"All aboard:" activating the veterinary team to achieve optimal veterinary outcomes

Authors: Coe JB
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Practice Management, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: To truly maximize the outcomes of veterinary care, the focus of a veterinary practice must extend beyond the one-on-one interaction between veterinary staff and a client to include the role and influence of relationships among all levels of the veterinary healthcare team. Within the human healthcare field, ‘relational coordination’ has been the term used to capture the provision of team healthcare in a manner that involves “frequent, timely, accurate communication, as well as problem-solving, shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect among health care providers”.2 Research from human medicine has shown that a higher level of relational coordination within healthcare systems is associated with a number of positive outcomes for patients, healthcare staff and the hospital.1,2,3 Therefore, in order to truly maximize the quality and outcome of care for its patients, veterinary medicine needs to consider the role and function of all relationships within a veterinary care system including veterinarian-to-client, support staff-to-client and veterinarian-to-support staff.

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