Improving access to care with technicians and telemedicine

Jenny Cassibry Fisher, RVT, VTS (Oncology), director of medical excellence for Mission Pet Health (formerly SVP + MVP), discusses how digital services like telemedicine can help improve access to care while also utilizing skilled technicians and assistants, in a dvm360 interview. A continuing education presenter at the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, Fisher spoke to attendees about the challenge of accessing care that many pet owners face and some of the ways to mitigate those obstacles to better serve clients and patients.

The following is a transcript of the video:

Jenny Cassibry Fisher, RVT, VTS (Oncology): There are many ways that we, as veterinary professionals, can think of to increase or open access to care. Teletherapy or telemedicine is a big one, and this is another great way to utilize those technicians or veterinary technician specialists and even assistants, because they can do those phone meetings with pet parents, who maybe they're elderly and can't come into town but still want to meet with someone on the health care team. So utilizing things like digital platforms, utilizing things like newsletters or even just your iPhone, and just doing something as simple as a FaceTime or a text message can go a long way in helping to build that trust. So just imagine if you were that pet parent, and it was your dog in the hospital, and receiving those daily text picture updates, letting you know how they're doing—that goes a long way. And so remembering that we are all here for that pet and people connection and to make sure that we harbor and do everything we can to make that relationship the center part of our treatment.