The ripple effect of a shortage of veterinarians causing delays in appointments

ORLANDO, Florida. “Pet owners are facing a potentially big challenge as the veterinary industry faces a growing shortage of veterinarians.

Mars Vet Health researchers say there is a boom in pet adoptions, especially during the COVID pandemic, and the retirement of about 2,000 veterinarians each year is adding up to this shortage.

They estimate that around 41,000 additional veterinarians will be needed by 2030 to meet the growing demand.

Currently, some pet owners say they are already seeing delays in scheduling appointments with some doctors booked weeks and months in advance.

News 6 explored possible solutions.

Kelly Willis usually gets to work before sunrise.

“Hey, do we have Noodle here? I have a room ready for us,” she told a client at the Newberry Animal Hospital in Gainesville.

Willis took on some of the work traditionally done by veterinarians as a Certified Veterinary Technician.

“The easiest way to explain this to people is that I am a registered nurse, but for animals,” she said. “I do much more than that. I am a nutritionist, behaviorist, phlebotomist, radiologist, anesthetist.

Some point to the work of Willis, a mid-level medical practitioner, as a possible solution to the vet shortage.

“I do think that maybe I am the solution, but I think that veterinary technicians in general and using them more effectively in the hospital is the solution to helping understaffed veterinarians,” she said.

Willis graduated from veterinary technician school and passed the licensing exam to get her medical license. It must renew this license every two years.

“I think it’s important for people to understand what kind of work it is. It’s a really cool job,” she said. “You know, I get a lot of interaction with patients. I am the first to examine the patient. I am the one who greets them. I feel them. You know, if I walk into a room and see a dog freaking out under the table, I’m the first one to interact with it. It’s so important to establish a good baseline and a good foundation for both clinician and client.”

News 6 explored other solutions at the largest gathering of veterinarians in the country, the annual VMX conference hosted by the North American Veterinary Society.

CEO Gene O’Neill said 27,000 veterinarians attended this year’s event at the Orange County Convention Center.

“Of course, everyone is worried when they cannot find staff for their hospitals and clinics,” he said. “Demand has grown. Demand is definitely growing.”

“The number of pets has increased tremendously,” said Dr. Dana Varble, NAVC Chief Veterinary Officer. “It’s not that we’re an unprepared industry. The thing is, the number of pets and the number of pet owners and how we treat our pets has changed a lot in the last 10 to 20 years.”

“There are more attorneys in the District of Columbia than there are veterinarians in the entire United States,” said NAVC President Dr. Bob Lester. “The demand for these veterinarians has never been greater.”

Lester said the expected shortfall is not the result of a lack of interest.

“The good news is that veterinary schools have received a record number of applicants,” he said. “The problem is finding enough places for them.”

News 6 toured the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

In 2022, this college announced that it has opened 30 more places for students to apply.

Out of 1922 applications, the school accepted only 150 students.

Researchers estimate that the country will graduate 26,000 veterinary students by 2030, which still leaves about 15,000 veterinarians.

Dr. Nicole Bruno of Houston says part of the solution is to get kids interested in becoming a veterinarian at an early age.

“When I decided that I wanted to become a veterinarian, I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know the profession,” she said. “I didn’t see myself in the profession either.”

Bruno said nearly 94% of veterinarians are white, and as a black woman, she feels it’s important that the next generation see themselves in her work.

She first hosted a session at a VMX convention where high school students learned what it means to be a veterinarian.

“Once I became a veterinarian, I always said I would pay up front,” she said. “Running programs like this is really my passion to help students see themselves in the profession and learn what they need to do next to become veterinarians.”

In one room, the students were introduced to microscopes, lab coats, and listening to the heartbeat of real puppies.

In another room, their parents listened as experts explained what their students need to focus on in school to qualify for veterinary school.

“Getting into veterinary school is very difficult and you have to know you want to be a veterinarian and have all the options,” she said. “The sooner you can get infected as a child, once you know what the steps are, the better we can keep them informed because we need our veterinarians. We need us.”

“After COVID, the pet population just went crazy,” said Dr. Cheryl Goode.

Good has a practice in Dearborn, Michigan, and she says virtual meetings with pet owners are helping her and others meet growing demand.

“We can see our patients earlier, you know? They don’t have to wait three to four weeks to come to the office,” she said.

She said her number of virtual visits had grown from one or two per month to five or six per day.

“Telemedicine is a game changer because you can see them in their own environment,” she said.

Virtually or in person, Willis said she was ready to help.

“I think that’s why we’re here,” she said. “We’re here to take care of patients and we’re here to help clients take the best care of their animals.”

You can listen to every episode Florida Fourth Estate in the media player below:

Copyright 2023 WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

Content Source

Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News