Throughout our history, and even during the Covid and post-Covid eras, we’ve worked hard to accommodate our regular clients by getting them in for an appointment within 36 hours of calling. We’ve also made effort to see new clients within three to five days. In order for us to succeed in these areas, we must have sufficient and qualified team members in all of the important roles.
We’ve intentionally cultivated a team and built our schedule for the purpose of meeting pet owners’ needs at their time of need. To accomplish this, we need a great team. Identifying great employees, from veterinary assistants to veterinary technicians to customer service representatives to doctors, in the mid-2020s is more of a challenge than it used to be. You’ve probably experienced this challenge from a variety of service providers and businesses.
Given this societal shift, we’re confronted with the reality that we may not be able to see patients as “on demand” as we used to. We don’t like this, but we must accept this reality. While we may not be able to be as timely, we will not accept nor tolerate failing to deliver a top-notch patient experience.
Our management team is always looking to add quality experience and personality to our clinic. We’re proud of the team we’ve assembled, and we want to expand it. This takes time, and we ask for your patience in the process.
While we work toward attaining the talent necessary to keep meeting the demand for our services at the pace we’ve experienced over the past six years, some changes you may notice will include:
- Rather than offering you a same day appointment, we may offer you a drop-off appointment. Leaving your pet with us for a number of hours allows our doctors to meet the needs of the clients who made an appointment in advance while also providing time to evaluate your own need. Your pet will receive the same care and attention you’re used to from us, but this will be done on the doctor’s timeline as the day and case urgency dictates. You will receive the good communication you’ve come to expect from CFVC via our team of doctors and veterinary technicians, and they’ll arrange a discharge time later in the day that works for all parties.
- We may offer you an appointment time that seems new or unusual to you given our history of availability. Dr. Jenn and I have three children and they’re growing up. We prioritize our family time, and this includes making efforts to see patients while our kids are at school and/or out of the house. CFVC has historically provided more appointment availability in the late afternoon, but this may change from time to time. We may come to find our clientele like this… who knows?!
- New clients may have heard or been told we can accommodate them within a few short days, but come to find out this time period has lengthened. Trust me, we’re not interested in putting off your needs or our own work. At the same time, we must continue to provide top care for our present clients, working to strike the best balance possible between maintaining those relationships and taking on new relationships. This is a constant conversation amongst our doctors and leadership team, and we’re regularly working to do the best we can on this front.
In 1981, Dr. Gates set out to practice good medicine for the pet-owning families of Cuyahoga Falls and the surrounding cities and communities. There have been times of transition since then, but the goal has always remained the same. We thank you for allowing us to be your veterinary services provider. We thank you for the patience and consideration you showed during 2018-19. We thank you for your patience and consideration now in 2026.
