Featured Article
Practicing a spectrum of care
Published in Veterinary Practice News
by Dr. Kate Boatright, VMD
The phrase “spectrum of care” has grown in popularity over the past several years and is part of the broader conversation of improving access to veterinary care. It refers to “a continuum of acceptable care that considers available evidence-based medicine while remaining responsive to client expectations and financial limitations.”
Ultimately, spectrum of care medicine ensures patients receive care that improves their quality of life within the individual constraints of the pet family while allowing veterinary professionals to uphold their moral, ethical, and legal obligations. This approach to medicine is most successful when the entire veterinary team shares the mindset and participates in client communication…
Publications
- Original Content
- Beyond the Clinic Column (TVP)
- Finding Balance Column (TVP)
- For Pet Owners
- Guest Blog Posts
- Lecture Summaries
Original Content
- Why your practice needs a mentorship program — and how to get started, AAHA NEWStat (published 8/28/24)
- Are you ready to mentor?, AAHA NEWStat (published 8/16/24)
- Finding a Mentor, AAHA NEWStat (published 8/1/24)
- Spectrum of Care: The business case for improving access to veterinary medicine, Veterinary Practice News (published 7/24/24)
- Blog Series: A Team Approach to Financial Conversations in Clinical Practice, Pawlicy Advisor Blog
- Practicing a Spectrum of Care, Veterinary Practice News, March 11, 2024
- Using a team approach to help overcome preventive care barriers, Veterinary Practice News, January 10, 2024
- Team Talking Points for Pet Insurance, AAHA NEWStat, Dec 11, 2023
- Top Five Communication Skills for Veterinarians, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, Dec 2023
- Working with Pharmacies, Veterinary Practice News, December 2023
- What Pet Insurance Do Vets Recommend?, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, Oct 2023
- How to Approach the Spectrum of Care Conversation in Veterinary Medicine?, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, Sept 2023
- Collaboration with Specialists Expands Spectrum of Options in General Practice, AAHA NEWStat, Aug 29, 2023
- How Does Pet Insurance Fit Into the Access-to-care Conversation?, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column (August/September 2023)
- Preparing Veterinary Clients for Financial Emergencies, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, “A Team Approach to Financial Conversations” Column, Article 5 (July 2023)
- Key Takeaways for Veterinarians from the NAVTA Demographics Survey, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column (June/July 2023)
- Veterinary Burnout Survey Continues to Seek Prevention Strategies, AAHA NEWStat (June 22, 2023)
- Flexibility Training: Educating the Next Generation of Veterinarians in Spectrum of Care, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 8 (June 2, 2023)
- Discussing Pet Insurance With Clients, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, “A Team Approach to Financial Conversations” Column, Article 4 (May 2023)
- Palliative Care: The Missing Piece of Chronic Disease Management, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 7 (May 18, 2023)
- Preparing Clients for the Cost of Care, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, “A Team Approach to Financial Conversations” Column, Article 3 (April 2023)
- Working Together to Maximize a Spectrum of Care, with Heather Kvitko-White, DVM, DACVIM; dvm360 April 2023, Vol 54, Issue 4; Published Online 4/14/2023
- Work As a Team to Communicate a Spectrum-of-Care Philosophy to Clients, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 6 (March 24, 2023)
- How We Say It Matters: Relationship-based communication gets the best outcomes, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 5 (March 9, 2023)
- Separating Costs from Care in Client Conversations, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, “A Team Approach to Financial Conversations” Column, Article 2 (March 2023)
- What do pet families want? (And how do we communicate it?), AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 4 (February 6, 2023)
