Are practice teams in balance?

How do veterinary practice managers see their own job satisfaction as well as those of associates and team members? (Sergey Nivens / adobe.stock.com)

Tucked away among data on revenue and client numbers in the latest Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) Insiders' Insights report were numbers on a hot topic these days: the well-being of veterinarians and their teams.

The monthly report, culled from surveys from managers and practice owners who are VHMA members along with expert advice from Karen Felsted, CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM, CVA, asked, “How are you and your team doing?” Here are highlights:

Thinking about your typical day-to-day experience working as a manager in your hospital, and imagining, as best you can, about your DVM team and your support staff, consider a typical day…  

Managers hip on happiness

• MANAGERS: 81% agree or strongly agree they're happy at work the majority of the time
• THEIR DVM TEAMS: 75% agree or strongly agree their DVMs are happy at work the majority of the time
• THEIR SUPPORT STAFF: 78% agree or strongly agree their support staff is happy at work the majority of the time  

Managers sound off on stress

• MANAGERS: 53% agree or strongly agree that their level of stress at work is easy to manage
• THEIR DVM TEAMS: 54% agree or strongly agree that their DVMs is easily able to manage the levels of work stress they experience
• THEIR SUPPORT STAFF: 48% agree or strongly agree that their support staff is easily able to manage the levels of work stress they experience

Managers wonder about work satisfaction

•  MANAGERS: 59% agree or strongly agree that they have ample opportunity to do work they enjoy
• THEIR DVM TEAMS: 77% agree or strongly agree that their DVMs have ample opportunity to do work they enjoy
• THEIR SUPPORT STAFF: 73% agree or strongly agree that their support staff have ample opportunity to do work they enjoy 

Managers see support

•  MANAGERS: Managers agree or strongly agree they feel supported at work professionally (70%) and personally (70%)
• THEIR DVM TEAMS: Managers agree or strongly agree their DVMs feel supported at work professionally (81%) and personally (75%)
• THEIR SUPPORT STAFF: Managers agree or strongly agree they feel supported at work professionally (78%) and personally (77%)

Want to learn more about wellbeing on the veterinary team? Dig into our coverage of the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study here.