Westonka Animal Hospital
Resource Guide for Veterinary Staff Members Interested In Learning the Language of HTML

By Dr. Craig Piepkorn

I sometimes I get asked, "Who did your web page?" or "Who is your webmaster?"
The answer is, "I did it myself".

Now, I don't mean to brag. As a matter of fact, I would say I did a dumb thing doing my own web page. I really should have spent my time doing other things. So, I hope to impress upon you not to make the same mistakes that I did.

I would suggest for most vet clinics, that you hire an experienced web master. It is my opinion that your time is more valuable treating animals than it is making your own web pages. However, I do believe a staff member can easily be trained how to do the basics and make minor adjustments working with a webmaster. In other words, use a web master to do the major things, have a staff member make minor adjustments. It is true, "You Get What You Pay For".

The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) has an arrangement with a web master and it is reasonably priced. If you are an MVMA member, I would suggest you check on the availability of their web page development services.

After you have hired a webmaster, an interested staff member may learn now to make simple web pages, thus learning how to make adjustments. A staff member can learn how to make a web page in a just a few hours.

The basics of the language to write a web page, called "HTML", are not difficult to learn. It will be a basic web page, yes. Understand that it will take longer to learn how to manipulate and change graphics and to add JAVA script, formatting, add color, etc etc.

I have listed below resources to help your staff learn how to do write web pages using HTML (the basic language of writing web pages). The sites are free and most only take a few hours to complete. They will eventually link you to other resources so your staff can learn additional skills.

For web page graphics, I use Paint Shop Pro manufactured by Jasc. It is reasonably priced and does everything that I need to do. However, there are many graphic programs on the market that I am sure would work well also, I just haven't used them.

HTML Online Courses

• Page Tutor.Com by Joe Barta
• NCSA - A Beginner's Guide to HTML

Some final tips for you: (again, these are my humble opinions)

• Web page features such as pet photo galleries are high maintenance. Don't expect the staff member to keep up with all the photos, it's just a lot of work for little benefit to the clinic. If you are going to do one, realize that it will use alot of your staff's time. However, if anybody is aware of a program out there in which owners can upload their own pet photos into a clinic “photo gallery”, please let me know !
• make the graphics small. A 600 Kb image file will take a long time for a viewer to download it to their browser if they are using a normal telephone line hooked up to their modem. They will get bored and leave ! The smaller you can get your images, the faster the page will appear to the visitor.
• Use different browsers, the two most common being Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer to view your pages as you are working on them. Pages may look different in different browsers and your viewers will be using all types of browsers.
• And finally…..hire and use a webmaster to do the major things. I know this is repetitive, but it is important. Web pages are becoming increasingly complex and at the same time, becoming more enjoyable to visit. Again, if you are a Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association member, contact them, as they have a webmaster available who is familiar with the wants and needs of a veterinary practice.

Have Fun Learning !!
Sincerely,
Craig Piepkorn, DVM
email Dr. Craig if you have any questions about our web page

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