Relief Veterinarian vs. Staffing Agency: What's the Difference?

When you need coverage for your veterinary practice—whether for a well-deserved vacation, maternity leave, or continuing education—you have options. But not all relief coverage is created equal. Understanding the difference between hiring an independent relief veterinarian and working with a staffing agency can mean the difference between seamless practice continuity and constant disruption.

If you're a practice owner in Northeast Florida or Southeast Georgia exploring veterinary staffing options, here's what you need to know before making your decision.

What is a Veterinary Staffing Agency?

Veterinary staffing agencies operate as intermediaries between practices and relief veterinarians. They maintain a pool of available DVMs and match them with practices needing temporary coverage.

How staffing agencies typically work:

• Different veterinarians each time. Agencies rotate through their available roster, meaning you rarely get the same relief vet twice. This month's vacation coverage might be Dr. Smith from Orlando. Next month's CE conference? You'll get Dr. Rodriguez from Tampa. The following emergency? Perhaps Dr. Chen from Atlanta.

• Corporate structure and bureaucracy. Communication flows through account managers, coordinators, and administrative staff. Want to discuss a specific protocol? You'll likely need to go through the agency rather than speaking directly with the veterinarian. Need to adjust scheduling? Prepare for email chains and phone tag.

• No continuity or relationship building. Because you're working with different veterinarians each time, there's no opportunity to build trust, familiarity, or working relationships. Each relief vet starts from square one—learning your practice management system, understanding your team dynamics, and figuring out your protocols.

• Higher costs with added fees. Agencies charge administrative fees on top of the veterinarian's rate. You're paying not just for the DVM's time, but for the agency's overhead, marketing, and profit margins.

• Limited control over who covers your practice. While agencies may allow you to request specific veterinarians, availability isn't guaranteed. You might get whoever happens to be free on your dates, regardless of whether they're a good fit for your practice type or culture.

What is an Independent Relief Veterinarian?

An independent relief veterinarian is a licensed DVM who works directly with practices without an agency intermediary. Think of it as the difference between hiring a contractor directly versus going through a large staffing firm.

How independent relief veterinarians work:

• The same trusted professional every time. When you work with an independent relief veterinarian like Dr. Emily Johns, you're building a partnership with one consistent person. She learns your practice inside and out—from your favorite surgical techniques to your team's communication style to your clients' preferences.

• Direct, personal communication. No account managers, no corporate phone trees. Need to discuss a case? Text or call directly. Want to adjust the schedule? A quick conversation solves it. Questions about a protocol? Your relief vet is a phone call away.

• True continuity of care. Over time, an independent relief vet becomes an extension of your team. They remember Mrs. Rodriguez's anxious terrier. They know Dr. Martinez prefers a specific suture pattern. They understand that Wednesday mornings are always hectic. This familiarity translates to better patient care and smoother operations.

• Relationship and trust building. You're not training a new person every time you need coverage. Your team knows who's coming. Your clients recognize a familiar face. The relief vet understands your practice culture and values. Trust builds with each successful coverage period.

• Transparent, straightforward pricing. Independent relief veterinarians set their own rates without agency markup. You know exactly what you're paying and where your money goes—directly to the DVM providing excellent care for your patients.

Relief Veterinarian vs. Staffing Agency: Key Differences

Factor	Independent Relief Veterinarian	Staffing Agency
Consistency	Same DVM every time	Different vets with each booking
Communication	Direct with the veterinarian	Through agency representatives
Continuity	Builds knowledge of your practice over time	Starts fresh with each new vet
Relationship	Personal partnership develops	Transactional arrangement
Team integration	Becomes part of your team culture	Temporary outsider
Client relationships	Recognizes regular clients over time	New face each visit
Pricing	Direct, transparent rates	DVM rate plus agency fees
Flexibility	Negotiate directly for your needs	Agency policies and availability
Protocol familiarity	Learns and remembers your specific protocols	Must be retrained each time
Emergency availability	Personal relationship may mean priority response	Depends on agency roster availability

Why Northeast Florida Practice Owners Prefer Independent Relief Veterinarians

After working with both staffing agencies and independent relief vets, many practice owners throughout Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and the surrounding area have strong preferences. Here's why:

1. Consistency Reduces Stress

Training a new relief vet takes time—showing them your practice management system, explaining your surgical preferences, introducing them to your team's workflow. When you work with the same independent relief veterinarian repeatedly, you eliminate this training period. Dr. Johns arrives already knowing exactly how your practice operates.

