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Mental Health and Work-Life Balance for Veterinary Practice Owners

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Veterinary medicine can mean a busy schedule and emotional ups and downs. 

Unfortunately, recent data suggest that this, along with other factors of daily practice, can take a toll mentally and emotionally.

Plus, as a practice owner, there’s the additional pressure of running a business.

You got into this profession because you love pets and want to help them—and that can make for a very rewarding career.

The trick is finding ways to care for yourself. 

This may look a little different for everyone, but here are some popular suggestions that have helped many veterinarians find more energy, wellbeing, and balance…

Set Boundaries

When you love animals, it’s natural to want to help every pet who needs care. But failing to set boundaries can lead to burnout.

In addition to the turmoil it causes in a person’s life, burnout can also interfere with the ability to help pets over the long-term.

Setting boundaries can mean a number of different things, depending on your personal preferences and what your work rules allow. Here are a few suggestions…

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  • Put breaks into your schedule

Giving yourself 5-20 minutes to recharge in the morning and afternoon (in addition to your lunch break) can be immensely helpful during a busy day.

  • Have clear cut rules for scheduling

For example, is double booking allowed? Can you go to lunch rather than seeing the patient that walks in at lunchtime (assuming it’s not a life-threatening emergency)? 

To accommodate these and other scheduling surprises, it helps to leave a few appointment slots open each day—that way, you have enough time for all patients rather than running yourself to exhaustion trying to fit everyone in.

  • Set boundaries with clients

For example, if you give your phone number out to pet owners, be sure they know when and under what circumstances they can call you. 

Or if a client is acting really outrageous and causing stress for all employees, it may be in your team’s best interest to “fire” that client to protect everyone’s time, energy, and morale.

  • Say “no” sometimes

This might mean coordinating with another doctor at your practice to take over care of your patients on your day off, so that your team isn’t calling you at home unless absolutely necessary. 

You deserve to enjoy some days off!

Focus On the Positive

Despite your intelligence, knowledge, and passion, some things are out of your control. 

Even with your best efforts, sometimes pets don’t get better—due to the nature of their medical condition, or due to owners not agreeing to the type of care you’d like to provide.

This happens to everyone. And while it’s hard to accept, it may help to focus on all the good memories—all the times you’ve helped pets, all the thank you cards from clients, etc.

Sometimes negative thoughts—whether it’s a client who said something rude or the loss of a patient you care about—dominate our minds. It’s human nature.

But usually, the good days outweigh the bad. It’s just a matter of training our brains to refocus on the positive.

Figure Out What Brings You the Most Fulfillment

Find ways to make your daily work life as enjoyable as possible.

This could mean cultivating relationships with clients. 

It could also mean community involvement, such as charity efforts, puppy/kitten classes, or informational talks on pet nutrition or other topics.

Fulfillment may also mean specializing, or being the “go-to” doctor in your practice for specific procedures or medical conditions that you enjoy working with.

Cultivate Joy 

In addition to professional fulfillment, it’s important to cultivate joy in your personal life.

This means some type of human connection—whether that’s a partner, friends, or family. 

If you’re working long hours, it’s easy to feel isolated. By doing your best to schedule time with people you care about—even just a quick phone call—you may find that your mood lifts.

Additionally, physical activities, hobbies, learning new things, and other pursuits outside of work can remind you that “there’s more to life.” 

This makes it easier to reframe a bad day as something that, while hurtful, is probably small in the scheme of things.

Schedule Time to Slow Down

If you need to sleep or binge-watch a show after a tiring week, go for it! 

Or find time to read a book, take a bath, or meditate.

In addition to activities that bring you joy, scheduling “slow time” may help you feel centered, recharged, and in control of your schedule.

Seek Out Support

It’s helpful to find caring people who can listen.

Depending on your needs and circumstances, this may include…

  • Friends and family.

  • Colleagues you trust.

  • Veterinary support groups such as… 

    • Vets4Vets®

A confidential support group for veterinarians associated with the VIN Foundation, which includes everything from weekly group discussions to one-on-one support.

  • Not One More Vet 

An online support network of over 20,000 veterinarians with additional resources, including support in finding temporary relief workers for vets who need a few days off.

  • A therapist or counselor. Nowadays, there are convenient and reasonably priced online services such as Talkspace and BetterHelp. 

Sometimes, just venting to someone in a safe, confidential setting can really lift the weight off of a person’s shoulders.

