Telehealth in Veterinary Medicine | Companion Animal Health
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Telehealth medicine, or telemedicine, offers additional methods of communication between the clinic and the client in the forms of phone, email, texts, images, apps and videos. The veterinarian-client-patient relationship is important to keep in mind in regards to how and what is being communicated to the client. Some of the arenas telemedicine can be beneficial are emergency medicine, monitoring disease outbreaks, access to a veterinarian during a natural disaster or for basic health issues until the client can get their pet to the clinic. This should be seen as another way to connect with clients to increase compliance for better patient care.
Per the AVMA,
"Telehealth is the overarching term that encompasses all uses of technology geared to remotely deliver health information or education. Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications regarding a patient's clinical health status.
Telemedicine is a tool that may be utilized to augment the practice of veterinary medicine. The AVMA is committed to ensuring access to the convenience and benefits afforded by telemedicine, while promoting the responsible provision of high quality veterinary medical care. Veterinary care, whether delivered through electronic or other means, should be provided with professionalism."