2. Clients Notice and Appreciate Familiar Faces

Your clients built trust with you and your team. When they see the same relief veterinarian during your absences, that trust extends naturally. "Oh, Dr. Johns is covering again—we loved her last time!" is far better than explaining a new vet at every visit.

3. Your Team Functions Better with Consistency

Veterinary technicians and support staff develop rhythms with doctors. They learn preferences, anticipate needs, and communicate efficiently. An independent relief vet who works with your team multiple times integrates smoothly. Your staff isn't constantly adjusting to different working styles.

4. Quality Control is Simpler

When the same DVM covers your practice repeatedly, you can provide feedback that actually matters. If you prefer a specific approach to dental cleanings or client communication, your independent relief vet learns and adapts. With agency rotations, you're giving feedback to someone you may never work with again.

5. True Partnership Develops

The best practice coverage doesn't feel like "someone filling in." It feels like a trusted colleague stepping in to support you. Independent relief veterinarians become invested in your practice's success because they're building a long-term professional relationship, not just completing a one-time assignment.

6. Flexibility When You Need It

Need last-minute coverage because of a family emergency? An independent relief vet who knows your practice can often respond more quickly than an agency searching through their roster. The personal relationship means your needs get priority attention.

7. Regional Expertise Matters

An independent relief veterinarian based in Northeast Florida understands our local veterinary community. They might already be familiar with your referral hospitals, know local specialists, or understand regional concerns (like heartworm prevalence or tick-borne diseases common to our area). Agency vets flying in from other states lack this regional context.

The River City Veterinary Relief Services Difference

Dr. Emily Johns founded River City Veterinary Relief Services specifically to provide Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia practices with the consistency, reliability, and personal attention that staffing agencies simply can't match.

Here's what makes working with River City different:

• You get the same DVM every time. Dr. Johns isn't rotating through dozens of practices. She's building lasting partnerships with a select group of Northeast Florida practices, which means true familiarity and continuity for your team and clients.

• Direct communication with a local veterinarian. Dr. Johns lives and works in Jacksonville. She's not a voice on the phone at a corporate office—she's a neighbor, a colleague, and a member of your veterinary community.

• Multi-species expertise you can count on. With experience in mixed animal medicine including small animals, large animals, and exotics, plus surgical capabilities and specialized interest in internal medicine, neurology, and emergency critical care, Dr. Johns brings comprehensive expertise to your practice.

• Regional roots that matter. Born and raised in Jacksonville's Mandarin area, Dr. Johns understands our community, knows our area practices, and is invested in Northeast Florida's veterinary success—not just passing through between assignments.

• Seamless integration into your team. After covering your practice even once, Dr. Johns learns your protocols, understands your team dynamics, and remembers your clients. The second, third, and fourth times she provides coverage, your practice runs even more smoothly.

  
  

Making the Right Choice for Your Practice

Choosing between a relief veterinarian and a staffing agency ultimately comes down to what matters most to your practice: Do you want consistency, continuity, and personal relationships? Or are you comfortable with rotation and transactional arrangements?

For practice owners throughout Jacksonville, St. Johns County, Clay County, Nassau County, and into Southeast Georgia, the answer is increasingly clear: independent relief veterinarians like Dr. Emily Johns provide the reliability, familiarity, and partnership that corporate staffing agencies simply cannot match.

Experience the difference of working with a dedicated relief veterinarian. Contact Dr. Johns today to discuss your practice's coverage needs and discover how River City Veterinary Relief Services can become your trusted partner in maintaining excellent patient care—even when you're away.