Letter From the Editor
In my first year as a clinician, I euthanized a beautiful orange tabby cat because his family could not afford the estimate I presented for 3 days of treatment for urethral obstruction. I had no other options to offer. As soon as I injected the euthanasia solution, he urinated on the table. He was one year old.
The practice where I worked was exemplary in many respects. I learned a lot that year and owe many of my good habits to that team—but the policy of offering limited options outside protocols listed as best medicine is one that I am glad to say I have left behind.
The costs of veterinary care can be out of reach for many clients. Clinicians may modify their approach to fit what clients can or will pay for, but there is more to medicine than money. Costs of advanced diagnostic and treatment options, realities of medicine in a culture of instant gratification, and attitudes toward pets ranging from feelings of it’s just a dog to this is my child influence client expectations. Physical, emotional, cultural, and economic factors affect their ability to agree to our recommendations.
Adopting a spectrum of care approach does not mean abandoning the goal of excellence, being open to regulatory or legal repercussions, or leaving evidence-based medicine behind. It simply offers a more inclusive definition of what excellence means: meeting clients where they are, communicating without judgment, and using comprehensive knowledge of medicine and surgery to work with clients to provide the best care in each individual situation.
The mission of Clinician’s Brief is to support clinicians by providing the most relevant, accurate, and concise information needed to be confident, skillful practitioners of veterinary medicine. Our profession has evolved, and we believe that today’s best medicine is the plan that is best for the patient and client in front of us. This often means modifying recommendations to accommodate the financial, logistical, physical, and/or emotional limitations of the client by using skills beyond medicine and surgery, like empathy, active listening, inclusivity, and servant leadership.
We sat down with 3 experts to discuss spectrum of care, what it really means, and how this approach can benefit patients, clients, and veterinary teams. This panel discussion will be presented as a special series and will explore different aspects of pursuing a spectrum-of-care approach, starting with the importance of communicating all treatment options and working alongside the client to form the best possible plan.
We hope you enjoy this exclusive series.
Sincerely,
Katie Berlin, DVM
Veterinary Director, Brand Advocacy
Instinct Science
Dive Into Spectrum of Care
We sat down with 3 experts to explore the different aspects of pursuing a spectrum of care approach. Check out our exclusive series on this approach to client care.