Nonprofit plans to develop telehealth best practices

A new nonprofit organization plans to develop best practices for veterinary telehealth, which has become increasingly popular during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Veterinary Virtual Care Association will “advocate best practices, provide educational resources, and create a space for a wide alliance of professionals to congregate and accelerate the adoption of virtual care…within veterinary medicine,” according to the announcement.

The association is a membership-based organization open to all students, veterinarians, practices, allied organizations and technology providers. While prospective members will pay a fee to join beginning next year, early members can join for free during 2020 for a one-year membership. The VVCA will partner with industry leaders, licensed professionals and technology platforms as it works toward its goals.

“In today’s world, virtual care is an essential tool for ensuring every animal around the world has access to safe, appropriate and effective veterinary care,” said Dr. Eleanor Green, a VVCA founding member. “By reaching out to all the thought leaders in the profession arena, VVCA will take virtual care to the next level in a responsible, accelerated and most importantly effective manner.”