Our Research
You Became a Vet to Help Animals
At the Collaborative Care Coalition, we strongly believe that collaboration between primary care veterinarians and specialists is crucial for the health of companion animals. Not only does collaboration benefit our furry friends, but it also leads to a loyal clientele, and greater value for veterinary practices.
Just like in human medicine, where primary care physicians refer patients to specialists for complex issues, collaboration allows pets to receive advanced expertise while still relying on their primary veterinarian for general health concerns and preventive care.
Now we have data that supports our beliefs. And we’re doing more research building tools for better collaboration.
Now we have the data to show that not only does collaboration benefit our furry friends, but it also leads to a loyal clientele, and greater value for veterinary practices
Our research
Our approach is no different than the process with a diseased patient.
We launched a multiphase research initiative to validate our hypothesis that there is a correlation between the health of companion animals and the frequency and timeliness of collaboration between primary care veterinarians and specialists.
We further sought to quantify the impact of this collaboration (or lack thereof) on the health of animals.
Impact & Outcomes
Impact of Collaborative Care on Survival Times & Revenue
We studied the impact of collaborative care on survival time for dogs with congestive heart failure as well as the impact on revenue for attending primary care veterinarians
Good for pets
Our study showed that small dogs with congestive heart failure that were co-managed by a cardiologist and primary care vet lived 77% longer.*
Good for business
The primary care practice generated 22% more revenue than those managed by a primary care vet alone.*
Collaborative Care Improves Treatment Outcomes for Dogs with Chronic Otitis Externa
We compared outcome measures in dogs treated by a primary care veterinarian (pcDVM) before referral and after seeking collaboration with a board-certified veterinary dermatologist (BCVD) for cases of severe recurrent chronic otitis externa.
Medical records of 65 client-owned dogs were retrospectively reviewed, and data were obtained regarding treatment history, referral timeframe, recurrence rate, clinical signs, and resolution of signs. We found there was a longer median time to otitis recurrence with collaborative care (171 days) compared with dogs managed by the pcDVM before referral (21 days).
Client perceptions improve with collaborative care when managing dogs with cancer
Collaboration between primary care veterinarians (pcVets) and veterinary oncologists is common for dogs diagnosed with cancer, but no data exist that explore dog owner utilization and perceptions of collaborative care.
We found that dog owners perceived early collaboration between pcVets and specialists favorably, fostering client satisfaction and positive perceptions of the value for service provided for dogs diagnosed with cancer.
Referral Dynamics
What works and what hinders collaboration?
The landscape of veterinary medicine is ever changing, but slow to adopt a clinically-based referral system. In an effort to support evolution of care for companion animals and identify needs gaps to ease referral barriers, VetSOAP completed the first step in analyzing referral dynamics through an intensive literature review.
This literature review summarizes existing information regarding collaborative referral dynamics between the Primary Care Veterinarian (pcDVM) and veterinary specialists. The study also compares this information to available information for the human health and human dentistry arenas.
*Over one hundred published sources involving referral data across multiple disciplines of veterinary and human medicine as well as dentistry were analyzed and reviewed for this study.
Referral relationships in companion animal veterinary medicine
It is evident from this extensive review of the present state of referral dynamics that shifting toward adoption of a true symbiotic and collaborative healthcare approach for the patient is likely part of this critical path forward.
Attitudes and behaviors among primary care veterinarians
Via online forums, we conducted qualitative research to reveal referral attitudes and behaviors among primary care veterinarians, and help provide direction for subsequent quantitative research. We generated a remarkable amount of strategic business data on collaborative concepts, processes, and even case analysis.
To give you an idea of some of what the group of pcDVMs revealed:
Respondents exhaust their own diagnostics to draw their own diagnosis/conclusions before making a referral. Reasons include:
- Ability to work on complex cases increased job satisfaction for pcDVMs.
- Want to ensure they refer to correct specialty.
- Desire maintenance of expert status with the client.
The pcDVM sees referral costing the client money and desires to save the client money by running their own diagnostics.
Respondents indicated improvement in recent years. However, before, during, and after referral communication, pcDVM preferences vary.
Early dialogue with the pcDVM once specialist has seen a patient is critical.
Inclusion and opportunity to learn more appear as key elements in strengthening referral relationship.
Respondents showed a strong emotional connection to their responsibility to the client and patient.
Responses reinforced pcDVM personal perspective and historical relationship with the client can influence the course of action.
pcDVM believe treatment recommendations are not altered based on perception of client’s ability to pay.
Benefits of early collaboration
Early collaboration can help clients save money in overall treatment costs while improving client satisfaction and creating more confidence in the level of care provided by the pcVet
Helps clients save money
Clients would have saved more than 25% in overall costs if these cases had there been collaboration before the tipping point.*
Improved pcVet reputation and future revenue
82% expressed that they would have felt better about their pcVet if they would have recommended a collaboration earlier.*
If a problem cannot be resolved, clients reach a tipping point of frustration after then 3rd visit.
Collaborating with a specialist before this tipping point improved client satisfaction and created more confidence in the level of care provided by the pcVet. Early collaboration can also help clients save money in overall treatment costs.
Reaching the tipping point of client frustration has negative implications on general practice veterinarians
Collaborative Behavior and Attitude Survey
Evaluating the key drivers and barriers to collaboration and quantifying these drivers within the pcDVM population.