Results of the 2021 Covid-19 Veterinary Impact Survey and what they mean for animal hospitals

In spring 2020, IndeVets conducted a series of veterinary impact surveys, to assess how Covid-19 impacted the clinical, operational and financial performance of animal hospitals. You can view past survey results here.

Now, 1 year later, we conducted a follow-up survey to see how things have changed — and the results were surprising.

How has vet med changed 1 year after Covid-19?

Here are just a few of our findings:

• 84% of hospitals surveyed reported increases in revenue compared to one year prior, with nearly 40% reporting increases of more than 10%.
• Nearly 90% of hospitals surveyed reported increases in appointments, with over 60% reporting increases of more than 10%.
• The majority of hospitals are still practicing curbside medicine, but are now allowing clients inside for specific appointment types, such as euthanasia.

To see the full results from the 2021 survey, click here.

But what does it mean? 3 takeaways for animal hospitals in 2021

The survey results show a clear uptick in revenues — which is great news for veterinary practices. Other takeaways include:

1. Increased demand for appointments — including overflow demand from other hospitals. This trend suggests structural shifts in the market, and could have lasting implications for smaller mom-and-pop hospitals and solo practitioners.
2. Fluctuating staffing levels. At the start of the pandemic, nearly 80% of hospitals surveyed reported a decrease in staffing. A year later, about 1/3 still report a decrease in staffing, with another 1/3 reporting increases in staffing, and a final 1/3 reporting no change.
3.  New ways of working, including the transformation of curbside medicine and the (slow) adoption of telemedicine.

More from IndeVets:

Four key trends for animal hospitals in 2021

How well do you know vet med? Test your knowledge with our industry quiz

I got the vaccine! Our veterinarians’ journey to be Covid-19 vaccinated