While there are countless rewards in veterinary practice, the field also comes with inherent demands that can cause complexity and stress.
Given veterinary teams care for numerous pets and types of cases daily, including critical situations and sometimes stressful client interactions, Mars Veterinary Health believes it is crucial for veterinary team members to have a psychologically safe and supportive workplace culture—and that they should feel supported in developing the skills needed to navigate inherent challenges that come with sustaining a thriving veterinary career.
To further explore the impact of patient safety events on the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, authors from Mars Veterinary Health, including VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as Dr. Lori R. Kogan, a psychologist and professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University, conducted an in-depth study that was recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).
An anonymous online survey was conducted with a diverse sample of more than 2,000 U.S. veterinary professionals, including veterinarians, technicians, assistants, client service providers, and managers or directors working in veterinary schools and various types of clinics. Survey participants were asked about their experiences with patient safety events, defined as “something that results in harm—or could have resulted in harm—to a patient, whether human error was involved or not.”
The study also explored the concept that veterinary professionals can become ‘second victims’, experiencing feelings that could include guilt, anger, self-doubt, anxiety, depression, impaired concentration, and intrusive memories about the event. The study found adverse effects can undermine the performance and effectiveness of veterinary team members, both in the immediate future and over an extended period.
While patient safety events have been extensively studied in human medicine, they have only recently come into focus in veterinary medicine. However, they appear to be just as commonplace in veterinary settings, with the study finding most participants experienced at least one patient safety event within the last year.
“Our goal with this study was to better understand how patient safety events impact the people who dedicate their careers to caring for pets, so we can implement support systems to help them when they are struggling and inspire the profession to do the same,” said Rochelle Low, DVM, MHL, MaS, Global Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety at Mars Veterinary Health—and one of the study’s lead researchers. “When we prioritize the health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, we create an environment that enables teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for pets and the people who love them, ultimately contributing to our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.”
Notable findings:
- Most participants reported experiencing at least one patient safety event within the last 12 months. The percentage was highest for veterinarians (79%), followed by managers/directors (74%), and veterinary technicians (67%).
- The majority of those involved in a patient safety event reported they talked to their supervisor about the incident (79% of veterinarians, 83% of veterinary technicians, and 83% of veterinary assistants).
- Veterinary team members surveyed expressed the greatest desire for the following support after a patient safety event:
- Access to a respected peer to discuss the details of what happened (71%);
- A specified peaceful location available to recover and recompose (64%); and
- An employee assistance program that includes free counseling (61%)
This study highlights the need for a psychologically safe work culture, led by effective and engaged leadership that models self-care, mentorship, and support to help team members navigate challenges and build resilience for a sustainable and rewarding lifelong career in veterinary medicine. You can read the full study here: Personal resilience, good leadership, and a psychologically safe culture play a mitigating role on the impact of patient safety events.
With nearly 70,000 Associates and decades of experience caring for pets, Mars Veterinary Health recognizes the importance of fostering a culture of safety within its clinics and is committed to supporting veterinary health and wellbeing—with emphasis on mental health—through various initiatives, benefits, and resources. To learn more, visit marsveterinary.com/people.
For resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers, please visit mvh4you.com.
Dr. Rochelle Low discusses fostering a culture of safety and its positive influence on veterinary teams and patient care
