Transforming Rural Veterinary Care Through Telehealth

This case study investigates the strategic adoption of telehealth and subscription-based emergency care models by rural veterinary practices, addressing challenges of geographic isolation, evolving client expectations, and competitive pressures. A structured literature review of scholarly articles and industry publications from 2016-2024 identifies key operational, ethical, and strategic impacts of telehealth implementation. The review underscores telehealth's potential to improve rural care accessibility, enhance client satisfaction, and bolster practice sustainability. Significant barriers identified include technological infrastructure constraints, restrictive regulatory environments – particularly around Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) – and substantial training gaps among veterinary staff. Recommendations highlight adopting integrated telehealth platforms, implementing flexible subscription-based models, targeted regulatory advocacy, and ongoing staff training to achieve sustainable transformation.