Veterinary Trend Watch

The VETWATCH Veterinary Team Survey provides a high-level view of actions practices are taking to adapt to challenges brought on by the current COVID-19 situation. Now over 2 months into the “new normal,” this week’s commentary reports an update on decisions owners and managers are making to respond to the changing environment.  

Based on the most current data, it appears that social distancing measures are still driving operational procedures as practices maneuver to accommodate patients’ needs and ensure the safety of their staff and clients.  Less than 6% of respondents say that they are allowing normal client access into their physical plant while 17.5% report reducing the number of clients/pets within the building at one time. Almost 80% report moving exclusively to a curbside service or drop off patient experience.  Other practical adaptations, including telemedicine, have been referenced by almost 12% of respondents as additional distancing tools.  Interestingly, these statistics are relatively unchanged since first reported in early May.  As states and communities continue to open up in the coming months and weeks, it will be interesting to follow these operational decisions and see which are temporary fixes to the current challenges and which might become integrated into a new way of serving patients and their owners.