Staffing shortages are taking a toll on the veterinary industry

Staffing shortages have been a problem for the veterinary medicine industry for many years, and the pandemic has exacerbated the issue as veterinary professionals work long difficult hours to treat as many pets as possible. Not only are veterinary staffs strained by the absences caused when team contract or are exposed to COVID, but they also are at high risk for compassion fatigue and burnout.

• Veterinarians — Most veterinarians will say they never considered any other occupation, and they determinedly worked through undergraduate studies and veterinary school to achieve their goal. For many, that extensive schooling has led to debt and an ever-present cause of stress. Adding to the stress is the desire to cure every patient they see and the frustration and feeling of failure when they lose a patient, particularly when they have to euthanize the pet. Pet owners also sometimes contribute to veterinarians’ stress if they get upset when their emotional needs aren’t met or their pet’s prognosis is poor. While all of these factors were an issue before the pandemic, COVID has aggravated the situation. According to a report released by the Amercian Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), veterinarians are 2.7 times more likely than the general public to die by suicide and one in six has contemplated suicide. To deal with the increased stress, many veterinarians have cut back on hours while others have left the field entirely. As a result, many practices are struggling to find veterinarians to fill positions. That means they can’t treat as many pets as they would like.
• Veterinary technicians — Veterinarian technicians are a critical component of successful veterinary practices, but they also are susceptible to compassion fatigue and burnout. Male veterinary technicians are five times and female veterinary technicians are 2.3 times more likely to take their own lives. These individuals face many of the same stressors and challenges as veterinarians. They tend to be high achievers, work long hours for low pay, and become invested emotionally in the pets they treat. This dedication can take a significant mental and physical toll, leading to mental health concerns and difficulty in filling open team positions.

Inventory shortages are taking a toll on the veterinary industry

At the height of the pandemic many veterinarians donated their personal protective equipment for use in human medicine which resulted in the postponement of elective procedures. They also faced shortages of disinfectants and cleaning supplies which prevented them from seeing the number of pets they typically would examine each day. Now most areas have reopened and these postponed appointments and procedures have to be scheduled. However the backlog makes it difficult for practices to schedule new appointments and procedures promptly. The current supply chain problems have also caused a shortage of several veterinary pharmaceutical products.

Overwhelmed general practices are overflowing to veterinary emergency practices

The pandemic has forced many general practices to close and others have stopped taking appointments so they can catch up on their backlogs. When pet owners can’t get an appointment at their regular veterinarian, they often take their pet to an emergency practice such as Animal Emergency Care for non-emergency problems. This leads to swamped emergency practices and long wait times.

Capacity limitations are taking a toll on the veterinary industry

Here at Animal Emergency Care, we are limited to one to three emergency veterinarians at any given time because of the nationwide shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. We are currently able to treat an average of 60 patients per day using 17 routine admin beds, six temporary treatment beds, three isolation beds, and one critical care bed. As a result,  our hospital is almost always at capacity. We are committed to caring for your cherished pets and we refuse to jeopardize their care. In addition, our top priority is caring for those patients who are in critical condition. This means we may not be able to see your pet as quickly as you would like.

As a pet owner, you can help our veterinary professionals by being understanding when you talk with them and by practicing patience while you wait for your pet to be evaluated. Please call your family veterinarian for any non-emergency issues with your pet, and if your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency after hours, contact our team at Animal Emergency Care. #AECprevents 

Sources:

https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/veterinary-suicide-rates-are-higher-including-veterinary-technicians/

https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2021/05/26/alarming-suicide-rates-reflective-stresses-felt-veterinarians/7361193002/

https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/veterinary-practices-warn-of-ppe-shortages/

https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2021-09-15/are-we-veterinary-workforce-crisis

The post Covid’s Toll on the Veterinary Industry appeared first on Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA.

Modified veterinary hospital operations

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country veterinary hospitals were designated an essential business when many other businesses were forced to close. However, veterinarians were limited to seeing urgent care cases and non-urgent wellness care visits were postponed.  Now that restrictions have been eased, many veterinary hospitals are still trying to catch up with the backlog of patients needing wellness care visits.

In addition, curbside care has become the norm for many veterinary practices including AEC. We understand the frustration of waiting in your car for your pet’s veterinary exam and the stress of not being able to accompany them in for their veterinary visit. However, many veterinary hospitals have limited space and decreasing the number of people inside a facility protects team and clients from possible viral exposure. Curbside care also requires extended time so that team can speak to pet owners on the phone during their pet’s examination and treatment. Increased cleaning and sanitation of examination rooms and hospital surfaces requires extra time and manpower as well which can contribute to delays during your pet’s appointment. 

Forever homes and more time with pet owners

Many four-legged companions found forever homes during the pandemic. According to the American Pet Products Association more than 11 million pets were adopted between March and November 2020. Many pet owners continued to work remotely in 2021 which made it easier for them to observe their pet’s daily habits and notice subtle changes in their pet’s health. That helped lead to an increased demand for veterinary appointments and contributed to longer wait times. 

Veterinary team shortages lead to increased wait times

The added demand on veterinary team has caused more stress and burnout in a challenging profession and many have taken breaks or left the profession altogether. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), veterinary turnover is twice as high as that of physicians in human health care and veterinary technicians have the highest turnover of all health care positions. Limited team directly affects veterinary practices’ capacity to examine and care for more pets and causes longer wait times. Many veterinary practices also face challenges when team take time off because either they or their family members become sick which also results in extended wait times. 

Tips for pet owners to ensure a smooth veterinary visit

Successful veterinary care is a team process between pet owners and veterinary staff. Patience and kindness are key components to ensure your pet’s care is a positive and safe experience for all involved. Follow these tips to ensure a smooth veterinary experience: 

• Decrease stress by familiarizing yourself with veterinary clinic operations, including our AEC hospital.
• Schedule wellness visits with your family veterinarian three to four weeks in advance.
• Know your financial options and consider purchasing pet insurance like Trupanion to ensure funds are available for your pet’s required care.  
• Speak with your veterinarian about telehealth options for non-urgent pet concerns.
• When possible, fill out hospital paperwork in advance of your appointment to decrease your wait time. 
• Learn what constitutes a veterinary emergency vs. a non-urgent medical concern. This will help decrease the time emergency veterinary team spend with non-emergency cases.  
• Call our AEC office as soon as possible if you experience an emergency, so our team can prepare for your pet. 

Our AEC team understands the stress of waiting for your pet to receive emergency medical care and we work tirelessly to ensure a smooth emergency veterinary care experience. Contact AEC if your pet gets into trouble after hours or if your family veterinarian is not available. We are here 24 hours a day to care for your pet. #AECprevents

Source:

https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2021-09-15/are-we-veterinary-workforce-crisis

The post The Waiting Game: Understanding Veterinary Overload appeared first on Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA.