Is it time we change our tune on telemedicine?May 24, 2019At some point, our profession got it into its collective head to start hating on telemedicine. Perhaps it was the image of non-veterinarians armed with third-tier vet tech degrees hunched over laptops banging out answers to questions they have no business fielding. And in their pajamas, no less! It's a mental picture my state's association—the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA)—is advancing this legislative season, as it seeks to limit telemedicine's reach into Sunshine State living rooms. And Florida is by no means alone in its quest to curb the telemedicine industry's growth. Most other state associations also are seeking a legislative solution to the perceived threat posed by online veterinary services. Telemedicine was front and center at American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA's) House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in January, the findings of which they'll likely present at this summer's conference in Washington, D.C. These are the best minds our profession has at its disposal, grappling with issues as fundamental as the nature of the veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR). It all comes down to the hands In its wariness of telemedicine, professional organizations like AVMA and state veterinary medical associations (VMAs) argue the definition of VCPR is at the heart of the …
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Telemedicine from the frontline: A practicing veterinarian's perspectiveMay 3, 2019Over the last decade, countless interactions with clients and patients have convinced me veterinarians must embrace telemedicine, both to remain relevant as care providers in an increasingly digital world and to compete successfully in today's on-demand economy. Given the change in generational demographics, today's clients view their pets as family members and insist on immediate gratification. To survive, we must adapt, otherwise pet parents will rely on Dr. Google, rather than wait to consult their family veterinarian for advice and guidance. It was an incident with a friend and client that convinced me veterinarians, as well as pet owners and patients, can benefit enormously from the integration of telemedicine. A tale of teletriage Four years ago, I received an evening call from a family friend whose dog Bodhi, a mixed breed, two-year-old neutered male Labrador, suffered what seemed to be a mild seizure. While my friend was in transit to a nearby emergency animal hospital, I advised him the episode wasn't as serious as he feared and he could wait until the next morning to bring Bodhi to my practice. That experience of utilizing the most basic form of telemedicine—the telephone—sparked the idea of bringing the benefits of a …
Telehealth and telemedicine and teletriage… Oh my!March 29, 2019The idea of implementing telehealth within a veterinary practice may be confusing or even downright scary to some. However, when there is understanding of what it is and its governing laws, it can become exciting. We hope to clear some muddy waters for veterinary team members who are eager to support and participate in the delivery of telemedicine to clients. Believe it or not, you're probably already doing some of it. Just by picking up the phone and checking on the status of a patient, you've delivered virtual care. Further, incorporating telemedicine's tools and technology allows the veterinary team to provide even more services and care. Today's pet owner wants more than just the traditional veterinary hospital experience. The best advice is to first understand your own state's veterinary board (i.e. examiners) and the federal laws governing telehealth. Some of these are newly applied laws that are taking effect at different times in various states. Teams are encouraged to discuss, as a group, the hospital's philosophy related to virtual care, the importance of a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR),1 and the different roles when offering the services and care. We want your experience in providing these new benefits to be a great …
WellHaven Pet Health welcomes veterinary telemedicineJanuary 11, 2019WellHaven Pet Health, a veterinary health management company, has agreed to implement Petriage’s telemedicine platform in all of its current hospitals.
Consulting company publishes telehealth and telemedicine studyOctober 19, 2018Brakke Consulting Inc., has released The Companion Animal Veterinary Telehealth Landscape, a study about the forces driving the growth of telehealth and the barriers to its adoption, including the regulatory framework governing veterinary telemedicine.
Fuzzy Pet Health launches veterinary telemedicine planJune 29, 2018A new telemedicine veterinary care plan is now available across the U.S. from Fuzzy Pet Health, a subscription-based pet healthcare company in San Francisco. Fuzzy Connect enables owners to communicate with veterinarians in real-time directly via an app on their Apple or Android device. The service provides users with immediate access to medical advice, as well as tips for behavioral problems, diet, and supplements. In some states, members will also be able to order prescriptions through the app and schedule in-home veterinary appointments. Fuzzy hopes the new app will redefine the relationship owners currently have with their veterinarians. "Our team has been providing veterinary care over telemedicine in the Bay Area for a while now and we've seen an incredible shift in how our members engage," said Robert Trimble, DVM, Fuzzy's head of veterinary services. "The average pet parent goes to the vet only 1.6 times a year, while our members get in touch with us roughly once a month."
Should televeterinary medical practitioners be globally certified?May 8, 2018At the second annual Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS), which concluded recently on the campus of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (TAMUCVM), several of the veterinary startup exhibitors included a televeterinary component in their offerings, and it also was a common lecture and breakout topic. Currently, most state practice acts require a hands-on physical exam to create a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) before a veterinarian can provide any service that might involve animal diagnosis, prognosis or prescription. One of the breakout sessions featured Rolan Tripp, DVM, who spoke on the subject, "Should telemedicine practitioners be globally certified?" Following is an interview with Dr. Tripp about his presentation. How long have you been interested in telemedicine? I published my first futurist article in 1984, "Veterinary Telecommunications," and incorporated a business of the same name in 1986, so I have been interested in this field for quite some time. In that first article I predicted that high-speed broadband internet would be ubiquitous and global televeterinary medicine would be common by the year 2000. Why suggest a global standard now? Control at the state level made sense when every animal patient lived within a reasonable …
Redefining the risks and rules for telehealth servicesMarch 5, 2018While telehealth services may be more widely known in human healthcare, it isn’t exactly a new idea for veterinarians, either. Veterinary teams have been providing advice, triage services, and consultations via phone, email, and fax for years.
AVMA delegates adopt amended telemedicine policyOctober 20, 2017“Unanimous” with 140 “yea” votes is how Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) board member, described the vote by members of the house of delegates (HOD) as they adopted a new telemedicine policy at the 2017 Convention in Indianapolis.
Brave new digital worldOctober 20, 2017When queried bout telemedicine, veterinary practitioners and professionals will differentiate between its two schools of thought: Telemedicine used for consulting with specialists, and the type where a practitioner looks at video of a patient’s limp sent by a client via smartphone.
