Hire a Virtual Assistant for Veterinarians

Veterinarians often juggle endless admin tasks (calls, paperwork, scheduling) on top of patient care. A virtual veterinary assistant is a remote professional who can handle those tasks for you, freeing you to focus on treating patients.

What Is a Virtual Assistant for Veterinarians?

A virtual assistant for veterinarians is a trained professional who provides administrative support to a veterinary practice from a remote location. They handle the same duties as an in-clinic receptionist or assistant – answering phones, scheduling appointments, managing medical records – but do it via phone and computer rather than in person. In other words, it’s like having an extra team member for your front desk and paperwork, only working off-site.

What Does a Virtual Veterinary Assistant Do?

Common tasks a virtual veterinary assistant can handle include:

• Appointment Scheduling & Client Communication: Managing your calendar, answering phone calls and emails, booking or confirming appointments, and ensuring no client call goes unanswered.
• Medical Recordkeeping: Serving as a virtual scribe during exams by updating patient records, writing exam notes or treatment plans, and preparing discharge instructions.
• Administrative Support: Processing invoices and payments, handling prescription refill requests, managing lab result communications, and other back-office tasks.

By offloading these duties to a virtual assistant, your on-site team has more time for patient care. Many clinics even report their veterinarians can see a few extra patients per day after adding a virtual assistant.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Virtual Veterinary Assistant?

Hiring a virtual assistant is far more cost-effective than bringing in another in-house employee. An in-clinic veterinary receptionist or assistant in the U.S. might cost around $17–$18/hour (plus benefits and overhead expenses). By comparison, virtual veterinary assistants are often available for roughly $10–$12/hour.

But with Wishup you get to hire a virtual veterinary assistant starting at only $9.99/hour with no extra fees.

That means you could cut your staffing costs by about 50% or more with a virtual assistant. And since a VA works remotely, you don’t pay for additional office space, equipment, or employee benefits. (One veterinary hospital owner even saved nearly $500,000 per year by leveraging virtual assistants across multiple clinics.)

Key Skills to Look For in a Virtual Veterinary Assistant

When evaluating candidates, make sure your virtual assistant has the following qualities:

• Veterinary Knowledge: A solid understanding of veterinary terminology, procedures, and medical records so they can quickly grasp your clinic’s processes.
• Communication Skills: Excellent phone and email communication – someone who is clear, friendly, and empathetic with pet owners from afar.
• Organization & Detail-Oriented: The ability to juggle appointments, inventory, and follow-ups without letting details slip through the cracks.
• Reliability & Self-Motivation: A strong work ethic and discipline to work independently without in-person supervision.

Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Veterinary Assistant

Hiring a virtual veterinary assistant can benefit your practice in many ways:

• Cost Savings: You pay a lower rate and avoid the extra costs of a full-time employee (no benefits or extra office overhead).
• More Time for Patients: With tedious admin work offloaded, you and your staff can devote more attention to patients. Many vets find they can see more patients per day after bringing on a VA, boosting revenue while maintaining quality care.
• Flexible Support: A virtual assistant’s hours can easily scale with your needs. You can get on-demand help during your busy times without the commitment of hiring another full-time staff member.
• Better Client Service & Less Burnout: Because calls and follow-ups are handled promptly, clients enjoy faster, more attentive service (no more missed calls). Meanwhile, your in-house team feels less overwhelmed, which reduces stress and burnout – making both staff and clients happier.

In short, a virtual veterinary assistant is a smart solution to help your practice run more smoothly. Whether you’re a solo veterinarian or manage a bustling clinic, this extra support can save you money and time while allowing you to focus on what you do best – providing excellent care to animals.