done, I’m afraid.
Gather everyone in a meeting with minimal, if any, distractions. Have an agreed-upon moderator. Share a written agenda to set expectations and keep everyone on track. Then, discuss the issues professionally and politely.
You might want to hold a secret ballot if you can’t gain outright consensus. Hopefully, the boss will appreciate the team’s passion and interest in such a foundational protocol and will be eager to adapt and follow the facts where they lead.
Whatever your team decides, educate every employee on your vaccine protocols. Lack of consistency or confusion in medical standards undermines your clinic’s credibility and erodes confidence in your expertise.
While you can’t win every battle, keep fighting the war for best practices in your clinic. And don’t be afraid to wave the white flag when you’re on the losing side of science and change.
Q: At my last checkup, my doctor said I needed to lose weight and lower my cholesterol. (My A1C is prediabetic.) Those suggestions are well-intentioned, but what can I realistically do as a busy veterinarian?
A: Congratulations on getting an annual physical exam. Recent studies suggest that about half of U.S. adults skip their yearly physical. I advocate prioritizing prevention and identifying health risks. Now you’ve got to act on the information.
In your case, modifying your diet is the logical (and evidence-based) first choice. Ask for a referral to a registered dietitian for help crafting a diet that works for your lifestyle. Chances are you’ll add more vegetables, plant-based proteins and high-fiber foods and consume less sugar. No news there, of course, but you’ve got to start with what you eat.
Mindless snacking in the clinic is a big saboteur of healthy habits, especially diet. We get stressed and instinctively reach for sugary and salty foods to satiate the demands of elevated cortisol. It seems like only a little at the time, but studies show the average American adult consumes 25% of daily calories in junk food. Preempt such cravings by:
- Packing crunchy veggie snacks.
- Having easy access to water. (Zero-calorie flavored additives can help tap into your inner camel.)
- Eating healthy nuts. (Go easy on them if you’re also trying to lose body fat.).
My go-to strategy when I feel hungry is to drink water and wait 20 minutes. If I’m still hungry, I grab a couple of carrots or a handful of nuts. Having those nutritious options handy is essential to quash hankerings when they strike.
In addition, focus on getting seven to nine hours of restorative sleep each night. Try using a sleep tracker — Oura ring is my long-time fave — to assess what might affect your sleep quality. Also, set aside daily time to learn medication or breathwork. Stress can cause or exacerbate all your conditions, so learning to manage tension can improve your well-being.
Finally, walk or exercise each day. How long or hard is up to you, but I advise starting short and easy and increasing the effort as your fitness improves. Too many colleagues are seduced by picture-perfect gym bodies promoting a host of workout plans and then fail when they attempt too much too soon. The truth is that a daily walk around the block is often the best start for most of us. Consistency is the key to improving health, not the latest fad or device.
Good luck and remember that each day is an opportunity to invest in your future self. Invest often and wisely!