Why Your Clinic Needs Specialty Teleconsulting: Introducing Stratocyte

Specialty teleconsulting connects veterinarians with veterinary specialists in fields such as oncology, neurology, dermatology, and more.

While teleconsultation does not replace in-person referrals in all cases, it can certainly benefit the veterinarian, client, and patient.

If a pet is too unstable to travel, if the owner cannot travel for various reasons, or if there is too long of a wait time to see a specialist, teleconsulting is an excellent option. 

Benefits of Specialty Teleconsulting

One of the benefits of specialty teleconsulting is its unparalleled convenience.

Pet owners no longer need to travel long distances or navigate the logistics of visiting a specialist, which can be particularly challenging in regions with scarce resources.

This model of care not only saves time and reduces stress for pets and their owners but also ensures that pets receive timely attention, which can be critical for conditions that require swift intervention.

Elevate Patient Care with Specialty Teleconsulting

Specialty teleconsulting improves diagnostic accuracy by enabling a collaborative approach to patient care. Specialists can review diagnostic images, lab results, and patient histories online, providing insights that enhance the quality of diagnosis and treatment plans.

This collaborative model fosters a deeper understanding of complex cases, leading to more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, and improved outcomes for the patient.

Stratocyte: Making Specialty Care Accessible for Every Pet

Another significant advantage of specialty teleconsulting is the continuity of care it provides. Pets can continue to be seen by their primary veterinarian, who knows their medical history and behavior best while also benefiting from the input of specialists.

This continuity ensures that care is comprehensive and personalized, with all medical professionals accessing the pet’s complete medical history and current treatment plan.

The Role of the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship in Teleconsulting

Telemedicine, which encompasses a broader range of remote veterinary services, requires a VCPR because it involves directly diagnosing and treating patients without the veterinarian physically seeing the animal.

Different state licensing boards have distinct regulations regarding whether a VCPR can be established virtually.

In contrast, specialty teleconsulting sidesteps the direct VCPR requirement between the specialist and the patient because it provides advice and consultation to the primary veterinarian rather than directly to the pet owner.

Expanding Expertise: How Teleconsulting Supports the Primary Veterinarian

Specialists in teleconsulting services support the primary veterinarian by offering expertise and second opinions on diagnosis and treatment plans based on the information provided by the primary veterinarian who maintains the VCPR.

This model leverages the established VCPR with the primary veterinarian while enabling the incorporation of specialized knowledge without the specialist needing to develop a new VCPR with each patient directly.

This also means veterinarians can consult with a specialist anywhere in the world rather than consulting within their state. 

What Are You Waiting For?

Specialty teleconsulting in veterinary medicine represents a significant leap forward in the accessibility of pet healthcare, but it is not that novel of a concept.

Most veterinary practices have embraced digital radiography and teleradiology. The next logical step in the telehealth revolution is bringing the full spectrum of specialty care into every clinic!

By bridging the gap between general practice veterinarians and specialists, it opens up new possibilities for diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient care.

For pet owners, it offers peace of mind knowing that their beloved companions can receive the best possible care, tailored to their specific needs, all while minimizing the stress and logistical challenges of traditional specialist visits.

As this innovative approach to veterinary care continues to evolve, it promises to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of pet healthcare.

Stratocyte is a marketplace style veterinary teleconsulting platform that enables independent veterinary specialists to provide services directly to other vets.

Any licensed veterinarian can sign up for a Stratocyte account for free.

By bringing specialty care into your practice, you can offer an additional service to your clients, build revenue, and foster a collaborative and educational environment for your doctors.

Schedule a virtual specialty consultation on Stratocyte today!

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This is how Stratocyte was born! 

Stratocyte was founded by Dr. Samantha Vitale, a board certified veterinary neurologist.

Dr. Vitale went to vet school at Mississippi State University, and did her neurology residency at the University of Illinois.

While living in the south and the Midwest, she began to recognize that access to specialty care was not convenient for pet owners that did not reside in large cities.

Having to take time off of work and travel hours for specialty care adds stress and expense to an already challenging situation when you have a sick pet.

She became passionate about bringing specialty care to pets everywhere, while supporting the veterinarians involved on both sides of the consultation.