In the world of pet care, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. 

It seems there is always another animal in need. Or a pet owner who could use our help and advice. Veterinarians know better than most just how busy a practice can get, especially during times of reduced staff/pandemic capacity limits! 

If these struggles sound familiar, you’re not alone. 

Read on to discover three brilliant ways veterinarians can handle having too much business.

The 3 E’s: Efficiency, Expansion, Extra Help

You are at capacity.

 Every day, your practice is turning away new patients because you simply don’t have the resources to accommodate them. It’s a constant battle to deal with your current caseload of pets that all need help right nowvs. who can be seen later. Staff are exhausted, overworked, and falling apart. But the problem isn’t necessarily them (or you). No. Instead, the real issues stem from a lack of time and resources. 

 So, what to do?

 The answer lies in efficiencies and/or expansions! 

 1.    Efficiency

 The first smart way to handle having too much business is to become more efficient. Examine your daily processes. Ask yourself: 

 ·      Where can time be saved?

·      How long am I spending per case?

·      Who oversees each step of the process when a case is being worked on?

·      Are there redundancies in the ways patients are handled?

·      Do staff move cases efficiently throughout the process?

·      Are there costs that are unnecessary that can be reallocated?

 

Thinking about these questions opens up the possibility of finding more efficient ways to accomplish tasks. 

 

2.    Expansion

 

The second way to handle too much business as a veterinarian is to expand. To do so, start by reflecting on what capacities in your practiced are maxed out. For example:

 

·      Do you have too few exam rooms? 

·      Can your floor layout be reorganized? 

·      Do you have too few veterinarians? Vet techs? Office staff? 

·      Is the waiting area crowded?

·      What time is busiest? Morning or afternoon? 

·      Could opening a second location nearby be a viable option? 

 

3.    Extra help

 

A third way to handle too excess business is to get extra help, and that means utilizing telemedicine platforms.   Refer non-urgent matters to a trusted telehealth company who can speak with your client immediately and give them peace of mind.   

Telemedicine gives your clients answers right away and frees your team up for appointments that must be seen in person.  Telemedicine triage can help you be able to accept new patients, keep the old ones happy, and stay healthy yourself by becoming more efficient. 

 

Say “Yes!” to More Business Without Burning Out

Above all, the goal should be to provide expert, compassionate, timely service to our patients without working our team so hard that they can’t keep up with demand. Remember that veterinarians are particularly vulnerable to burnout, in fact, Veterinary Integration Solutions just released results from a survey that indicated that the burnout rate has increased in the veterinary profession, with the younger professionals being the most burned- out group. 

 

The solution? Be more efficient, expand, and get extra help! 

 Want more great tips?

Checkout our podcast

 Smarter Veterinary Podcast

 

Securities products and advisory services and advisory services offered through Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), member FINRA, SIPC.  OSJ: 4200 West Cypress Street, Suite 700, Tampa, FL 33607, 813-289-3632. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. The individuals associated with Florida Veterinary Advisors do not maintain specialized licenses or qualifications for the financial services provided to veterinary professionals. Florida Veterinary Advisors is not registered in any state or with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor.  Florida Veterinary Advisors is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Christopher Burnett CA License #0K79676. Tom Seeko CA License #0K80141. 2021-130385 Exp 11/23