AVMA's new guidelines will support veterinarians in use of telehealth
(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) February 2, 2021—A practical guide to the use of telehealth across the entire veterinary profession—supporting better patient care, enhancing veterinarians' relationships with their clients, improving staff utilization and helping to create additional income—is now available.
"AVMA Guidelines for the Use of Telehealth in Veterinary Practice" is a step-by-step reference that shares:
- Definitions of the key components of the telehealth landscape
- Context around federal and state regulatory requirements and legal considerations that govern the use of telehealth, including the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR)
- A sample practice workflow
- Technological and workspace considerations in the delivery of telehealth
- How to engage the practice team and clients in ways that support effective service delivery, including the marketing of new services
- Pricing strategies
The guide addresses telehealth within the concept of "Connected Care," which is "the integration of digital technologies to enhance and support the VCPR and facilitate proactive and ongoing care through improved communication, diagnosis and monitoring." It is an approach to veterinary practice that is patient- and client-centered and actively engages the entire veterinary healthcare team.
"These guidelines are an extremely helpful resource for veterinary practices at a critical time," said Dr. Douglas Kratt, AVMA president. "Many services that veterinary practices provide on a daily basis lend themselves well to the use of telehealth, such as post-surgical care, hospice care, general wellness advice, education and after-hours care. And, by comprehensively embracing Connected Care, practices can further enhance care for their patients by tapping into opportunities for remote monitoring and by integrating AI into patient diagnostics."
The new AVMA telehealth guidelines can be downloaded from AVMA's website, and AVMA members will receive a complimentary printed copy with their February 1, 2021, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).
The AVMA has simultaneously collaborated with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to develop step-by-step guidance specific to small-animal practice, titled 2021 AAHA/AVMA Telehealth Guidelines for Small-Animal Practice. A printed copy will be included in the February issue of AAHA's Trends magazine, and in the February 15 issue of JAVMA for members in companion animal practice.
For more information, contact Mark Rosati, AVMA assistant director of media relations, at 847-313-9597 (cell) or mrosati
avma [dot] org (mrosati[at]avma[dot]org).
Serving more than 100,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.