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InFocus

The big issue: burnout

By prioritising community, embracing balance, engaging clients positively through virtual care and implementing strategies to retain staff, veterinarians can take proactive steps to prevent burnout

The demanding nature of veterinary practice, with its long hours, emotional stress and intense responsibilities, often places veterinarians at risk of burnout. The risk of this is large, with over 50 percent of veterinarians reporting moderate to high levels of burnout (Steffey et al., 2023), impacting both personal well-being and the quality of care provided. Workload or time pressure was cited as the most common cause of burnout among veterinarians. By recognising the importance of maintaining mental and physical well-being, veterinarians can adopt proactive measures to prevent burnout.

In this article, Cerys Goodall, Vetster COO, explores five strategies to help veterinarians safeguard their mental and emotional health, with a particular emphasis on the benefits of incorporating telemedicine into their practice.

Find community

Veterinary professionals face unique challenges that only their peers can truly understand. In order to counter the isolation that contributes to burnout, it’s crucial to find a supportive community. Online platforms, such as Facebook groups and organisations like Not One More Vet, provide spaces where veterinarians can connect, share experiences and offer support. These communities serve as a valuable resource for emotional well-being, creating a sense of camaraderie and understanding that can be difficult to find elsewhere.

Create balance while continuing to practise

Balancing the demands of a veterinary career with your personal life is crucial for preventing burnout. Considering how the profession has transformed, practice management should explore work arrangements that support their staff as their life needs change. Clinics need to consider how to keep part-time, maternity leave or even semi-retirement options open to veterinary professionals who want to continue practising in a modified way.

Clinics need to consider how to keep part-time, maternity leave or even semi-retirement options open to veterinary professionals who want to continue practising in a modified way

Embracing virtual care is a game-changer in achieving this balance, providing flexibility and innovative ways to deliver veterinary services. Virtual care allows veterinarians to extend their reach beyond traditional clinic hours, accommodating a more flexible schedule. This not only benefits veterinarians but also enhances your client’s accessibility to veterinary healthcare services. Part-time and virtual shifts can be integrated to create a work environment that promotes well-being while still delivering quality care.

Coach clients in a positive way

Try shifting the focus of some visits with clients from merely diagnosing and treating towards providing comprehensive guidance and coaching, leading to a richer client experience and better pet health outcomes.

Try shifting the focus of some visits with clients from merely diagnosing and treating towards providing comprehensive guidance and coaching

By focusing on guidance and coaching, veterinary professionals contribute to a more positive and enriching client experience. Clients leave appointments with a treatment plan and a deeper understanding of their pet’s health and well-being and what they can do as pet owners. This shift in perspective not only benefits the client but also fosters a sense of professional fulfilment for the veterinarian.

Moving towards a coaching model can be easier to do with virtual care appointments as in-clinic visits can be rushed. Having patients spend time in the stress-free environment of the home lets veterinarians see their lifestyle and offer tailored advice. Virtual consultations go beyond the transactional nature of appointments, creating a sense of trust between the veterinarian, the client and their pets.

Retain staff by assessing ways to reduce burnout

Burnout is not exclusive to veterinarians and veterinary nurses; it also affects veterinary support staff, including veterinary technicians, assistants and receptionists. To prevent staff burnout, clinics can think of ways to implement strategies for reducing the time needed “on foot”, providing relief to those who may find long hours on their feet physically and emotionally draining.

Clinics can think of ways to implement strategies for reducing the time needed ‘on foot’, providing relief to those who may find long hours on their feet physically and emotionally draining

Think about implementing virtual shifts that mean they can pick up some of their administrative work from home or in a non-client-facing environment. Virtual shifts not only offer staff a break from the demands of in-clinic work but also present an opportunity to leverage their skills in new ways. Whether it’s handling administrative tasks, conducting telehealth appointments or managing client communication, virtual shifts empower support staff to contribute meaningfully to the clinic’s operations while promoting a healthier work–life balance.

Invest in continuing education

Finally, continuous learning or continuous professional development (CPD) can be a powerful tool in preventing burnout. Staying engaged with evolving veterinary practices not only enhances professional skills but also injects enthusiasm into daily work.

By investing in ongoing education, veterinarians can find new perspectives, solutions and inspiration that reignite their passion for their profession

Encourage your team to attend conferences and workshops or to pursue online courses to stay updated on the latest advancements in veterinary medicine – there may be new technologies or strategies that may further foster a healthy work environment. By investing in ongoing education, veterinarians can find new perspectives, solutions and inspiration that reignite their passion for their profession.

Conclusion

In the challenging field of veterinary medicine, practice management must find ways that work for their practice and that help to prioritise well-being and contribute to a positive work–life balance. By prioritising community, embracing balance, engaging clients positively through virtual care and implementing strategies to retain staff, veterinarians can take proactive steps to prevent burnout. Recognising the importance of holistic well-being in veterinary practices not only benefits the individual practitioner but also contributes to a positive and supportive work environment for the entire team.

In the pursuit of creating a fulfilling and sustainable career, veterinarians can find strength in community, balance in practice and satisfaction in providing quality care through innovative approaches like virtual care.

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