The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released its 2025 Referral Guidelines, designed to help veterinary teams create a smooth, well-structured referral process. By focusing on communication and collaboration, these guidelines ensure a positive experience for pets and their families while strengthening trust in primary care practices. Key takeaways There are general collaborative conversations, professional-to-professional consultations, and hands-on referrals. A dedicated web-based portal can improve referral case communication by providing shared access to medical records, completed and pending diagnostics, and patient updates (check out the example in the Referral Guidelines). The primary care team’s ongoing involvement with the client and pet during the referral is a top predictor of a client’s positive feelings toward the referral process. The AAHA has also highlighted two action points in their announcement to help: To avoid duplication of tests and procedures: Document and communicate with the specialty care team about any completed and/or pending tests and procedures. Set client expectations that the specialty care team may need to repeat some diagnostic and monitoring tests. To keep communication flowing smoothly between primary care and specialty care teams: Designate single points of contact Set expectations for follow-up care Leverage technology for transparency, record sharing, and collaborative case management The organization advises practitioners to proactively discuss potential referral costs with clients. While exact figures may require specialist input, providing an estimate of referral fees and possible procedures helps clients plan ahead and reduces financial surprises. For more information, visit the AAHA website or download the 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines at a Glance material.
