The Importance of Veterinary Telemedicine

How many of us have had trouble making an appointment for vet care? For most of us, it has been difficult to schedule regular wellness appointments, much less urgent care visits. The wait for an appointment may involve months. Imagine how much more difficult it is for animals who live far from veterinarians or have owners with mobility or transportation issues? Telemedicine is one tool that could help alleviate the suffering and keep families together.

Limited Access to Veterinary Care

According to the Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, the State of Washington has a Statewide Veterinary Care Accessibility Score of only 47/100. This is a failing grade. Large metropolitan areas such as Seattle or Spokane are not that much better. King County scores only 59 which means it is somewhat accessible. Not great for a “pet-friendly” city such as Seattle, the largest city in King County.

Veterinary Telemedicine Can Help

Conditions are getting worse and animals are being surrendered as a last resort for many who cannot obtain medical care. Telemedicine is an underutilized tool that could help. It has proven safe and effective. It addresses logistical challenges for rural and underserved communities, those with mobility or transportation issues, challenging work schedules, and stressed pets. Granted, an in-person appointment is ideal, but a virtual visit is better than no visit at all. And, of course, who should be making the decision of what is best for the animal?

Current regulations prohibit establishing a new veterinary/client patient relationship (VCPR) using veterinary telehealth. Clients must have an in-person appointment. According to the ASPCA, more than one-third of American pets do not see a veterinarian annually, often due to financial, geographic, or logistical barriers. These factors hit low-income and rural homes the most.

Veterinarians used telemedicine during the pandemic. It is currently being used in several Canadian provinces and American states. To date, there has been no harm recorded as a result.

Who Opposes Veterinary Telemedicine?

There is opposition though. As of this posting, the Washington State Veterinary Board of Governors is currently split on the issue, while the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Associations are currently opposed to telemedicine for new patients. Of course, it took human health care medical associations a long time to accept telemedicine as well. Many organizations choose to err on the side of caution before finally addressing realities.