We’re working
hard to make sure you and your pet receive the best care. Over the last 18 months, we’ve stretched and
adapted, and never closed our doors. But historic pressures facing the veterinary field caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic are taking their toll—and we need your help.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our lives and we are grateful for your patience and understanding as we continue to adapt to new ways of caring for pets. At VCA Hollywood, the health and well-being of your pets is our top priority. The pandemic has placed significant pressures on the veterinary field across the country and we wanted to share more information on these forces impacting our hospital, how we’re continuing to adapt to ensure your pet receives the best care, and what strategies we are employing to navigate this new reality.
What is happening? As you may know, millions of animals
have found their forever homes since the start of the pandemic. As more
people worked from home, they noticed changes in their pet’s condition sooner. This has led to historic demand for veterinary care.
Unfortunately, the field
of veterinary medicine is struggling to keep up. There is a significant
shortage of qualified professionals—from veterinarians to technicians to support roles. This shortage has created a challenging landscape for
thousands of veterinarians across the country, including our own. Thus resulting in longer wait times and fewer available appointments.
What are we doing about it? In addition to shifting our
care services to continue to keep pets and people safe, we are hiring. VCA swiftly evolved their recruiting program to find more care professionals who can join our hospitals. Yet, after successfully hiring hundreds of veterinarians and technicians just this year, more are still needed and there aren’t enough people in the
field.
How does this impact your pet’s care today? While we are
making progress to address these challenges brought on by the pandemic, we
acknowledge that your experience has been impacted. Due to increased demand for
care, longer operational protocols and reduced staff, we are seeing longer wait
times and appointments booking weeks in advance.
We recognize that this can be
frustrating, and the entire team appreciates your patience and understanding as
we navigate this once-in-a-lifetime landscape facing the whole field of
veterinary medicine.
As we continue to work through these challenges, we’d encourage you to book appointments as early as possible.
Not every appointment can be anticipated, and we always try to reserve time each day for same-day and emergency care, but these appointments fill quickly given how many new pets there are to serve.
We currently offer in-person appointments. Appointment must be scheduled in advance to allow our team to continue to provide the excellent medical care you have come to know and love, with extra one-on-one time for your pet.
Above all, we are committed to the care of your pet. Please know that everyone on our team is working harder than ever to care for as many clients and patients as possible. We ask for your understanding and we very much appreciate your patience and kindness.
For our team, caring for pets is not only a career but also our passion. We’re all doing our best to find new and innovative ways to care for as many pets as possible while still providing world-class care and the client experience you deserve and expect from us.
Thank you for remaining a loyal part of our hospital community and for your continued trust.
Tips & TricksThe best appointments to book early include annual and semi-annual wellness check-ups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and elective surgeries. You can book through
our website, on the
myVCA app or by calling us directly.
During your next visit, it’s also a good idea to book your pet’s next appointment right at check-out. If you aren’t sure when or what your pet’s next appointment should be, our hospital team can help or you can check
myVCA app.
