How Veterinary Hospitals Can Improve Heartworm Prevention Compliance

February is the month of love, making it the perfect time to promote the importance of heartworm prevention at your veterinary hospital. Many pet owners may not be fully aware of the risks of heartworm disease or the necessity of year-round protection. Consider the following strategies to encourage pet owners to protect their pets’ hearts:

1. Offer injectable preventatives.
   If your hospital struggles to retain heartworm preventative sales in-house, consider offering an injectable option. Injectable preventatives ensure pets receive consistent protection without relying on pet owners to remember monthly doses. This not only improves compliance but also increases hospital visits, strengthening the client relationship while generating additional revenue.

2. Simplify the rebate process.
   One of the biggest barriers to in-hospital preventatives is cost. To encourage pet owners to purchase heartworm prevention directly from your hospital, offer hands-on assistance with rebates. Using a service like Greenline to submit rebates on behalf of clients helps ensure they receive competitive pricing while increasing compliance and loyalty.

3. Track compliance by doctor.
   Consistency in client education is key to improving heartworm prevention compliance. Monitor compliance rates by doctor to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. If one doctor has exceptional success in educating clients, consider having them mentor other team members on effective communication strategies. Encouraging a unified approach can lead to more consistent recommendations and improved patient outcomes.

4. Test and optimize the reminder system.
   While reminders should already be created for existing clients, it’s important to periodically test the system. One effective strategy is creating “test pets” for each month (such as a “January Dog” client) to confirm that reminders are being sent and received. If a test reminder fails, the issue can be addressed before impacting a significant number of clients. Additionally, ensure staff members are trained on generating reminders for new patients to prevent gaps in compliance.

Heartworm disease is a serious but preventable condition. By strengthening your veterinary hospital’s approach to prevention, you’re not only improving patient care but also increasing compliance and revenue. A proactive strategy benefits everyone – especially the pets who depend on you. If you have questions or want to learn more about improving your hospital’s compliance or profitability, please contact KSM’s veterinary consulting team using the form below.