At Clairmont Animal Hospital, one of our top priorities is to give you a pleasant experience any time you visit our facilities. We know there have recently been increased wait times for phone calls and appointments, and we want to give you an inside look into our new reality to help you understand what’s been happening. Covid-19 has changed all our lives, and it has also impacted the way we see patients.
More Animals & More Reasons to See Them
A positive effect of Covid-19 was the increase in pet adoptions. Since people spent so much time at home, many of them adopted furry friends to keep them company. So much so, in fact, that shelters across the country don’t have many animals left for adoption. We are so happy that so many more animals had the chance to go to loving homes, but this increase in adoptions and time spent with animals has also brought:
- An increased need for regular wellness visits
- More opportunities to notice potential health issues
- More time to schedule catchup preventive care appointments
- More opportunities for an accidental pet poisoning
If you know that your pet will need a routine visit, we ask that you book
it in advance so we can be sure to accommodate you.
In-Office Safety Precautions
While we are fielding an increased number of patients, we are also following in-office safety precautions to ensure the wellness of our staff and our clients. Our strict safety guidelines mean that we are still utilizing curbside service, which adds a little extra time to each patient visit. We promise we are working as diligently as possible to keep each appointment on schedule, but sometimes there are extenuating circumstances that must be addressed as they arise.
Increased Phone Time
Because we are still operating with curbside service protocols, our staff must rely on the phone for much more of the appointment process than normal. While we try to minimize the face-to-face time for our staff, they must use the phone to:
- Schedule appointments
- Check patients in when they arrive for their appointments
- Call owners to offer updates on the visit
- Take payments
- Refill prescriptions
This increase in call volume means that there might be an increased wait time when you try to phone us. If you are having trouble getting through when you call, please email us at clairmont@clairmontvets.com, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
Clairmont Animal Hospital Delays
In addition to our safety protocols, we are also working on expanding our hospital so we can better serve our amazing clients in the future. Unfortunately, this means there might be some increased delays.
We also have many days where we are short-staffed. Just like everyone else, our staff is struggling to push through massive amounts of stress and exhaustion while also navigating real-life issues with childcare, school closures, illness, and much-needed vacation time.
Your pets are (and always have been) our top priority, and we are doing everything we can to continue to offer you the exceptional care you expect from Clairmont Animal Hospital. We ask for your continued patience and support during this unprecedented time.