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July 09

DRY EYE MONTH

Our local Schering-Plough/Intervet representative approached me in August 09 to show me the practice figures for selling Optimmune. She asked if he thought there would be any way to increase them and would I consider taking part in the ‘Take a closer look’ campaign. The first so many practices that saw the first 50 dogs and tested for dry eye would win a new top of the range digital camera.

So I set about organising our practice ‘Dry Eye Month’.

HOW I ORGANISED IT?
I arranged for the rep to do a lunch time talk about Dry Eye and its treatment. This was so everyone in practice aware of what and why we were doing the campaign.

All the qualified nurses were happy take part in the month’s campaign and the vets were happy for us to refer any possible problems.

I printed letters that were to be sent out with invoices and booster reminders, inviting all dogs for a free eye test. I also sent letters to all the predisposed breeds of ‘dry eye’.

A notice board display was done in reception and I also sent a story to the local paper on the importance of eye testing in dogs. This also helped promote the practice.

SUMMARY

We were the first practice to see and test 50 dogs, therefore winning the camera (this has helped me take all the lovely photographs you have been looking at).

In total we saw and tested 104 dogs, in the space of 4weeks at the practice.

Our figures for selling Optimmune went form 5-6 tubes a month to 10-11 tubes on average.

10 dogs were referred to one of our veterinary surgeons for further tests and treatment.

This was very successful and we are running it again this April, in conjunction with National Pet Month 09.