- Five Ways to Streamline Referrals for Successful Collaborative Care, PetVet Magazine (February/March 2023)
- Understanding the Stress of Financial Conversations, Pawlicy Advisor Blog, “A Team Approach to Financial Conversations” Column, Article 1 (February 2023)
- What prevents us from practicing a spectrum of care?, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 3 (January 9, 2023)
- Recognizing Futile Care in Veterinary Medicine, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column (January/February 2023)
- AlignCare: A One Health approach to veterinary care access, AAHA NEWStat (December 12, 2022)
- Why Do We Need to Talk about Spectrum of Care?, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 2, (November 28, 2022)
- Managing Emergencies in General Practice, dvm360.com, (November 10, 2022)
- The Next Generation of Veterinarians, Today’s Veterinary Practice November/December 2022, Beyond the Clinic Column
- What is the spectrum of care?, AAHA NEWStat Column, Article 1 (October 28, 2022)
- Veterinary mental health and the influence of culture, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column September/October 2022
- Finding Balance and Setting Boundaries as a Successful Entrepreneur, Pet Vet Magazine (Aug/Sept 2022)
- Four reasons mentorship is a must for your veterinary practice, Inspire Veterinary Partners blog
- Protecting adopted pets from heartworm disease, dvm360 July 2022; vol 53, issue 7 (online July 22, 2022)
- The evolution of mentorship for veterinary professionals, July/Aug TVP Beyond the Clinic Column
- The art of tactfully receiving feedback as a veterinary professional, MentorVet blog, June 24, 2022
- Maximizing adherence to minimize heartworm prevention, dvm360 May 2022; vol 53, issue 5 (online May 17, 2022)
- 5 tools for addressing euthanasia aversenss in pet owners, April 7, 2022, for PetVet Magazine april/May
- Counseling clients on pediatric nutrition, dvm360 April 2021: Volume 53, Issue 4 (published online 4/11/22)
- Five tools for addressing euthanasia averseness in pet owners, Pet Vet Magazine, April/May 2022 print, published online 4/7/22
- Embracing spectrum of care: Tips for reducing your risk of client and board complaints, Mentor Vet Blog, published 4/20/2022
- Changemaking as entrepreneurs, Today’s Veterinary Practice, Beyond the Clinic Column, May/June 2022
- How to improve patient advocacy in practice, Pets All Blog, published 1/4/2022
- Mastering the art of employee feedback, Pets App Blog, published 11/15/2021
- How your veterinary tech and nursing teams can support early career veterinarians, Pets App Blog, published 10/19/2021
- Embracing spectrum of care to promote early career wellbeing, MentorVet Blog, published 12/23/2021
- Diarrhea management in the boarding environment Pet Boarding and Daycare Magazine, March/April 2022
- Breaking barriers to veterinary care Today’s Veterinary Practice, Beyond the Clinic Column, March/April 2022
- The future of veterinary continuing education Today’s Veterinary Practice, Beyond the Clinic Column, Jan/Feb 2022
- How to Manage Cushing’s Syndrome dvm360 in press for print (published online 11/15/21), sponsored by Dechra
- When Behavior Breaks the Bond Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Nov/Dec 2021
- Why We Join Today’s Veterinary Business, Oct/Nov 2021 Issue
- How to overcome the overwhelm from covid-19 Guest Post on Global Veterinary Ethics Congress (GVEC) blog, July 12, 2021
- Pharmacy Relations 101: Common sources of error and prevention strategies, Part 2, coauthored with Lauren Forsythe, PharmD, DICVP dvm360 August 2021: Vol 52, Issue 8 (published online 7/14/21)
- Should I take my pet to the ER or call my vet? How to tell Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- Behavioral Signs of Feline Pain dvm360 August 2021: Vol 52, Issue 11 (published online 7/6/21), sponsored by Vetriscience
- Supporting the Bond Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, July/Aug 2021
- Speaking for your cat: 3 reasons to go to your vet and 3 ways to reduce the stress Copy for Cats Blog (published 6/4/21)
- Pharmacy Relations 101: Common sources of error and prevention strategies, co-authored with Lauren Forsythe, PharmD, DICVP dvm360 June 2020: Volume 52, Issue 6 (published online 5/21/21)
