Veterinary practice is a team effort, requiring commitment and dedication from all staff members to provide optimal care for each pet, keep clients happy, and maintain profitability. Within a multidoctor practice, this team effort can be put to the test when some of the clinicians work part-time.

Why choose part-time?

Veterinarians who choose to work part-time do so for a variety of reasons, such as pursuing a second career. Laura Hoffman, DVM, who works as the sole part-time veterinarian in a multidoctor practice and teaches in the pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology department at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., knew full-time veterinary practice was not for her. Doing part-time veterinary work gave her "the ability to have another career while staying current with medicines, treatments, and diagnostics in veterinary medicine," says Dr. Hoffman.

Karen Todd-Jenkins, VMD, who works as a part-time veterinarian at two veterinary practices and is a medical writer, has been doing relief and part-time veterinary work for more than 15 years. This type of work "gives me the variety and schedule flexibility I need," she says. "I don't think I'd be nearly as happy or fulfilled working full-time."

Other reasons veterinarians choose part-time work include raising children or caring for a loved one.

Management challenges

Managing part-time clinicians presents several challenges for a veterinary practice, one of them being the continuity of care. So what is continuity of care?