Which telemedicine bucket does your veterinary practice fall into?March 27, 2020Whether you love or hate technology may not matter at this point in history. Recent events are forcing veterinarians to jump off the telemedicine cliff as practices are faced with new challenges limiting in-person exams. And in unprecedented moves, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are recommending state governors temporarily lift the traditional "in-person requirement" to allow veterinarian-client-patient-relationships (VCPRs) to be established by remote telemedicine. This leaves veterinarians urgently asking the question, "Which technology is right for my practice?" When it comes to telemedicine platforms, there are three big buckets: basic/DIY, plug & play for human health-care providers, and premium plug & play for veterinary professionals. Let's break them down. Bucket #1: Basic DIY telemedicine This DIY bucket requires rounding up the components needed to deliver a telemedicine experience and putting them all together. Much like baking a cake, you've got to gather the ingredients, which in this case means: • an online booking platform; • a calendar to view the bookings; • a payment service; • a video-hosting software; and • chat software. Next, you put them all together to build out a great experience for …
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FDA loosens telemedicine regulations amid COVID-19 pandemicMarch 25, 2020To help animal health professionals provide care for pets during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has temporarily lifted some of its federal requirements for telemedicine.
Teletriage service prioritizes pet, human healthMarch 18, 2020Pet-related software developer BabelBark is partnering with whiskerDocs, a provider of telehealth support for pet owners, to provide a free 24-7 veterinary help hotline for triage.
Connected care keeps animals, people safe amid COVID-19March 13, 2020COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by WHO, leaving many pet owners wondering how they can access veterinary care while still protecting themselves from the virus.
Telemedicine to enter 1,400 clinics in Airvet, VSG unionFebruary 10, 2020A new strategic partnership will allow veterinarians at more than 1,400 clinics to connect with their clients via live video and audio chats.
Emerging ethical discussions in veterinary connected careJanuary 28, 2020As we look at adopting connected care in veterinary medicine, many ethical issues emerge that, when ignored, cause inertia, but when thoroughly reviewed and discussed, may allow us to participate in good conscience in the new data- and technology-driven economy.
Telemedicine provider secures $2 million in fundingJanuary 8, 2020TeleVet, a Texas-based online platform that connects veterinary clinics to their existing clients, has closed a $2-million seed funding round.
Oregon considers change in veterinary telemedicine standardsDecember 23, 2019A suggested amendment to Oregon’s Veterinary Practice Act may change the way animal health care professionals in the state practice telemedicine.
Telemedicine provider expands reach through purchasing groupJuly 24, 2019More than 5,000 independent practices across the U.S. will soon be equipped with Petriage telemedicine services, thanks to a new partnership between the provider and Covetrus-owned veterinary purchasing group, PSIvet.
Ultrasound and telemedicineMay 27, 2019Don't just send him an ultrasound image and think he'll do business with you. "I will not read ultrasound images unless I've taught the person through doing the ultrasound," said Anthony J. Fischetti, DVM, MS, DACVR, department head of diagnostic imaging at the Animal Medical Center in New York, and president of Veterinary Ultrasound Society of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists (ACVR). "If I'm just reading still images from someone I haven't trained, I won't read them. I won't take their money, I won't try to make a diagnosis, and I kind of wish my colleagues would do the same," Dr. Fischetti said. Why? There's just too much to get wrong, he said. "You can make so many things look abnormal with ultrasound if you don't know the orientation of the probe or how the image was made," Fischetti said. In human medicine, often a relationship is already developed between those performing the ultrasound and the radiologist, so there's a level of trust and comfort. "We're just not there with veterinary medicine yet, and I'm personally against most telemedicine ultrasound," Fischetti said. Building relationships to improve trust and communication is also of utmost importance for Nathan C. Nelson, …
