Welcome to the ACVIM Resource Hub for primary care veterinarians. Here, you’ll find tools and information to help you collaborate effectively with veterinary specialists and provide the best possible care for your patients.
As a primary care veterinarian, you are the foundation of your patients’ care. You’re often the first point of contact for pet owners, providing critical preventive care, wellness exams, and early disease detection. Your familiarity with your patients’ medical histories allows you to detect when advanced care is needed and guide pet owners toward the right next steps. By referring cases to veterinary specialists, you ensure your patients receive expert, tailored care for their unique needs.
This collaboration—known as the Triad of Care—connects you, the pet owner, and a board-certified veterinary specialist to form a team focused on achieving the best outcomes for your patients. Together, this partnership elevates the quality of care you can offer and strengthens your relationships with clients.
As a primary care veterinarian, you play a crucial role within the Triad of Care. Here’s how each member of this collaboration contributes to ensuring the best outcomes for pets:
Animal owners make the most important decisions on behalf of their pets. They rely on veterinary professionals, including primary care veterinarians and specialists, to provide accurate, clear, and thoughtful guidance to make informed choices for their animal's health and wellbeing.
You are the cornerstone of your patient’s care. With your knowledge of the pet’s lifetime medical history—routine visits, vaccinations, past illnesses, and treatments—you provide invaluable context for current medical issues. When a specialist becomes involved, they depend on your detailed records and observations to develop a comprehensive care plan tailored to the animal's unique needs.
Specialists bring advanced training and expertise in specific areas of veterinary medicine, such as neurology, oncology, cardiology, or internal medicine. They are called in for consultation when complex or advanced medical conditions arise. Collaboration is key: veterinary specialists work closely with you to align diagnostic findings, treatments, and follow-ups, ensuring continuity of care for your shared patient.
The Triad of Care Insider is a quarterly VetSpecialists.com newsletter crafted to support primary care veterinarians in connecting with specialists for patients needing advanced care. Inside, you’ll find tips on using VetSpecialists.com, links to animal health articles, success stories, and more!
Sign up for the Triad of Care Insider to learn best practices for communicating with your patients and collaborating with veterinary specialists.
Beyond the Clinic is a VetSpecialists podcast featuring in-depth conversations with ACVIM Diplomates and primary care veterinarians.
Check out our episodes:
