One might picture Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, stomping her feet as she discusses telemedicine and virtual care. Her blog post is a rally call aimed to raise the view of colleagues who are likely to meet a 2021 barrage of client appointments in the months ahead.
We’ve spent the last five years arguing over the value of veterinary telemedicine because the assumption has always been it’s taking something away, that hands-on exam. But with virtual care, you’re taking nothing away. You’re just handing off chunks of the client experience . . .” – Jessica Vogelsang, DVM
Source: Dr. jessica vogelsang™, May 26, 2021. Link. Voglesang urges practices to quit viewing virtual visits as a separate entity, look to virtual care as one integrative part of the client experience. Virtual team members have more time to talk, more time to educate, and more time to increase that client’s loyalty to your clinic
Any time your team communicates with a client other than in a face to face interaction, that’s virtual care. Phone calls. Client education. Answering questions. Triage. “Is this normal” calls. None of that is telemedicine. Most of what we do doesn’t require a VCPR.”
INSIGHTS: Vogelsang is a consistent, confident and prolific advocate for veterinary team improvements and advancements. She says, “Virtual care offers flexibility, convenience, fewer tied up phone lines and more time for surgery and high-revenue care.” Will people pay for it? Through the nose, if you provide an incredible client experience.