As a DVM and clinic owner, I’ve spent my career on the front lines of animal health care and understand the challenges today’s teams are facing. In this workforce crisis, many of us have been doing more with less. Instead, we need to optimize the resources we already have.
RVTs taking wellness appointments is an industry shift that is helping clinics thrive. By redirecting a portion of the daily caseload, clinics are easing the burden on doctors, opening up appointments, and increasing the amount of face-to-face time they spend with clients. DVMs are prioritized for surgery and higher-level medical cases, while improved job satisfaction is reducing staff turnover across the board.
Enhanced training programs (like bscommunication.ca) are equipping RVTs to embrace their new role by developing their communication skills, sharpening their business acumen, and building on their existing wealth of small animal wellness knowledge. As RVTs prepare for the change, how can you ensure the rest of your team and your practice culture is also ready?
The process of integrating RVT wellness appointments into your clinic care delivery model takes forethought and planning, but the resulting long-term success is worth the effort.
What does integration look like?
The prospect of integrating RVT wellness appointments into an existing practice leaves many clinic owners with more questions than answers. Change is exciting, but can be daunting when you’re used to doing things a certain way. You may be unsure of where to start.
Reshaping your clinic to incorporate RVT wellness appointments is a process. To achieve the most successful result, you’ll need to master these ten basic steps:
- Understand your capacity to meet current wellness appointment demands
- Plan your future wellness schedule and analyze staffing needs
- Understand the regulations
- Get your associate DVMs on board
- Choose your RVTs and train them up
- Assign a mentor DVM
- Practice, evaluate readiness, and showcase the new skills
- Make a communications plan for your clients
- Work with receptionists on messaging
- Measure your success
Don’t panic – help is available
While running my clinic, I saw many great ideas die on the hospital floor because of all the steps needed to make any meaningful change. I did not have the time or energy to get new systems up and running, and there was no one I could delegate to who had the same vision I did. When integrating RVT wellness appointments, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. There are customized, individual services available that can meet you where you are, walk you through the process, and share the strategies that similar practices have used with great success.
Imagine the relief of having an expert take you by the hand and walk you through the integration process. By understanding how industry peers have overcome integration challenges, you’ll be well equipped to embrace a future where every member of your team is operating at their highest skill level.
-Dr. Amanda MacDonald, DVM
RVT Integrations 