How Smart Veterinary Staffing Can Cut Costs, Reduce Burnout, and Improve Patient Care
An Equally Important, Yet Overlooked Challenge in Veterinary Staffing
The veterinary industry is facing a workforce crisis—but not in the way many believe. While much of the discussion centers around a shortage of veterinarians (AVMA Economic Report, 2025), an equally important, yet often overlooked problem is workforce utilization. Veterinary hospitals that focus solely on hiring more doctors often overlook inefficiencies in scheduling, staff allocation, and alternative staffing solutions that could alleviate their pain points without excessive hiring costs.
Compounding this issue is the fact that hospital visits are down (William Blair Veterinary Webinar, 2025), as highlighted in industry reports. With decreased patient volume, some hospitals are struggling to justify full-time hires while still needing coverage for peak periods. This mismatch between staffing needs and patient demand makes efficient workforce management more critical than ever.
This white paper explores the hidden costs of over-hiring, the financial impact of underutilization, and how flexible staffing solutions like IndeVets can provide a smarter, more sustainable path forward.
The Hidden Costs of Over-hiring
Many hospitals assume that hiring additional full-time veterinarians is the best way to meet growing patient demand. However, the reality is that over-hiring can lead to unnecessary financial strain and increased risk of turnover. Let’s break down the true costs:
1. Recruiting Costs
- Job postings, recruiter fees, and internal interview time can add up to $10K-$30K per hire (Fountain Report, 2025).
2. Sign-On Bonuses & Relocation Assistance
- In today’s competitive market, hospitals often offer $20K-$50K in sign-on bonuses to secure top candidates.
- Relocation costs can range from $5K-$15K.
3. Training & Ramp-Up Time
- A new veterinarian can take 6+ months to reach full productivity (AVMA Workforce Analysis, 2025).
- Lost revenue during this time can exceed $50K (Fountain Report, 2025).
4. The Risk of a Bad Hire
- If the vet leaves within a year (a growing trend), hospitals are back at square one, losing $100K+ in combined hiring, onboarding, and lost revenue.
These costs add up before factoring in benefits, salary, and long-term retention strategies. Rather than pouring resources into high-risk hires, hospitals should consider smarter workforce models that allow for greater flexibility and cost savings.
Staffing Models That Work
Traditional Hiring vs. Staff Augmentation
Hospitals have historically relied on two models: hiring full-time employees or using relief veterinarians on an ad-hoc basis. However, both approaches have drawbacks:
Instead of overcommitting to full-time hires or relying on last-minute relief coverage, hospitals can achieve long-term stability by adopting a hybrid approach—leveraging full-time staff alongside a strategic, scalable staffing partner.
Financial Impact: Breaking Down the Numbers
Let’s compare the total cost of hiring a full-time vet versus leveraging IndeVets for staff augmentation.
Hospitals that over-hire are paying for veterinarians they may not need 100% of the time, while flexible staffing solutions allow them to scale up or down based on demand—without taking on excessive overhead.
How IndeVets Solves This Problem
IndeVets provides hospitals with a smarter way to staff, offering consistent, high-quality veterinarians without the risks and costs of over-hiring.
Key Benefits:
- No upfront recruiting or sign-on costs
- Scalable staffing that adapts to hospital demand
- Access to highly trained, experienced veterinarians
- Long-term engagement and flexible commitment options
By integrating IndeVets into their staffing model, hospitals can reduce financial risk, improve operational efficiency, and ensure consistent patient care.
Making Smart Staffing Decisions
The future of veterinary staffing isn’t about hiring more vets—it’s about integrating and supporting them wisely. As hospitals face volume fluctuations, wage pressures, and rising hiring costs, flexible staffing solutions provide the best path forward.
Instead of committing to high-cost full-time hires, hospitals can partner with IndeVets to right-size their workforce, prevent burnout, and ensure profitability.