OVMA Newshound (May 2021)

Need extra help during parasite season?

 Many industries bring in temporary staff to help them get through seasonal surges. Veterinary hospitals have avoided hiring for the busy parasite season because the learning curve is steep, so the cost to train temporary staff doesn't justify the short-term benefit.

Services, such as VetGo, are aiming to fill the gap. It provides off-site telephone support for veterinary hospitals using registered veterinary technicians and experienced frontline staff.

In a pilot project earlier this month, VetGo provided off-site telephone support to a veterinary hospital in Ontario that was short on reception help. Like most hospitals, available staff were busy with curbside shuttling and existing clinical duties, and there wasn’t anyone available to contact clients for their heartworm or to book annual appointments. VetGo’s team members connected to the practice management software, got the information on who to call and why they were calling, and starting booking appointments. 

In 11 days, at a cost of $1,630, the team at VetGo booked 105 appointment and medication requests, with a projected revenue estimate of $15,750. In addition to the financial benefit, the positive feedback from the clients, who were grateful to hear from the veterinary hospital during a busy time, will build loyalty points for years to come.

For more COVID-19 resources, including an article about how to use telemedicine to relieve the pressure, visit OVMA’s Coronavirus FAQ web page.