In this episode, Melissa Stedman, CVPM of Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital, addresses the impact of rising costs on veterinary care. She notes a decline in services such as dental procedures, spay/neuters, and preventative care due to financial pressures on clients. To combat this, her practice offers flexible payment options, including in-house payment plans and "pay-in-four" style arrangements, to ease financial burdens. Melissa emphasizes understanding clients' financial situations and finding creative solutions like service bundling, offering discounted packages, and routine lab work bundles to make essential treatments more accessible.
Melissa also underscores the importance of transparency with staff regarding expenses, which aids in reducing waste and ensuring correct billing. She advises against devaluing services with free exams and instead advocates for bundling as a strategic approach.
Additionally, her practice has seen success with online booking, enhancing routine visit numbers. Melissa shares practical strategies to balance rising costs with quality patient care, emphasizing the significance of maintaining the human-animal bond.
Produced monthly by VHMA, hosted by Jill Brecklin, CVT, CVPM, these podcasts will expose listeners to new ideas and practical strategies and solutions that managers---relying on their expertise, experience, and creativity--have adopted to move the practice forward.
To listen, visit the VHMA website or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Original Recording:
August 14, 2025
