Learn, explore, and embrace telehealth

Educational opportunities for all veterinarians

Animal owners and veterinarians are increasingly embracing technology to enhance veterinary care. Regardless where you are on your telehealth journey – from curious explorer to seasoned veteran – the AVMA is committed to ensuring you and your team are well informed and positioned to succeed with telehealth.

That’s why we’re working to bring important telehealth education opportunities and resources to you through a variety of avenues. These include online and in-person learning events, and the development of practical tools that AVMA members can access 24/7 at avma.org/Telehealth.

Interactive sessions at AVMA Convention 2018

Telehealth will be a hot topic at AVMA Convention 2018, and the focus of a variety of CE sessions, activities, and special events. If you’ll be joining us in Denver at this month’s conference, be sure to mark your calendars for these informative and exciting telehealth events.

First up, on Friday, July 13 at 5 p.m., is a discussion of telehealth facilitated by veterinarian and AVMA board member Dr. Lori Teller at our Meet-the-Experts Round Table. Telehealth will be one of more than 40 topics covered in round table discussions during this event, which will take place in the Colorado Convention Center, Lobby D.

On Sunday, July 15 at 8 a.m., AVMA staff and board member Dr. Michael Bailey will lead Take-Aways from the Trenches: Telehealth in the Veterinary Profession, a CE session exploring how to build telehealth into your practice, how veterinarians already utilize telehealth services, the use of telehealth to reach the underserved, and the latest updates in telehealth policy and regulations. Several other telehealth-focused sessions also will be offered at Convention; you can see them all by searching “telehealth” on our CE search site.

Be sure also to set aside time to visit Vet Clinic Live!® “The Connected Veterinary Experience” in the Exhibit Hall. There you can participate in a variety of hands-on activities and telehealth presentations, such as Connected Care: Interactive Scenarios – 15- to 20-minute presentations that demonstrate how you can incorporate wearables, other new technology and virtual care into your practice. You also can sit in on Tech Talks, 20-minute sessions that highlight start-up and tech companies in the virtual care space. Also at Vet Clinic Live®, the Digitized Practice Experience will allow you to touch and feel the latest technology and explore how data can enhance the way you care for patients. The Tech Hub will let you chat face-to-face with representatives from tech companies that are at the forefront of virtual care.

Education at your fingertips and in your communities

Even if you’re not able to join us at AVMA Convention 2018, we have opportunities for you to learn about telehealth and telemedicine.

Telehealth will be front-and-center on September 25 for a free Lead & Learn webinar with AVMA experts. Virtual Care – The Why, What, and How will explore the basics of telemedicine, why you should be excited about the possibilities it offers, and how to go about deciding whether and how to implement virtual care services in your practice. Attendees will be able to earn 1 hour of CE credit for attending the one-hour webinar, which will kick off at noon Central Time. Like all of our Lead & Learn webinars, the session is open to all veterinary professionals. AVMA members who are unable to attend the live session will have access to a recorded version afterward.

We also have been partnering with state and allied veterinary associations to bring in-person telehealth education to you at convenient venues around the country. Check with the state and allied associations in which you’re a member to see if our telehealth team is leading educational events near you.

No matter where you are, as an AVMA member you have 24/7 access to all of the educational materials and practical tools in our online Telehealth Resource Center. You’ll find everything from basic definitions to a step-by-step implementation guide and vendor evaluation checklist. We’re also working on new materials that will be added in the coming weeks, including both written and video case studies.