  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text 741 741 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.

The Truth About Balance…

The thing about balance is, it’s dynamic, not static. 

That means that as you go through different stages of life, your schedule, priorities, and tricks for recharging yourself may change. The key is to be aware and to adjust as needed.

The better you care for yourself, the better you’ll be able to care for pets—and the more joy you’ll get out of your daily work and personal life.



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Written by: Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM

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Starting a Veterinary Practice Using Modern Technology: Part 1

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Advancements in technology have made veterinary medicine very different than it was 10-20 years ago.

And now, the 2020 pandemic has fostered faster adoption of technologies such as telemedicine.

It can all seem a little overwhelming to keep up with, since technology changes rapidly. But it’s also very exciting. These advancements allow you to practice, share information, and stay in touch with clients like never before.

Since tech-savvy Millennials are now the largest pet-owning population in the US, it pays to keep up with the times. You’ll have to choose what’s right for your individual practice, but some of the technologies you could incorporate include…

Cloud Technology

Patient record keeping has largely moved from paper to digital. And now, instead of just having that information stored on the server in your practice, there are options to use cloud storage.

Here are a few of the advantages that cloud-based software offers over server-based software…

  • You can access information from any device, including desktop, phone, tablet, etc., even without software installation. This means you could check tomorrow’s schedule while at home, or access a patient’s medical history remotely if you are called out for an emergency.

  • Data is backed up to the cloud. So there’s no chance of losing records.

  • Information sharing is easier. For example, giving access to patient records to a specialist.

  • The technology is secure. While it’s natural to feel some reservation over the fear of information being hacked, cloud technology is advancing all the time and this form of data storage (from the right providers) is generally considered very secure. Some providers claim it is more secure than in-house servers.

  • Upgrades are automatic much of the time, so you don’t have to do anything on your end or even think about it.

  • Additional, in-demand options like online scheduling or automated SMS messages are available. These things are in-demand right now for many businesses, so some clients will seek out vets that offer these modern features and conveniences.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is a hot and widely debated topic in veterinary medicine. But no matter where you stand on the issue, it’s hard to deny that telemedicine is becoming more prevalent and more in-demand by clients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly given telemedicine a “boost,” with many states in the US changing their laws on telemedicine and allowing the technology to be more widely utilized during social distancing. 

Some of these laws may go back to their original status once the need for social distancing is over. But some experts speculate that this is our “new normal”—that consumers will be so used to this new way of doing things, it will be difficult to go back.

This service may especially be in-demand from pet-loving Millennials, who often want to be very involved in their dog or cat’s care.

Telemedicine is still evolving, and its uses can vary between veterinary practices. When choosing the type of service you would like to offer, here are some things to consider…

  • What are the laws regarding telemedicine in your state or location? No matter how good your intentions in wanting to provide telemedicine services, it’s always critical to follow the laws in your jurisdiction. Watch for changes and updates to these laws, too.

  • How will you use telemedicine? Will it be just for informational consults, such as nutritional consults or an in-depth discussion of a pet’s already-diagnosed medical condition so the client can better understand it? Or will you use the service to do remote consults for medical issues (of course, with the option to recommend the client bring their pet to a vet in person if needed)?

  • When will you offer consults? During office hours, or after hours, too?

  • What technology or program will you use?

  • How will you tell clients about this new service? And will you offer it only to existing clients, or to potential new clients, too?

  • How much will you charge for a consult? Will price vary depending on the type of consult or time of the day (or night)? If the client does end up bringing their pet in for a visit based on your recommendation, will the cost of the telemedicine consult be applied toward the fee for the in-person appointment?

  • Would it make sense to outsource telemedicine? There are companies that offer after-hours services—so you can have the night off from answering phone calls, but still have a number for your practice that clients can call.

Apps

One type of app currently in use is an app for the veterinary practice, where owners can input information about their pet, see their upcoming appointments and their pet’s medical history, set reminders for medications, and even receive birthday wishes on their pet’s birthday!

There are also apps out there specifically for storing a pet’s medical history, so an owner can easily have that information available in the event that they see a new veterinarian, go to an emergency vet hospital, or need to pull up their pet’s vaccine history for boarding or grooming.

App technology is evolving, and this is one way to help clients be involved in their pet’s medical care and potentially bond them to your practice.

Technology is always evolving. Next week, we’ll feature more high-tech gadgets and services that can be incorporated into veterinary practices. Stay tuned!

Written by: Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM