Why Quality Matters When It Comes to Relief Vets

Relief coverage isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a critical strategy in today’s labor-crunched veterinary market. Even with the increase in veterinary schools, the demand for care continues to outpace the supply of qualified professionals. In fact, the AAVMC projects a shortfall of more than 17,000 veterinarians by 2032, a gap fueled by rising pet ownership, expanding service expectations, and too few graduates.

Despite the recent downturn in patient visit volume, the vet shortage continues to put strains on animal hospitals across the country. This means that now, more than ever, every appointment counts. In my recent conversations with many of our customers, many have expressed a fear of going dark because of staffing challenges. They feel frustrated because their job openings take months to fill.

Bringing in a relief vet might seem like a simple solution, but hospitals can’t afford to treat it like a quick fix. They need relief vets who not only deliver excellent medicine, but also protect revenue, reinforce standards, and contribute real ROI. Every practice manager wants to feel confident that the relief vets they hire bring genuine value to the practice, but how do you know if that’s really happening?

Relief That Delivers Value Starts with Quality

Through a blind national survey, we asked practice managers across the country: How do you evaluate whether a relief vet has delivered the value you expected?

“I evaluate a relief vet based on the quality of medicine they practice and how they interact with both staff and clients. Clear communication, professionalism, and compassionate care are key indicators of value for me.”

“They are recommending the standard of care and not just the bare minimum.”

This wasn’t just anecdotal. In our survey, when asked what factors matter most in selecting relief providers, respondents ranked:

• Clinical skills (24.0%)
• Cultural fit (17.7%)
• Cost (16.7%)
• Reliability to fill shift (13.5%)
• Customer service (4.2%)

That means nearly half of all decision-making when choosing a relief vet is centered around care quality and team integration. Not price. And yet, how often is that the first thing you focus on when filling a shift?

If your relief vet isn’t delivering at the same level as your staff vets (or better), they’re not just neutral. They can actually drag down your client experience, your staff morale, your bottom line and ultimately, your hospital’s reputation.

The Hidden Costs of Subpar Relief

Not all relief is created equal, and when a vet falls short of your standards, the consequences go far beyond a disappointing day.

I recently heard from a practice owner who had to personally redo every appointment seen by her relief vet that day. The doctor hadn’t offered a single diagnostic — even during sick visits — and did little more than check the box and move on. (Not an IndeVet, for the record.) Her team was demoralized. Clients were frustrated. And worst of all, trust was broken.

When relief vets underdeliver, the hidden costs pile up:

• Incomplete SOAP notes leave your team guessing and correcting.
• Clients call back confused and upset by rushed or impersonal visits.
• Techs and associates are forced to step in, coach, or compensate, breeding tension and burnout.

VHMA’s latest KPI commentary shows practices can no longer count on automatic growth — retention now hinges on client experience. Relief vets are part of that equation: when they deliver excellent care and communication, they protect loyalty; when they don’t, they put your hospital at greater risk of patient loss.

So how do you prevent that? How do you feel comfortable and confident hiring a relief vet when so much is at stake? Start by asking better questions up front.

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Relief Vet

Here are five questions that can help you dig deeper and make better choices for your hospital when you need to bring in a relief vet:

1. What proof do you have that this doctor has been thoroughly vetted? Beyond an active license, have they gone through any credentialing or interview process? What’s their track record?
2. Who’s responsible for their medical oversight? If there’s an issue, who handles it? Because your team shouldn’t have to manage someone else’s vet.
3. Do you have proof of their skills, like references or ratings from other hospitals? Transparency builds trust. Look for services that collect and share that data.
4. What kind of production can I expect from the relief vet? The best relief vets aren’t just there to get through the day. They support your team, deliver great care, and contribute to your business’s success in the long run.
5. Does someone actively ensure the vet is developing their clinical skills? Veterinary medicine is constantly evolving. You want someone who stays current and takes professional growth seriously.

When Relief Works Like It Should

Here’s what this all comes down to: Relief coverage should actually be a relief. You should feel confident that the relief vet walking into your hospital is:

• Aligned with your standards of care
• Respected by your staff
• Trusted by your clients
• Accountable to your team and your bottom line

When relief works the way it should, it safeguards what matters most: your clients’ trust, your staff’s morale, and your hospital’s financial health. And in a time when retention is tough and loyalty is hard-won, that kind of safeguard makes all the difference.

Quality That’s Measurable

Everything we do at IndeVets is built on the idea that quality relief creates long-term value. We believe in growth, accountability, and making sure every doctor who represents IndeVets brings the same level of quality, compassion, and professionalism that you expect from your full-time team. After every shift, we ask our partner hospitals to rate their experience across six key areas. After 15,000 reviews, IndeVets are rated an average of 4.94/5 stars, and those ratings are equally strong and consistent across all areas:

1. Medical Standards: 4.96/5
2. Animal Handling: 4.96/5
3. Client Communication & Interaction: 4.95/5
4. Staff Communication & Interaction: 4.94/5
5. Flexibility & Alignment with Hospital Flow & Protocols: 4.93/5
6. Value Delivered: 4.9/5

But it’s not just the ratings, it’s also the relationships. Over 80% of IndeVets return to the same clinic for 10+ shifts, building trust, familiarity, and a seamless experience for staff and clients. And according to our hospital partners, that consistency translates into results: higher-than-average ACTs and up to 5x ROI compared to traditional relief.

As one of our partner hospitals put it:

“IndeVets more than pay for themselves. They elevate care, earn trust, and drive revenue — without disrupting our culture.”

The Takeaway

The next time you’re looking for relief coverage, stop and ask:

Is this vet going to uphold the standard of care our clients expect? Will they fit into my team and our culture? And are they going to add to our bottom line?

The answers matter.

Remember: it’s not just about filling a shift. It’s about who walks through your doors and whether they raise the bar or lower it.

Because at the end of the day, the quality of care doesn’t just impact the pets in the room. It shapes your entire practice.

Quality relief isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. And when you get it right, everything else gets easier.

Want to learn more about how IndeVets supports hospitals with credentialed, compassionate, clinic-ready relief doctors?

Reach out to our Hospital Success Team. We’re here to help.