The American Animal Hospital Association has scheduled the release of Community Care Guidelines for Small Animal Practice in an attempt to optimize the accessibility and equitability of veterinary care.
According to AAHA, the guidelines include these four tenets:
- Acknowledge the urgency of access to care: “The veterinary profession has long grappled with disparities in care availability, and these guidelines will acknowledge that addressing these issues is urgent,” AAHA stated.
- Encourage collaboration: “By fostering noncompetitive partnerships between private practices, nonprofit organizations and community resources, the guidelines will encourage a more integrated approach to pet health care.”
- Support family-centered care: “This principle recognizes the bond between pets and their families and promotes care strategies that support keeping pets in their homes whenever possible.”
- Redefine the gold standard of care: “This approach ensures that essential services are available to a broader community, allowing more pets to receive necessary care, regardless of their owners’ financial situation.”
Veterinary professionals can consult the guidelines for strategies to increase access to care. Examples include offering sliding-scale fees, integrating telemedicine services and providing low-cost options by partnering with nonprofit groups.
“A key element of the Community Care Guidelines is the emphasis on collaboration,” AAHA noted. “Greater communication and cooperation between private veterinary practices and nonprofit organizations will be essential. These partnerships can help fill gaps in service and provide comprehensive care that addresses both medical and social factors affecting pets and their families.”
The guidelines will be posted at aaha.org/community-care starting Oct. 29, 2024.