• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

The dilemma: Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic

May 13, 2021
Marc Rosenberg, VMD
dvm360, dvm360 June 2021, Volume 56,

Should you assess your veterinary team’s performance before transitioning into a post-pandemic world?

Park Animal Hospital, like many veterinary facilities, had a challenging year. But there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. Dr Hays, the clinic’s owner, was strategizing how to transition her team back to pre-COVID-19 normalcy and decided to perform a detailed assessment of staff performance during the pandemic.

Mistakes were made, innovations were created, and policies were changed, all topics Dr Hays decided to discuss in 3 separate “COVID-19 exit meetings.”

Assessing mistakes

There was no shortage of mistakes presented by the staff to the clinic administration in the “mistakes” meeting. Staff members also expressed their concerns about mandating COVID-19 vaccination. Hospital leadership decided that they would strongly recommend vaccination, but refusal was not grounds for termination.

Staff members also noted that were overwhelmed by the increased client load during the pandemic and suggested that hours be shortened and new clients temporarily suspended to ease the burden.

New innovations

Advertisement

During the innovations meeting, team members highlighted the benefits of pandemic protocols on their overall health and safety. For example, all team members were assigned a pen for their personal use. Additionally, on-duty staff was given personal cell phones, and social distancing was maintained in the breakroom and lunch area at all times. Anyone with a non-COVID-19 illness was encouraged to self-quarantine.

Curbside innovations were the most dramatic, according to hospital staff. Parking spots were enhanced with signage with specific instructions for client check-in. The team also offered amenities and frequent updates to clients who had to remain in their cars for extended periods. Some euthanasia procedures were performed in larger vehicles such as SUVs and vans so that family members could still be present. The goal of these innovations was to maintain staff safety without compromising compassionate pet owner and pet care.

The “new normal”

The final meeting focused on “new normalcy policies.” This new normal would never equate to pre-COVID-19 normal. Although the pandemic would eventually get better, the threat would not fully disappear. That's why Dr Hays and the team created several new normalcy policy practices, all of which would be incorporated into existing practice procedures. They are the following:

  • CDC guidelines would remain the primary directive for health and safety practices.
  • Clients would be able to enter the clinic with their pets but be given the option of curbside service upon request.
  • Even if no longer required by CDC guidelines, staff members could elect to wear a mask while on duty if desired.
  • Staff cell phones would not be shared and clear partitions between all staff workstations would remain.
  • Finally, if a staff member became ill for whatever reason, and even if vaccinated, COVID-19 testing would be strongly encouraged.

Dr Hays thought these meetings and decisions were great first steps for navigating the post-pandemic world. She felt that planning and being prepared was the practice’s primary directive. Her hope was to not have to repeat the panic and chaos that occurred when the pandemic first struck the community and the clinic.

Do you agree with conducting COVID-19 “exit meetings” before returning to a new form of normal at your practice? How would you have handled this situation? Let us know your thoughts by emailing dvm360news@mmhgroup.com.

Rosenberg’s response

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to the veterinary profession, since we face crises and emergencies every day, we were able to be resilient and continue to provide a high quality of care to our patients. Dr Hays responded like most of her colleagues and became a “wartime“ leader. What I found most impressive was her foresight. She knew that a “peacetime“ was coming, and she wanted her clinic to be prepared. Planning is the best way to prepare for future success. My hat goes off to Dr Hays.

Dr. Rosenberg is director of the Voorhees Veterinary Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. Although many of the scenarios Dr. Rosenberg describes in his column are based on real-life events, the veterinary practices, doctors, and employees described are fictional.

download issueDownload Issue: dvm360 June 2021

Related Content:

RolesPractice OperationsBusinessPractice OperationsTechniciansAssociatesdvm360 June 2021
New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis
New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis
Veterinary tech students awarded national scholarship
Veterinary tech students awarded national scholarship
Paw Prosper acquires brands and becomes one-stop destination for pet aging
Paw Prosper acquires brands and becomes one-stop destination for pet aging

Advertisement

Latest News

Jaguar undergoes anesthesia to determine cause of appetite loss

New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis

Xylazine moves from the stables to the streets

DEA reports widespread threat of fentanyl mixed with xylazine

View More Latest News
Advertisement