Keep Your Business Healthy During COVID-19
In effort to "flatten the curve" of the Coronavirus, many pet owners are spending more time at home and noticing ails in their pets they might have missed or ignored before the quarantine. As a result, veterinary hospitals are seeing an influx in appointments, increase in call volume and prescription refills. You might be wondering how to triage your appointments and abide by social distancing. Here's how:
Tip #1: Convert your hospital to a drive-thru
Applebee's meets the veterinary hospital - establish curbside service! Have your clients call from the parking lot when they arrive, and have 1 staff member go and fetch the pet to bring inside for the exam. Process payments and communicate results and instructions over the phone.
Tip #2: Notify your clients
E-mail your clients and let them know that your hospital is still open for business. Inform them of any new protocols you've established or any changes to your hours of operation. Encourage pet owners who have been experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 to arrange for someone else to bring their pet to the clinic. Lock the front door but place easily visible signs with instructions on how to receive care. Post on social media any changes to your normal operations.
Tip #3: Practice workplace hygiene
Routinely clean and disinfect all surfaces in the hospital, such as workstations, exam tables, phones, handrails, and door knobs. Encourage staff members to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water. Stop handshaking and use other non-contact methods of greeting.
As with any rapidly-changing situation, today's information can quickly become outdated. Be ready to respond to any new COVID-19 developments or updates so you can keep your employees and customers safe and healthy. For more accurate and updated information on the spread of COVID-19, refer to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization's (WHO) COVID-19 Dashboard.
Hopefully, these tips will help you navigate the COVID-19 veterinary practice landscape and continue to provide effective pet care during this time. We have a new resource group on IGNITE, the COVID-19 Response Center dedicated to keeping your practice, team and patients healthy during this stressful time. This group is moderated by our HR expert, our veterinary finance CFP®, and 7 practice coaches from Veterinary Growth Partners. Filled with active discussion from hospitals around the world coping with the pandemic, and bursting with resources for you to download, customize, and implement right now. Members click here to visit the group.
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