Vet Clinics and the pandemic - are patients being treated better or worse...? ep 053

Veterinarian Dr Paolo Lencioni - co-author of September 2021 Vet Clinic Practice White Paper “The impact of the pandemic – vet clinics are busier – but are we treating our patients better or worse?”Today is part one of a two parts where I caught up with Dr Paulo Lencioni – a Companion Animal Veterinarian turned computer coder turned practising accountant specialising in vet clinic practices - mostly in Australasia but spanning a few global continents.If you’ve been listening to Paws Claws & Wet Noses for a while, you may remember that back in April I had the pleasure of catching up with Dr Steve Merchant of IndieVets in episode 25.Steve and I talked about IndieVets – where independently owned vet clinic can go, for, among other things, collaboration.In September Steve sent me a white paper report that was commissioned by Profit Diagnostics – one of Paulo’s businesses – together with Virtual Vet Nurse – another of Steve’s initiatives.  “The impact of the pandemic – vet clinics are busier – but are we treating our patients better or worse?”The report is entitled “The impact of the pandemic – vet clinics are busier – but are we treating our patients better or worse?”If you haven’t read the report and you’d like to, then here's where you can find your free copy.The way the pandemic has played out in vet clinics - so farIn Q1 last year – 2020 - when COVID-19 first emerged, veterinary clinics throughout Australasia (and indeed, the world) were apprehensive.As with all businesses, no-one knew how the pandemic would play out – or how it would affect our communities, our society, and our livelihoods.Within the first 30 days, it became clear that veterinary businesses weren’t being negatively affected – at least, not financially.  Instead, they experienced a noticeable spike in demand for services.This trend has continued, to varying degrees, during the ensuing 2020/2021 lockdown periods in Australia and New Zealand.Key questions raised What’s driving the increased demand for veterinary services?How long will the trend continue?What are the in-clinic impacts of increased levels of busyness?What’s the correlation between revenues and profitability?What’s the impact on clinical standards and patient advocacy?How can clinics address this to create a win-win situation?That’s what this episode and next week’s looks at – the results of these findings plus the answers to other questions I asked Paolo.IndieVets webinarYou’ll hear Paolo mention a webinar that he and Steve did together.   If you’d like to watch that webinar please get in touch with Steve as that was an IndieVets webinar.   Profit Diagnostix webinarsPaulo also mentions other webinars his consultancy firm does – the last one he held was with approximately 50 vets across Australasia discussing environmental and pandemic issues and strategies.    It’s well worth listening to.   You can attend by donating a few dollars for Paolo to plant a tree.VetStaffleading veterinary sector recruitment in New Zealand | veterinarians | locums | nursesDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics