Veterinarians and vet technologists are struggling. In rural or small urban settings, they are almost always on call, even when their clinics are closed. With limited work-from-home options, work-life balance is exceptionally difficult to achieve.
Animal HealthLink’s teletriage service is changing that. The company, co-founded in Calgary by registered vet technologist Leilani Mustillo and veterinarian Sean Neate, provides services to vet practices and their clients in remote and rural locations and urban centres of all sizes. Animal owners can call anytime and speak with experienced veterinary medical professionals for advice. “[Owners] have someone to talk to instead of just Dr. Google to determine if their animal is actually really sick,” says Neate, the company’s chief medical officer. Owners can then confidently decide if their animal needs to see a vet. The service also benefits vet clinics — 80 per cent of after-hours calls Animal HealthLink receives are not true emergencies, and can therefore be seen during regular business hours.
Last year, Animal HealthLink and Veterinarians Without Borders North America (with funding from PetSmart Charities of Canada) launched the first veterinary telehealth program for the remote communities of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, where very few veterinary practices exist. The program expanded to include the Jasper Veterinary Clinic to support its community during the Alberta wildfires.
“In this day and age, there’s no reason not to use technology to our advantage to improve access to care in areas where there is little to no veterinary care,” says Mustillo.
Need to know: Since 2021, Animal HealthLink has handled more than 400,000 calls for animal patients across Canada and the U.S.