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Jenifer Chatfield
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DVM, DACVECC
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By Elycia Degenhardt, BA, CVT
s a resident of a northern state, I am familiar with daydreaming about a warm getaway. But no matter where you live, a vacation can be a welcomed break from responsibilities and routine. Whether you can swing a last-minute spring break, a summer road trip or a mindful staycation, here are some incentives, tips and ideas to get you going!
Photos provided by Dr. June Long
f you could simplify animal sterilization and make it quicker and safer, wouldn’t you do so?
Dr. June Long, creator of “The Six Minute Spay,” has completed more than 27,000 spay/neuter surgeries in her career and has this to say about why streamlining the surgery process was so important to her: “By shortening the sterilization process, the animals are under anesthesia for a shorter period of time, and the incision is shorter, which makes the recovery process easier for the animal.”
In addition, this means you can perform more surgeries in less time, making a bigger dent in the pet overpopulation community. Or, if you’re in private practice, it frees up more time for other appointments or responsibilities.
he level of medicine that we are able to offer to veterinary patients has vastly expanded to include extensive options for specialty care. Owners who want to pursue advanced diagnostic, specialized surgery, chemotherapy and other specialized treatments can receive a referral from their primary veterinarian. Additionally, primary veterinarians benefit from the wide array of specialists who can provide advice and support for cases that are unusual or frustrating to manage.
The benefits of having specialty care as an option for veterinary patients are wide, but issues can arise during the referral process or when multiple veterinarians are working to co-manage a case. To add to this, communication challenges and frustrations have been exacerbated by limited availability of many specialty and emergency services as a ripple effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide staffing shortages.
taffing shortages, burnout, long hours—and not to mention a pandemic that has lasted a few long years—have all hit the veterinary sector hard. With so many families adding a pet in recent times, our community is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Veterinarians are struggling on multiple fronts to help as many animals as possible without adequate resources.
With limited time in the day, consumers are falling through the cracks while vets are becoming increasingly stressed and overworked. But, telehealth is one light at the end of this tunnel. Telehealth provides unique solutions for both consumers and veterinarians while filling in the gaps of in-person clinics.
By United Spay Alliance
ince the COVID-19 pandemic began, there is an estimated backlog of 2.7 million spay/neuter surgeries.1 And with more and more veterinary professionals leaving the field, the gap is growing, leaving rural areas impacted the hardest.
While there is no single solution to this very complex situation, there are ways for private practice veterinarians to get involved in providing low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to their community, while still making money for their practice. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, veterinarians should review the options available and decide which model (or models) is best suited for them and their practice.
A common intervention is to coordinate or volunteer to provide a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinic. Through these clinics, large numbers of animals can be altered in a short period of time. They can target specific communities and/or income-levels, and remain an invaluable resource for helping animals.
ow do you define “accountability?” For some, it is about commitment to achieving results and follow-through. For others, it is about discipline and getting the job done. Some will say it is about being responsible or reliable, and others will say it is about taking the blame when something goes wrong.
While the personal definitions of accountability vary, most people know accountability by the ripple effects they see. A lack of accountability appears as delays in team performance, missed deadlines, unfinished work at the end of a shift, lack of punctuality, frustration and disengagement with the team.1 The effects become compounded as disengagement leads to low trust and low morale—even resulting in the departure of great employees. Eventually, the lack of accountability affects the financial performance of the business.
he veterinary industry has experienced multiple changes in its approach to pet care. Pet ownership in the U.S. continues to grow, with a majority of households—as many as 70 percent or an incredible 90.5 million homes1—owning a pet. Data supports that pet adoption rates increased due to the pandemic, forcing veterinary practices across the country to endure a dramatic surge in pet appointments while working to retain a full staff and maintain their ability to provide the highest quality of pet care.
Through this unprecedented juncture, the veterinary industry experienced multiple changes in its overall approach to care—for pets and their parents. Despite the challenges caused by increased workloads and psychological stress felt throughout the industry, veterinary professionals remain optimistic about the future of pet care and have discovered numerous growth opportunities through the adversity they have faced. By thinking creatively and anticipating problems before they arise, veterinary practices can continue to prevail in times of uncertainty.
Though veterinary professionals have had to reevaluate their operational processes and adapt to fundamental shifts brought on by the pandemic, veterinary practices must remain focused on delivering quality pet care, emphasizing the patient experience at the forefront of their company values. Pet parents look to veterinarians for their expert knowledge, guidance and, most of all, comfort when needed.
Through self-paced modules, hands-on workshops and facilitated discussions, BLEND cultivates a thriving hospital culture of belonging, builds relationships within diverse communities and empowers teams to increase the pipeline of underrepresented minorities (URMs) within veterinary medicine. www.blend.vet
2 leading trade magazines for the pet professional in your life with all the content to assist them in keeping your pet healthy, happy and beautiful.
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