Building Client Relationships as a Mobile Vet

Bonding with their clients is crucial for any veterinarian. But for mobile veterinarians, this relationship is even more important due to the unique nature of their practice. Traveling to clients’ homes offers a wonderful, more personalized service, but it also comes with its own challenges. Building client relationships as a mobile vet takes organization and intentionality for the best possible outcome.

The VetBadger platform puts relationships first. We built our practice management system to support your relationship with clients, your staff, and yourself. Whether you’re running a mobile veterinary practice or a traditional brick-and-mortar, VetBadger is here to help you succeed. Schedule your free demonstration today to learn more.

Client Relationships as a Mobile Vet Are Unique

As a veterinarian, it’s an honor to care for people’s beloved animals. And as a mobile vet, you have the added honor of being invited into someone’s home to offer this care. Building and maintaining client relationships requires extra care and attentiveness when you’re mobile. Here are three tips for doing just that.

1. Set a Professional Tone

Inviting a medical professional into their home isn’t necessarily comfortable for everyone. When you arrive at a client’s house, it’s important to present a confident, professional appearance while still being warm and friendly.

Arrive on time, dress professionally (scrubs count!), and have a well-maintained vehicle that represents your business in a good light. Be sure to keep at least one extra set of scrubs or a change of clothes in your vehicle in case you need to tidy up between appointments.

2. Communicate Often and Thoroughly

Communication is the cornerstone of any good relationship, and when it comes to people’s pets, you really can’t overdo it. And this communication should begin well before the appointment.

Before your visit, utilize your practice management system to collect plenty of information about the client’s needs and to send several appointment reminders. Make sure to explain your services and prices clearly and what clients can expect during the visit. 

Once you are on-site, listen attentively to their concerns and questions as you move through your exam and treatment. After the appointment, be sure to follow up with after-care instructions, next steps, and any necessary medication instructions. Again, your practice management software should make these steps simple and quick to complete.

3. Allow Plenty of Time

Clients expect you to be on time and then often want as much of your time as possible. The asymmetrical nature of veterinary medicine is challenging enough for brick-and-mortar practices. But for mobile vets, it can make staying on schedule much more tricky since so many things can derail your timing. Traffic, getting lost, or vehicle troubles can all throw your schedule out the window. And if you add last-minute cancellations, everything can really get out of order quickly.

Of course, things will happen to make you late at times. But with excellent planning and the right management software, you’ll be able to keep those events to a minimum. Choose an all-inclusive platform that helps you manage and optimize your daily schedule through the following features:

• Route planning to provide the best travel route for your day’s appointments
• Text and email reminders to avoid cancellations or no-shows
• Streamlined exam workflows that keep you on track to finish on time

Mobile vets charge a premium price because of the convenience they offer and to offset the fact that they cannot see as many clients in a day as stationary doctors can. So be sure to acknowledge that in your scheduling. 

Don’t be tempted to cram in a few more appointments when the reality is that you only have so many hours to cover all those miles and still provide excellent care. To support your clients, build those relationships, and protect your own wellness, allow sufficient time between calls. And remember to schedule meals and rest breaks for yourself, too! 

VetBadger Is Ready To Help Your Mobile Practice

The mobile veterinary world is growing and thriving. But building strong client relationships as a mobile vet requires a blend of professionalism, thoughtful timing, and effective communication as you create a loyal client base that trusts and values your unique services. VetBadger helps you do exactly that. Claim your free live demo today to get started.