- Anti-Vaxxers: Understanding and addressing client concerns Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, May/June 2021
- Understanding advocacy Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, March/April 2021
- The most underutilized resource in your clinic Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Jan/Feb 2021
- Six tool to improve client compliance in 2020 Pawlicy Advisor Vet Blog, Dec 2020
- The pursuit of happiness Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Nov/Dec 2020
- Why–and how–to build relationships with community pharmacists, co-authored with Lauren Forsythe PharmD, DICVP dvm360 November 2020, Volume 51, Issue 11 (published online 10/21/20)
- Suicide: Our professional crisis Today’s Veterinary Practice Finding Balance Column, Sept/Oct 2020
- Three tip for successful conversations that save lives Pawlicy Advisor Vet Blog, July 2020
- Five ways the veterinary team can help new graduates succeed dvm360 Volume 51, Issue 7 (published online 6/22/20)
- Telehealth: Navigating the new normal Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, July/Aug 2020
- Balancing act Today’s Veterinary Practice Finding Balance Column, May/June 2020
- Mixed emotions Today’s Veterinary Practice Finding Balance Column, March/April 2020
- Pharmacy Headaches (3-part series), co-authored with Lauren Forsythe, PharmD, DIVCP The Keystone Veterinarian, Quarters 1-3, 2020 [not available online]
- The cost of caring too much Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Jan/Feb 2020
- How to support professional development among your team Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Nov/Dec 2019
- How to retain valued employees Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Sept/Oct 2019
- Trust us, please DrAndyRoark.com, online article (published 8/13/19)
- Five lessons from the first five years Pet Vet Magazine, July/August 2019 print edition (published online 8/1/19)
- What can we do? DrAndyRoark.com, online article (published 4/14/19)
- Before you refer: 10 tips for improving communication between general practitioners, emergency veterinarians, and specialists The Keystone Veterinarian, Quarter 2, 2019 [not available online]
Beyond the Clinic Column
- How Does Pet Insurance Fit Into the Access-to-care Conversation?, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column (August/September 2023)
- Key Takeaways for Veterinarians from the NAVTA Demographics Survey, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column (June/July 2023)
- Recognizing Futile Care in Veterinary Medicine Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column (January/February 2023)
- The Next Generation of Veterinarians, Today’s Veterinary Practice November/December 2022, Beyond the Clinic Column
- Veterinary mental health and the influence of culture, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column September/October 2022
- The evolution of mentorship for veterinary professionals, Today’s Veterinary Practice Beyond the Clinic Column July/Aug 2022
- Changemaking as entrepreneurs Today’s Veterinary Practice, Beyond the Clinic Column, May/June 2022
- Breaking barriers to veterinary care Today’s Veterinary Practice, Beyond the Clinic Column, March/April 2022
- The future of veterinary continuing education Today’s Veterinary Practice, Beyond the Clinic Column, Jan/Feb 2022
Finding Balance Column
- When Behavior Breaks the Bond Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Nov/Dec 2021
- Supporting the Bond Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, July/Aug 2021
- Anti-Vaxxers: Understanding and addressing client concerns Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, May/June 2021
- Understanding advocacy Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, March/April 2021
- The most underutilized resource in your clinic Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Jan/Feb 2021
- The pursuit of happiness Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Nov/Dec 2020
- Suicide: Our professional crisis Today’s Veterinary Practice Finding Balance Column, Sept/Oct 2020
- Telehealth: Navigating the new normal Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, July/Aug 2020
- Balancing act Today’s Veterinary Practice Finding Balance Column, May/June 2020
