TrueNorth.DVM

Home
TrueNorth.DVM

Follow TrueNorth.DVM for advice on holistic, empowered, and bold living as a veterinarian. From a veterinarian who is an empathetic straight shooter.

We are all learning and growing on a path to a better tomorrow. link for book: http://kck.st/3ppo9j5

23/01/2022

We are FAMILY 🎉 HEALTHCARE 🎉 PROVIDERS 🎉

This thought was shared at VMX. What a paradigm shift.

It is true.

1. People consider their pets like children and the human animal bond is ever advancing.

2. One health perspective- there is ample evidence that having a pet extends not only your quality of life but length of life of human family members. It also reduces many common morbidities that lead to mortality in people, like high blood pressure. By taking care of the non-human family we are taking care of the humans, too.

3. Zoonosis- its still a thing even in the USA and especially in healthcare deserts (human and non human alike). Again by taking care of pets we are taking care of humans.

4. Its a part of our oath. "On being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through protection of animal health and welfare."

How does seeing ourselves as FAMILY 🎉 HEALTHCARE 🎉 PROVIDERS 🎉 change the way we provide care? Through organized vet med could we push to allow HSA funds to pay for bills? How about access to care? How can we align our industry with existing healthcare resources to be used for pets?

Mind was blown 🤯.

04/06/2021

Masks off 🙌

For the first time since I was hired at MVMC we are allowed to be mask less if fully vaccinated. It's amazing to see full faces. Our team has done such a good job masking, that I have no clue what the bottom half of most people's faces look like!

It's one small step towards normalcy. We are still not allowing clients in the building yet, and masking when face to face with clients.

What are your clinics doing?

03/06/2021

The book has arrived you can buy it through my website truenorthdvm.com

18/04/2021

💲💲Debt sucks. And it stresses me out!

Most people are afraid to talk about money. But because its taboo, most people don't know anything about how to handle personal finances. I am lucky I grew up in a financially literate family that talked about basic personal finance. But many of my friends who did not grow up like this tend to have a relationship with money that buries their head in the sand, or has the attitude of, "I didn't overdraw my account, so I must be ok."

Money, financial security and financial freedom are one of the top stressors amongst Americans, and a leading cause to anxiety, depression, and su***de. So lets at least scrape the surface.

Step 1: Have a budget- take the time to do this exercise, learn where all your money is going is a great place to start. I do this annually and am still surprised by the subscriptions I forgot I had that are just re-occurring. Even canceling them saves you cash!

Step 2: Emergency Fund- as part of your budge include saving to build an emergency fund. It is generally recommended to have 3-6 months of monthly expenses in savings. Just in case. This is what financial security looks like.

Step 3: Insure your s**t. I know we are talking about spending money. But if you don't insure your assets AND your earning potential (cough, cough long term disability), than loss of an asset or ability to do your job can be crippling.

Step 4: Pay down your debt- lots of resources out there for this one! Have a plan and stick to it. Don't just throw extra cash here and there.

Step 5: Make your money work for you- The best feeling in the world, is knowing your are leveraging your assets. If you are at this step, I highly recommend talking with a financial advisor. They are worth their fees. Get one that commits to the fiduciary standard so they are serving your interest not theirs or the firms.

17/04/2021

This is a concept I struggle with. I am ambitious, if you haven't found that out yet, you must be new to my account 😄. I have a lot of goals, many of which have to slowly be chipped away at and percolate over time. I find this endlessly frustrating, because I feel ready for the end result today! This friction is what it feels like for me to be a work-in-progress. And I find it endlessly frustrating to have to remind myself to cool my own jets.

A skill I have to work on, is enjoying the ride. Taking time to stop and smell the roses and reflect on all the achievements I have conquered thus far. It is easy to forget, that which we have already achieved once seemed like a huge and daunting task. A goal just as big as any other goal I have today. But in the rear view having achieved it, it often seems "easy." It wasn't. Give yourself a pat on the back and remember, though you are a work-in-progress to your future, you are a master piece from your past.

Get out there and slay your day!

16/04/2021

In order to learn successfully – we must be challenged.

But the balance also needs to be just right. The Learning zone model breaks it up into three categories.

1. Comfort zone
2. Learning zone (The sweet spot)
3. Panic zone

If we are never pushed, we never leave our comfort zones. But if we are pushed to hard we panic. Learning can't happen in either place. It is in the learning zone that the magic happens. Where your existing skills and expertise are challenged, honed and improved. It can be intimidating at first. But it doesn't have to be. Be curious, see it as an adventure and take calculated risks.

Learning and growth does not stop when you graduate from veterinary school. Its just beginning.

14/04/2021

Today, I took a mental health day. And you know what, it was AMAZING!

I had no "scheduled" activities, worked on the projects that inspired me, walked my dogs and got my nails done. Sometimes we need to unplug to recharge. ⚡(Haha get the pun?)

Work sometimes asks us to hit the dig deep button. In my internal brain it looks a lot like the staples button from their silly commercials. But the problem is, if you hit the dig deep button too often, or too hard...you brake it. And there is nothing left there.

My Mother is the one who taught me the importance of mental health days. She would allow my brother and I to stay home from school 1 day a semester if we needed it, because we just needed a break. No reason necessary, no fake fever. Just take time for yourself. If you don't take mental health days yet, I encourage you to try it.

13/04/2021

PICK. YOUR. BATTLES

Has anyone else noticed that clients ask anyone, BUT their veterinarian for pet care advice. I have had some choice client interactions this past weekend. They went like this:

"I called my friend because her dog was vomiting and she ended up down at tufts and he had a sphincter problem with the pylorus of the stomach where it had a hernia in the chest. Do you even know what that is? How do you know its not that, its common in Frenchie's" Yes ma'ma and its a hiatal hernia not a pyloric outflow problem. (This pet was vomiting FYI because she switched it to a food with a known salmonella recall, and he tested positive for salmonella. Hoof beats are horses people)

A receptionist recently asked if I would consider myself "experienced" with rabbits as a client only wanted to come in to see an "experienced rabbit vet". I told her to tell her I thought so, I had seen 50-60 in the last year alone. She didn't come in. Guess that was not "experienced."

Its hard not to let client interactions like this get under your skin. But here is the tip. If the battle does not involve getting to a resolution that provides a better outcome for the pet, its not worth your time. I am the queen 👑👑 of non-sequiturs. Usually something like, "Well that's interesting. So in Joey's case I think XYZ are most likely and here is why."

P.S. Anyone else realizing that most of these people are oblivious to the fact they are rude/insulting? "Sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often. Best to say nothing at all, my dear man.” - Albus Dumbledore.

Take Dumbledore's advice. Don't get caught in the trap of trying to protect your ego.

11/04/2021

Here is something I wish I knew when I graduated.

🔥You can be a successful, valuable small animal veterinarian and NOT work a traditional 8-5pm small animal practice job. AND this work can be fulfilling and pay well.

Now, I am not looking down on my brethren in the trenches who loved the traditional GP life. YOU ROCK. It turns out, I just can't do what you do and be happy and balanced. Or alternatively I was never lucky enough to find the unicorn practice that was willing to invest in me and provide a work-life balance that was sustainable to my needs.

Regardless, the point of this post is you've got options! When I was in school I thought you graduated, found a practice maybe two then settled & worked as an associate and became medical director or practice owner. All I ever dreamed of in life, was leading a clinic. Turns out medical director positions have a lot of issues and are still in their infancy, and practice ownership is increasingly off the table as the industry turns cooperate. I have worked for cooperate groups, mom-and-pop businesses, rural, urban, full-time, part-time and relief. I have worked small animal GP, emergency exclusive and as a part of a level 1 triage and specialty center. You could say I have been around.

And you know what I learned. Taking all that time to learn what I loved (and didn't love) about being a veterinarian helped me gain perspective. It helped teach me I wasn't broken just cuz I didn't fit the traditional model. It taught me that having a veterinary degree is amazingly adaptable and diverse. And it taught me that there is a dream job out there for everyone, it just may not be something you are aware of yet. So take chances, say yes to opportunity and network with others. You never know where conversations may lead you.

10/04/2021

We have all been there. Even those of us more seasoned and years out of school end up with this face from time to time. For all those soon-to-be new grads, veterinarians please share what you do when you hit a dead end!

Here is what I do:
1. Take a deep breath. And remind my brain, I am not a failure. This is just a tough case. I am beautiful, brilliant and brave. I've got this.

2. I work the case logically from the beginning like in school, to make sure I haven't missed anything. I review the history of the pet and clarify it if needed with the owner. I write out my master problem list and every differential I can think of to explain them, sometimes using a text book. And then I review my testing results an logically decide which next step testing might be appropriate.

3. I communicate with my client. I highlight that normal tests, tell us a lot about what is NOT wrong with their pet. Through ruling these out, we are actually getting closer to the solution of the problem. I am on their team, and come hell or high water, I will either figure this out, or get them to the people who can.

4. I call referral hospitals and make sure I have not overlooked something. If there really is nothing else I can do at my practice, I discuss with the client, referral to a specialist.

5. If the client can't afford specialty care, we are forced to treat without a diagnosis. I typically treat what is most treatable, and then most likely. Treatment response can be a test result.

6. I communicate with the client again. "If finding the diagnosis is not possible what are your biggest fears, and what would you consider a successful outcome?" I use this information to help me guide the owner in decision making and guide my treatment plan.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET A DIAGNOSIS.

AND

YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS, TO MAKE THE PET FEEL BETTER.

I know as a new grad, this made my mind explode. But there it is.

08/04/2021

Ironic to post this after just had a killer post on how our success comes from our failures. However, I had already planned this post for today. I think it just underscores the importance of the topic.

I have a tattoo on my right ankle. It is the outline of a black bear and a lightening bolt going threw it. It is a symbol of a creation myth and the life force of the animal. It goes like this. There was a mother, 6 daughters and a son. And the son went out to hunt. The during the hunt he transformed into a bear and came back and attacked his family. He killed his mother, an the sisters climbed a tree and jumped into the heavens to become the north star and stars of the big dipper. Realizing what he had done, he began to cry. And his tears filled up the lakes, rivers and oceans and he buried his mother and this became the most futile soil which nourished the people.

Its on my right foot, because...Right foot forward!

We all have good and bad within us. We all have days we are not our best selves. There are areas of medicine we feel like Rockstar at and areas that terrify us. That is ok. We don't have to be perfect, we just have to try our best and when we do make a mistake, learn from it. The moral of the story is, our mistakes inspire growth and growth is what helps fortify ourselves, and nourishes others in the future.

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

http://truenorthdvm.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when TrueNorth.DVM posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to TrueNorth.DVM:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Health & Beauty Business?

Country:

City: