ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE IN THE NEWS 

• "Caught in the middle: Will pets be the big loser in the battle over low-cost veterinary care", AllAnimals, January/February 2017 

• "Back to Basics: Veterinarians look to fundamentals to help the underserved afford care", JAVMA News, Dec. 1, 2016

• "Coalition wants veterinary access for economically at-risk pets", JAVMA News, Dec. 1, 2016 
  
  

HSVMA ANNOUNCES ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE COALITION

Effort aims to provide veterinary access for economically at-risk pets

(Aug. 23, 2016) – The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association is pleased to announce the formation of the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition, a group which aims to reduce barriers to veterinary care access and promote communication among stakeholders. The coalition brings together veterinary, animal welfare and social services professionals, including representatives of  for-profit and non-profit veterinary services providers. 

An estimated 23 million pets live in families at or below the national poverty line. Millions more pets live in financially struggling middle class households that cannot afford veterinary care. Pets living in impoverished and economically struggling households may have few or no preventive or sick care options available, and their limited options for treatment of more serious injuries or illnesses too often results in being left to endure pain and suffering or “economic euthanasia”.

Ted Cohn, DVM, member of the coalition said: “As caring and compassionate veterinarians, I believe it is our duty to both better understand the reasons behind the immense numbers of pets currently not receiving adequate veterinary care and to then endeavor to find solutions to the problem.”

The group plans to study how effective programs operate to ensure sustainable access to veterinary care. The coalition will study target populations and the type of services provided, in addition to exploring how humane care may be provided under economic hardship circumstances. The findings of the coalition will be reported by July 1, 2018.

Questions about the AVCC can be sent to the attention of Jessica Martinez, [email protected].

ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE COALITION MEMBERS

• Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH, Board Member, HSVMA, Chair
• Danny Burke, Manager, Pets for Life Chicago
• Ted Cohn, DVM, AVES (Hon), practitioner and national leader in veterinary medicine
• Teresa Fisher, Program Administrator, Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee, Coll Vet Med, Univ of TN
• Brian Forsgren, DVM, Chief of Staff, Gateway Animal Clinic
• Inga Fricke, Director of Shelter and Rescue Group Services, HSUS
• William Gilles, DVM, Director, Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services (WisCARES)
• Lisa Greenhill, MPA, Ed.D., Assoc Exec Dir for Institutional Research and Diversity, AAVMC
• Laura Helmueller, DVM, Chief Medical Officer, Emancipet
• Cristie Kamiya, DVM, MBA, Association of Shelter Veterinarians
• Susan Krebsbach, DVM, Veterinary Advisor, HSVMA
• Rachael Kreisler, VMD, MSCE, Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine, Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Will Mangham, DVM, Attending Veterinarian,Pets for Life Atlanta
• Sarina Manifold, LCSW, Assistant Professor of Practice, Veterinary Social Work, University of Tennessee
• Michael Moyer, DVM, Owner, Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital
• Jennifer Scarlett, DVM, Co-President, San Francisco Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Cory Smith, Director of Public Policy, HSUS
• Akshay Verma, Veterinary Student and HSVMA Student Chapter President, CVM, Michigan State University
  
  

AVCC GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE. 

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