- Mixed emotions Today’s Veterinary Practice Finding Balance Column, March/April 2020
- The cost of caring too much Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Jan/Feb 2020
- How to support professional development among your team Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Nov/Dec 2019
- How to retain valued employees Today’s Veterinary Practice, Finding Balance Column, Sept/Oct 2019
For Pet Owners
- Why you need annual wellness exams for pets and what to expect
- Management of the Diabetic Boarding pet July 19, 2022 for Pet Boarding and Daycare July/Aug
- Diarrhea management in the boarding environment March 10, 2022 for Pet Boarding and Daycare March/April
- What’s the best large breed puppy food? Ask a vet
- Preparing your dog for anesthesia: Everything owners should know
- How to find a vet: 10 key questions you should ask
- How to choose the best food for dogs
- Primary care vets: Why your pet needs one and how to find them Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- What is preventive care and why does my pet need it? Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- What to put in a dog first aid kit: Top 10 items all owners need Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- Should I take my pet to the ER or call my vet? How to tell Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- Speaking for your cat: 3 reasons to go to your vet and 3 ways to reduce the stress Copy for Cats Blog (published 6/4/21)
- Trust us, please DrAndyRoark.com, online article (published 8/13/19)
- What can we do? DrAndyRoark.com, online article (published 4/14/19)
Guest Blog Posts
- Four reasons mentorship is a must for your veterinary practice Inspire Veterinary Partners blog
- The art of tactfully receiving feedback as a veterinary professional MentorVet blog, June 24, 2022
- Embracing spectrum of care: Tips for reducing your risk of client and board complaints Mentor Vet Blog, published 4/20/2022
- How to improve patient advocacy in practice Pets App Blog, published 1/4/2022
- Mastering the art of employee feedback Pets App Blog, published 11/15/2021
- How your veterinary tech and nursing teams can support early career veterinarians Pets App Blog, published 10/19/2021
- Embracing spectrum of care to promote early career wellbeing MentorVet Blog, published 12/23/2021
- Primary care vets: Why your pet needs one and how to find them Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- How to overcome the overwhelm from covid-19 Guest Post on Global Veterinary Ethics Congress (GVEC) blog, July 12, 2021
- What is preventive care and why does my pet need it? Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- Should I take my pet to the ER or call my vet? How to tell Pawlicy Advisor Pet Care Blog, July 2021
- Speaking for your cat: 3 reasons to go to your vet and 3 ways to reduce the stress Copy for Cats Blog (published 6/4/21)
Lecture Summaries
- A General Practitioner’s Guide to Cushing’s Syndrome, AVMA Convention 2023 for dvm360.com (August 9, 2023)
- Managing Comorbidities in Senior Cats, AVMA Convention 2023 for dvm360.com (August 7, 2023)
- Liquid Biopsy Allows Earlier Detection of Canine Cancer, ACVIM 2023 for dvm360.com (July 4, 2023)
- Tips for Safely Anesthetizing Patients with Gastrointestinal Obstructions, Directions in Veterinary Medicine Symposium 2023 for dvm360.com (May 12, 2023)
- Advances in end-of-life care: updates on recent literature, Fetch Charlotte 2023 for dvm360.com (May 9, 2023)
- A General Practitioner’s Approach to Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease, Fetch Charlotte 2023 for dvm360.com (April 21, 2023)
- A practical approach to a fever of unknown origin, Fetch Charlotte 2023 for dvm360 (March 27, 2023)
- Tips for managing feline urolithiasis from a feline practitioner, AAFP 2022 for dvm360.com (December 5, 2022)
- Considerations for the use of sedation for feline veterinary visits, AAFP 2022 for dvm360.com (November 29, 2022)
- Maximizing the Use of Dermatopathology, ACVC 2022 for dvm360.com (October 26, 2022)
- Management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats, AVMA Convention 2022 for dvm360.com (August 25, 2022)
- Research indicates good outcomes with pyometra and PU surgeries performed in primary care, AVMA Convention 2022 for dvm360.com (August 24, 2022)
- Diagnosing feline myocardial disease, AVMA Convention 2022 for dvm360.com (August 9, 2022)
- Responsible dermatology in general practice dvm360 June 2022; vol 53, issue 6 (online June 1, 2022)
- Diagnosing adverse food reactions in canine and feline patients Fetch San Diego 2021 Conference Coverage for dvm360 Feb 2022 Vol 53, Issue 2 (published online 1/20/22)
- An integrative approach to maintaining a healthy gut Fetch San Diego 2021 Conference Coverage for dvm360 online (1/5/2022)
- Tips for Technicians to Improve Phlebotomy Skills dvm360.com, October 15, 2021
- Improving your “human skills” with communication Fetch KC 2021 Coverage for dvm360.com (published online 9/2/2021)
- Managing head trauma in veterinary patients Fetch KC 2021 Coverage for dvm360.com (published online 8/27/2021)
- Managing Feline Stress Related Conditions Fetch KC 2021 Coverage for dvm360.com (published online 8/27/2021)
- Hot topics: Antimicrobial resistance Fetch virtual 2021 conference coverage for dvm360 Aug 2021: Vol 52, Issue 8 (published online 7/15/21)
- Management of the blocked cat for veterinary technicians Fetch Virtual 2021 conference coverage for dvm360 July 2021: Volume 52, Issue 7 (published online 5/19/21)
- Tips for managing diabetes in dogs and cats Fetch Virtual 2021 conference coverage for dvm360 May 2021: Volume 52, Issue 5 (published online 4/14/21)
- Preparing owners for the death of a pet Fetch Virtual 2021 conference coverage for dvm360 May 2021: Volume 52, Issue 5 (published online 4/5/21)
- Management tips for constipated cats Fetch Virtual 2021 conference coverage for dvm360 April 2021: Volume 52, Issue 4 (published online 2/27/21)
- Speaking for our canine patients: How to find and communicate signs of pain Fetch Virtual 2020 conference coverage for dvm360 March 2021: Volume 52, Issue 3 (published online 2/9/21)
- What we know about cannabinoid therapy is “tip of the iceberg” Fetch Virtual 2020 conference coverage for dvm360 February 2021: Volume 52, Issue 2 (published online 1/12/21)
- Up your imaging game: The power of AFAST AVMA Virtual Convention 2020 coverage for dvm360 January 2021: Volume 52, Issue 1 (published online 12/2/20)
- Essential information for veterinarians about hemangiosarcoma AVMA Virtual Convention Coverage for Vetted December 2020: Volume 115, Issue 12 (published online 1/5/21)
- AVMA virtual convention keynote: Redefining wealth AVMA Virtual Convention 2020 coverage for dvm360 Sept 2020, Volume 51, Issue 9 (published online 9/9/20)
- Rabies law: What you need to know AVMA Virtual Convention 2020 coverage for Vetted Volume 115, Issue 9 (published online 8/26/20)
- Understanding the use of antibody titers in veterinary practice Midwest Vet Conference 2020 coverage for dvm360.com (published 5/4/20)
- To save cats: Why practices should maximize preventative care AAFP 2018 Conference coverage for dvm360 online (published 9/30/19)
- Breed-specific canine respiratory diseases Fetch conference coverage for dvm360 online (published 9/21/19)
- Hands-free tools for evaluating and managing feline pain Fetch Baltimore 2019 Conference coverage for dvm360 online (published 8/24/19)
- Help for when teeth cause backaches Fetch Baltimore 2019 Conference coverage for dvm360 online (published 8/7/19)
- Veterinarians: Find the love for your dermatology cases Fetch Baltimore 2019 Conference coverage for dvm360 online (published 6/27/19)
- Atopic dermatitis: Why topical therapy is worth a try Fetch San Diego 2018 Conference coverage for dvm360 online (published 6/1/19)
- Managing IVDD: Do steroids have a place? Fetch San Diego 2018 Conference coverage for dvm360 Volume 51, Issue 7 (published online 5/19/19)
- The power of nutrition in disease prevention Fetch San Diego 2018 Conference coverage for American Veterinarian online (1/2/19)
- Disk disease treatment can include steroids Fetch San Diego 2018 Conference coverage for American Veterinarian online (published 12/17/18)
- Improving communication between GPs and emergency veterinarians AVMA Convention 2018 coverage for American Veterinarian online (published 7/25/18)
- Metronomic chemotherapy: Another treatment option for neoplasia AVMA Convention 2018 coverage for American Veterinarian online (published 7/16/18)