A Guide To Veterinary Services
The goal of the Veterinarian-Client Relationship is to enhance
the level of animal care in the province of Alberta. This
benefits the animals, their owners and, in the case of food
producing animals, the public consumer.
What is a Veterinarian-Client Relationship?
A Veterinarian-Client Relationship is defined as a necessary
working relationship between a veterinarian and you, the animal
owner, concerning the health of your animals. For your benefit,
a valid relationship requires that your veterinarian has information
that is sufficiently "current, complete and relevant"
about your animal(s) before making medical judgments; judgments
such as making a diagnosis, suggesting a treatment recommendation,
writing a prescription, etc.
A functioning Veterinarian-Client Relationship has a positive
impact on animal owners and the way veterinarians practice
their profession. To clarify the concept, we have addressed
a series of the most frequently asked questions about the
V-C R.
What are the benefits?
The goal of the Veterinarian-Client Relationship is to enhance
the level of animal care in the province of Alberta. This
benefits the animals, their owners and, in the case of food
producing animals, the pubic consumer. Benefits achievable
by a solid relationship with your veterinarian include:
- Diagnostic & Treatment Accuracy -
Identifying and treating medical conditions must be based
on sound medical principals to reduce the cost of losses
and/or expense of medication.
- Food Safety/Quality Assurance - Consumers
expect residue-free products from modern agriculture. Veterinarians
have the most comprehensive training in animal pharmaceuticals
to assist livestock producers with drug treatment protocols.
- Sustaining Export Markets - Agriculture
in Canada cannot be maintained without exports. Preventing
and controlling disease outbreaks is essential to maintain
the integrity of Canada’s exports. Product quality
is also critical to sustain foreign trade.
- Environmental Responsibility - Domestic
animals impact the environment. Veterinarians can assist
animal owners to identify any negative environmental impacts
of their management decisions.
How does the Veterinarian-Client
Relationship affect me?
A common example of how an animal owner may become aware
of the Veterinarian-Client Relationship is when attempting
to buy a particular drug or medication at a veterinary clinic.
If the veterinarian does not feel he or she has enough "current,
complete and relevant information" about the owner’s
animal(s) to dispense the medication requested, the veterinarian
will seek to meet the need by animal examination or some other
means of gathering the required information. The intent of
this safeguard is to ensure that veterinarians have enough
information to make a sound medical judgment. Without the
supporting information, there is no Veterinarian-Client Relationship
or the V-C R is no longer valid for that particular situation.
| "For the majority of animal
owners, the stakes are too high for veterinarians to be
taking wild guesses when it comes to making medical decisions
about their animals." |
Why are the rules for buying drugs
from a veterinary clinic different than buying from other
sources?
Because the service you get at a veterinary
clinic IS different from other sources that
sell animal health products. Given the fast pace of changes
in animal therapeutics, veterinarians have the most comprehensive
training to respond to your animal health concerns. Your veterinarian
also has access to an extensive information network and is
able to supply you with leading edge animal health and production
advice. As is the case with other professions, clients can
and should expect a high standard of care and accountability
from veterinarians across the province.
It is important to note that the purchase of drugs from outlets
other than veterinary clinics is NOT affected
by the Veterinarian-Client Relationship.
Can I afford a Veterinarian-Client
Relationship?
This is the most common concern of animal owners, particularly
those whose livelihood depends on livestock production. Consider,
however, that the benefits of veterinary consultations and/or
examinations lead to reduced costs and increased productivity
by:
$ avoiding inappropriate drug purchases and their
use
$ more immediate response to treatment
$ reduced incidence of costly disease
$ knowing when to avoid or discontinue treatment
$ having more product to market
Is the Veterinarian-Client Relationship
concerned with more than drug sales?
Yes! In an effort to focus on quality animal
health care, the Veterinarian-Client Relationship is primarily
concerned with making medical judgments, their validity and
the basis for the judgments made. The choice of medication
(if any) is entirely secondary to developing an informed decision.
Why the sudden emphasis on the Veterinarian-Client
Relationship?
It is understood that ultimately, the extent of care given
to any animal is determined by its owner. This information
is simply to clarify the position veterinarians are in and
what we need to be doing to best serve you.
Is this something new?
No, it is not at all new. For years, veterinarians intent
on providing the best service they could to their clients
have practiced according to unwritten rules that embodied
the very same concepts stipulated by the Alberta Provincial
Regulations. What is new is that, since 1990, these concepts
have been formally incorporated into the Veterinary Profession
Act of Alberta.
Are there other groups who endorse this concept?
Yes, the concept has been endorsed by a number of Alberta
producer groups and several pharmaceutical companies have
also identified the concept as being important to the proper
use of their products.
