The past few years have been challenging for the entire veterinary profession, because the global pandemic has exacerbated staffing and burnout issues, hampered efficiency, and skyrocketed the demand for care. While many pandemic-era precautions have now been retired, increased appointment demand remains. General practice veterinarians are overwhelmed, leading them to refer more cases to emergency [...]
In 2018, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) discussed the veterinary specialist shortage, citing growing demand and lack of sufficient residency programs as the causes. Between 2010 and 2017, an additional 47% of specialists joined the workforce, but the percentage was not enough to fill the available openings in universities and private practices. Of the [...]
Veterinary hospitals spend between 0.5% to 5% of their annual revenue on marketing, and the percentage can be higher in years during which they make large expenditures, such as for building a new website. As a veterinary specialist in a small, private practice, marketing can eat up a lot of your time, energy, and money, [...]
When a general practice (GP) veterinarian is considering the complex decision of referring a patient to a specialist, they naturally want to focus on the pet’s best interests. However, they must consider other factors, including client and practice finances, and their own abilities. Rather than being collaborative, the specialist-GP veterinarian relationship tends to be competitive, [...]
Veterinary specialists rely on referrals and marketing to gain new clients and patients, but most specialists are located in metropolitan areas, and have limited reach to rural clients. Pets in rural areas need specialty care, too, but clients may be unaware that these services are available, if they’re willing to travel. Referring veterinarians are key [...]
As a general practitioner, you have options for your patients’ specialty care. If you have relationships with area specialists, phone consultations can help you manage your cases before referral. But, what happens when your preferred specialist is too busy, in surgery, out of the office, or otherwise unavailable? VESPECON’s team of consulting specialists is available [...]
Veterinary specialists rely on their network of referring veterinarians to build a thriving practice, because referred patients are the backbone of the specialist’s caseload, and establishing relationships with referral partners is key to their success. If you’re new to your area, starting your specialty career, or competing with other practices, you are no doubt looking [...]
In general practice, patients often require care beyond the primary setting, but for the veterinarian, knowing exactly when to refer these patients can be difficult. Each case is unique, and referral time will depend on many variables, including case urgency, client preferences, client finances, and your comfort and experience treating the particular ailment. Consulting with [...]
Veterinary clients come from all walks of life and have differing views, values, and financial means. One thing all clients have in common is their desire to care for their pets in the best way possible, working within their belief system and budget. When patients require specialty-level care, referral may be out of reach, but [...]
Veterinary specialists spend years honing their craft and serve as invaluable resources for clients and referring veterinarians. With demand for specialty care skyrocketing, many practices find themselves overwhelmed, booked weeks or months in advance, and working overtime to accommodate emergencies. Alternatively, specialists in private practice or oversaturated markets may struggle to form relationships with busy [...]
