Creating partnerships between veterinarians and underserved producers: getting started with establishing veterinary client–patient relationships

TL;DR

This paper explores how workshops help veterinarians and livestock producers build partnerships to improve animal health and farm sustainability.

Contribution

The study introduces targeted educational workshops that successfully increase knowledge and confidence in establishing VCPRs.

Findings

Workshops significantly increased participants' knowledge and confidence about VCPRs.

27% of participants established a VCPR with their local veterinarian after the workshops.

Educational outreach can lead to improved animal health and sustainable livestock operations.

Abstract

To provide local veterinarians and producers opportunities for collaboration and applied education related to the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR); to assess the effectiveness of such opportunities in enhancing VCPR knowledge and confidence; and to establish VCPRs in hopes of improving economic efficiency and sustainability of small to medium-sized livestock operations.

Two one-day “Creating Partnerships” workshops utilized educational resources in five learning sessions focused on communication, establishing a Veterinarian Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR), and telemedicine. A pre- and post-test, comprised of closed-ended and Likert scale questions, measured the workshops’ effectiveness in increasing knowledge and confidence related to veterinary and producer partnerships.

Pre- and post-test scores indicate significant increases in knowledge and confidence related to Veterinary Client-Patient Relationships. Twenty-seven percent of participants established a Veterinary Client-Owner-Patient Relationship (VCPR) with their local veterinarian following the workshops.

Targeted educational outreach shows promise in creating and maintaining veterinarian-producer relationships. Knowledge gains and attitude shifts related to Veterinary Patient Client Relationships may improve animal health outcomes, resulting in more sustainable and profitable livestock operations and veterinary practices.