Use Your In-Practice Resources to Distribute Information

The main components for developing this form of owner education material is the equipment required and the source of the information provided. The equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive and may include some of the following:

• TV Monitors with Built-in VHS or DVD Players – These can be placed in the reception area or clinic area and require very little space.  Tapes or DVDs can be run continuously with a variety of subject matter. This should be overseen by a staff member to make sure that information is changed on a regular basis.  Another option is to have a library of accessible information that is available to clients, so that they may pick their subject of interest.  This will require some oversight by a staff member to keep the area and equipment maintained for either on-demand service or self-service for the client.
   
• Computers and Monitors – These can utilize DVDs or CDs for presentations or to continuously run slide shows on a variety of different owner education subjects.  Older computers that lack capacity for other practice tasks can be converted for this use by generally just updating to a nice flat monitor. Laptops are nice since they take up little space and can be moved to appropriate areas (portable) where they may display supplemental information concerning a procedure or health issue that is relevant to the client. It is possible to set up and link into a more elaborate practice-wide system that can be controlled by a staff member for display of pertinent owner education material. The information available for this type of presentation may be obtained from a variety of sources:

-       AAEP – There are numerous power point slide show presentations available on a wide variety of subjects that can be used as stand-alone presentations. The AAEP also has education brochures available in packs of 25 to provide for your clients covering various equine health topics. For selected brochures there is a nominal fee charged to AAEP members.

-       Commercial Production – Many companies can provide promotional tapes and discs that relate to horse health owner education issues and their specific product.  Many of these are well done, entertaining and informational.  The content should be reviewed carefully to see if you and/or your practice colleagues agree with the content as appropriate for your clientele.

-       Self-Generated Informational Tapes/DVDs/CDs – These are much more specific to individual needs and topics but could require extensive production and expense in some cases.  Someone within the practice talented with a digital camera or digital video camera could put these segments together with the proper editing and time. Commercial firms are available to do custom work, but plan on an extensive time, production and expense budget. Self-generated power point slide shows that were presented to local equine owner groups or at a national meeting would be well used in this capacity to further distribute the information, and done at a small cost.