The VetPartners Utilization Guide is the ultimate resource to implement maximal efficiency and optimal team member utilization to achieve practice goals. This guide is updated as new resources are developed in the veterinary community; check back frequently for new tools to help you achieve success!
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Our profession has experienced small amounts of strain in different practice segments for several years. However, COVID compounded these effects, as current practice models could not keep up with consumer demand, labor market dynamics, and the mental fatigue experienced by every team member, including owners and practice managers.
The steps to overcome the hurdles before us must start now. Consumers will move to practices that have figured out how to staff well and deliver a phenomenal client experience through increased efficiency. Team members will navigate to practices that provide a strong culture where they are fully utilized, feel a sense of purpose, and are valued.
It’s time to start focusing on whole team utilization and efficiency.
Expected Outcomes When Efficiency Is the Practice’s Focus
When practices develop their culture and lead their team with positive influence, develop proper onboarding, mentoring, and training programs that allow maximal utilization, and put technology in place for the team to work smarter—not harder—the practice financials follow. Great cultures and teams drive profitability through efficiency and utilization.
Highly utilized team members take time to develop. To create a well-oiled machine, onboarding programs, ongoing training programs, and continuous feedback mechanisms must be implemented.
When the team is fully utilized, and a culture of accountability is established, team members have a better work-life balance, can take lunch breaks, and leave work on time. Overall, the team is more dedicated and loyal to one another, the practice, clients, and patients. After all, isn't that what it means ‘to love your job’?
Using the VetPartners™ Veterinary Team Utilization Guide to Achieve Your Practice Goals
Some practices have different goals. Some practices see only small animals, others see a mix of small and large animals, and others see exotics. Some practices offer urgent care only, while others offer 24-hour emergency and specialty care. Regardless of size or the demographic they serve, veterinary practices are all facing the same hurdles:
- Inefficient workflows
- Labor shortage
- Perceived increases in client demand
- Work environments need to be improved.
Therefore, the recommendations in this toolkit are not universal. It takes work to develop goals that align with your hospital’s strategic plan.
- Read through the content and resources placed in this document to become familiar with the flow of the material.
- Complete a utilization assessment of your practice to understand the potential your practice has.
- Complete the gap assessment to help you understand where you are now and where you would like to be regarding utilization and efficiency in the future.
- From your utilization and gap assessments, complete your SMART goals.
Plan to take adequate time to complete the assessment and create realistic, achievable goals. This is your roadmap for successful implementation! Then, use the resources provided throughout this guide to achieve your goals.
Did you know:
"Team members are more likely to leave a place of employment due to poor work culture than low salary."
— Heather Prendergast; CEO, Synergie Veterinary Group Consulting