Veterinary Technician Listening and Communication Skills
Veterinary technicians must be effective listeners and communicators, and they should use a variety of strategies. They must be attentive in order to be good listeners. Although listening is an involuntary process, understanding any speech requires one to become attention. To achieve good understanding, they should always endeavor to understand what their clients and coworkers are saying (Hamood, Chur-Hansen & McArthur, 2014). They should also guarantee that they provide feedback whenever they are communicated with. Making comments, asking questions, and using body language such as nodding and smiling are all examples of this.
Effective Listening Techniques
Delivering veterinary services necessitates accuracy. Veterinary technicians should always take notes as an effective listening technique to assist them recall essential things and serve their clients better. They should always ensure that they keep distraction at a minimum. This entails making calls or conversations in a quiet environment. Having a system of remembering people names as this enhances communication with clients and coworkers is also a key listening technique (Hamood, Chur-Hansen & McArthur, 2014). Moreover, they should paraphrase when listening. This entails repeating exactly what the speaker is saying as this helps in maintaining focus (Silverman & Draper, 2016).
Effective Communication Techniques
In order to be good communicators, Veterinary should use and be aware of their no verbal elements as clients and coworkers are likely to believe what they see more. They should also communicate their ideas clearly and precisely and ensure their expectations are explicit. In addition, as an essential technique they should ensure that they give their clients time and coworkers to process whatever information they provide (Nørgaard et al, 2012). This eliminates the possibility of information overload, which is not a favorable occurrence especially when providing important instructions. This also provides a window for the co-workers or clients for seeking clarification.
Veterinary Practice Management Software
DVMAX is a veterinary management software that has a solid foundation for more than 20 years. This software has earned the reputations of being an easy to use and the most powerful software for veterinary practice management software for both windows and Mac. Given that it provides a paperless management, it helps eliminate missed charges, maximizes profits and runs the daily undertakings. Its vendor is DVMAX founded in 1989 in the U.S. Its features include but not limited to image storage, billing and invoicing, appointment scheduling, patient records, inventory management, treatment plans and prescription management (DVMAX, 2017). It is relatively easy to use except that with the upgrades there have been cases of data not fitting into the screens.
Cornerstone practice management is a software manufactured and sold by Idexx Laboratories. Unlike DVMAX, the software has had several upgrades and enhancements. Moreover, there is readily available support and training opportunities from the vendor (IDEXX, 2017). The software is only compatible with Windows operating system. It has the same functionality as DVMAX in terms of the veterinary features it provides, for instance, prescription management.
The third veterinary software is VetBlue Clinic, which is manufactured by VetBlue Company. Unlike DVMAX and Cornerstone management, practice it does not require a server and is web based. It, therefore, enhances mobility (VetBlue, 2017). The software also has the same features and functionality as the other two software. The only disadvantage is that it requires constant internet supply to remain functional.
References
DVMAX Company. (2017). DVMAX Practice. Retrieved from http://dvmax.com/DVMAXPRACTICE.html
Hamood, W. J., Chur-Hansen, A., & McArthur, M. L. (2014). A qualitative study to explore communication skills in veterinary medical education. International journal of medical education, 5, 193.
IDEXX Company. (2017). Cornerstone Software - IDEXX. Retrieved from https://www.idexx.com/small-animal-health/products-and-services/cornerstone-software.html
Nørgaard, B., Ammentorp, J., Ohm Kyvik, K., & Kofoed, P. E. (2012). Communication skills training increases self‐efficacy of health care professionals. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 32(2), 90-97.
Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2016). Skills for communicating with patients. CRC Press.
VetBlue Company. (2017). VetBlue Veterinary Software Mobile Equine Practice Management. Retrieved from http://www.eveterinarysoftware.com/
