Dana Hultberg's Story

Say “Yes” to Care with More Vets

When Dana Hultberg’s hospital dropped from a team of five Vets to just one, he thought it would be impossible to continue seeing all their loyal clients. Thankfully, Roo Vets helped Dana's hospital care for all their patients in need. Now, relief is a part of the routine.

It’s just easier with Roo. I don’t have to go through the whole hiring process and all the paperwork. That’s probably one of the biggest bonuses.

Dana Hultberg, Practice Manager

Laguna Hills Animal Hospital

Overcoming the veterinary staffing shortage with relief

“We were at a point when we literally had one doctor. This hospital can easily support seven, but we just couldn’t find enough full-time Vets.”

Since 2019, Dana Hultberg has managed Laguna Hills Animal Hospital, a bustling veterinary practice in Orange County, CA with four DVM’s and nine Technicians, serving a large and loyal clientele.

However, after COVID-19, their hospital faced a critical staffing crisis: They went from five full-time Veterinarians to just one, making it nearly impossible to meet client demand.

Before Roo, their hospital had never relied on Relief Veterinarians. However, the growing industry trend of Veterinarians moving to relief work left them with no other choice but to seek alternative solutions.

At a Glance

Hospital Laguna Hills Animal Hospital

Hospital type Multi-Vet practice

Location Orange County, CA

Contact Dana Hultberg, Practice Manager

Results Relief is an essential part of Dana's staffing strategy, ensuring he never has to turn away a pet in need.

Growing the team with high-quality Vets

Dana was introduced to Roo through a recruiter from PetVet Care Centers and decided to give them a try to help his hospital navigate the staffing shortage. Immediately, he was impressed:

“As soon as I signed up, I was able to get the help that I needed. It was quick and easy.”

With Roo, Dana found a reliable way to find Relief Veterinarians, ensuring the hospital could continue treating patients without turning anyone away. Many Roo Vets fit in well with the Laguna Hills team. They not only got along with everyone but also practiced high-quality medicine. This quickly led to repeat relief shifts and even clients requesting specific Roo Vets.

Achieving peak patient care

The operational efficiency that Roo brought to Dana’s hospital was invaluable. Dana found posting shifts was simple and most shifts were filled almost immediately. Unlike other relief platforms, Roo eliminated the administrative burden of setting up Relief Veterinarians as independent contractors, saving valuable time and effort.

“It’s just easier with Roo. I don’t have to go through the whole hiring process and all the paperwork. That’s probably one of the biggest bonuses.”

Roo served as a reliable backup for unpredictable situations. Whether covering shifts for doctors taking PTO or responding to last minute call-outs, Roo provided an immediate solution. Having access to Relief Veterinarians ensured the hospital could continue operating smoothly, without having to turn clients away.

“Roo gave us that option to not say no. The whole reason we’re in vet med is because we want to say yes to care.”

The ability to say yes to more pets

Without Roo, Dana and his team would have been forced to turn clients away. The hospital was already at full capacity, and the lack of doctors threatened their ability to provide care. Thanks to Roo, they were able to keep their doors open and continue serving their patients without disruption.

For any hospital struggling with staffing challenges, Dana strongly recommends Roo:

“It’s definitely worth looking into. The process to get started is easy, and the ability to quickly find quality relief vets makes a huge difference.”

By leveraging Roo’s network of veterinary professionals, Laguna Hills Animal Hospital not only maintained business continuity but also strengthened its relationships with both staff and clients.

Dana’s hospital has since hired two full-time doctors, but Roo remains an essential part of their staffing strategy, ensuring they never have to say no to a pet in need.