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What the pandemic taught
equine veterinarians
By Kimberly S. Brown
Getting paid
Getting paid was a double-edged sword during the pandemic. On one hand, many
folks who owned horses and other animals took a reduction in income or were
unemployed for some part of the year. That meant getting paid for services rendered
was harder for veterinarians.
On the other hand, many people had more time to spend with their horses and animals
because they were staying away from other people. Because of that, they noticed
things about their animals that perhaps they wouldn't have with just daily trips to the
barn to hurriedly care for horses or to saddle up and ride after work.
Because veterinarians were trying to stay well (and away from the multiple clients they
served), drop-offs became common. Many veterinarians and their staffs expressed
that dealing with clients apart from the examination and treatment of the animal
was beneficial in some ways (fewer distractions) but harder in others (getting all the
information).
With less interaction between clients and practice staff, bills were usually paid over
the phone or online with a credit card during the pandemic. Now that is definitely
something that all veterinary practitioners should keep as part of their practices
moving forward. Veterinarians are not banks and should not "take payments" for
services rendered. There are credit cards and other services available to clients that
allow the veterinarian to get paid and in turn pay staff, overhead, and themselves.
Change isn't easy, and it is
especially unwelcome if it
isn't our idea. The COVID-19
pandemic caused change
for everyone, but for service
providers such as veterinarians,
not all of the changes were bad.
So, what practice or business
changes occurred in 2020
that veterinarians might want
to continue as part of their
operations or services?
Harnessing Practice Health
