Are concierge vets a solution for the veterinarian shortage?
Small Door Veterinary has what it believes is a new solution for the veterinarian shortage: concierge vets. For a yearly membership that costs $169, a subscriber gets one annual exam, 24/7 telehealth, and same or next-day appointments. The initiative launches as veterinarians struggle with mental health issues. "One thing the industry could be guilty of is only focusing on the consumer at the expense of the others," Small Door co-founder and CEO Josh Guttman said. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of six veterinarians has considered suicide, and part of the issue is staffing shortages and emotional trauma. "Our industry is really struggling right now as far as the demands of the numbers of pet owners that need to be seen and the numbers of veterinary professionals there are to support that demand," Head of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Jamie Richardson said. Small Door says it wants to be a game changer with better scheduling, transparent pricing and more intentional spaces
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