The AAVMC Spectrum of Care Initiative
Helping veterinary educators prepare graduates for spectrum of care practice
Veterinary medical education programs are uniquely positioned to develop veterinarians’ confidence and competence in practicing across the spectrum of care. Spectrum of care (SOC) refers to the wide range of care options veterinarians can provide. Practicing across the spectrum of care involves offering a range of care options tailored to clients’ and patients’ unique circumstances while considering available evidence. The AAVMC Spectrum of Care Initiative (SOCI) provides the infrastructure and support for an inclusive approach to enhancing SOC preparation in veterinary education.
What is Spectrum of Care Practice?
The term “spectrum of care” refers to the wide range of care options veterinarians can provide. Practicing across the spectrum of care involves tailoring care options based on contextual factors, such as client goals, abilities, and resources, as well as patient, veterinarian, and practice factors, while considering available evidence.[1] [2] [3] [4] The term “contextualized care” has also emerged to address similar concerns within the profession.[5]
An SOC approach provides a framework for navigating complex clinical decisions and supports the development of veterinarians’ professional identities.[6] It aligns with evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM), which integrates scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and the individual circumstances of patients and their caregivers, when making clinical decisions.[7] The SOC approach emphasizes flexibility, acknowledging that there is no single “gold standard” for every case.[8] [9] Instead, veterinarians consider factors like the client’s goals, resources, and values, the veterinarian’s expertise, and the available practice resources to offer the most appropriate care for each situation.[10]
SOC practice can also enhance access to care by offering options tailored to clients’ beliefs, values, financial circumstances, expectations, and their relationships with the patient.[11]
The AAVMC Spectrum of Care Initiative
With support from The Stanton Foundation, the AAVMC established the SOCI in 2021. This initiative provides the infrastructure and support for an inclusive approach to enhancing SOC preparation in veterinary education. The AAVMC SOCI is guided by key players in veterinary education, including national and international academic leaders, educators, and practitioners in both academia and private practice.
The AAVMC Spectrum of Care Implementation Strategies Guide
Making curricular changes to enhance SOC preparedness advances the mission of veterinary medical education programs to develop compassionate leaders equipped to navigate the complexities of veterinary medical care, client relationships, and business sustainability.
The AAVMC resource, Enhancing Spectrum of Care Preparation in Veterinary Education Programs: An Implementation Strategies Guide provides strategic recommendations and resources for planning, implementing, and sustaining SOC curricular changes that are applicable across curricular models and learning contexts. This free comprehensive resource is structured around an evidence-based approach to change management in higher education and the Ecosystem Model of Systemic Change Leadership.[12]
Within this resource, users will find the SOC Education Model, which identifies the competencies that new veterinarians need to be able to offer a wide range evidence-based care options tailored to clients’ and patients’ unique circumstances. These SOC competencies are integrated into the AAVMC Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) Competency Framework as illustrative subcompetencies, providing programs with an option to enhance curricular focus on SOC outcomes.
The Implementation Strategies Guide was developed by approximately 40 veterinary educators from 25 AAVMC member institutions across five countries, alongside over 25 practitioners and professionals from veterinary organizations. Contributors developed this resource on a volunteer basis, demonstrating investment from across the veterinary medical community in enhancing SOC preparation and practice.
The full Implementation Strategies Guide is available for download here. You can also access individual components by self-enrolling in the Implementation Strategies Guide repository on AAVMC Learn.
Making the Case for Spectrum of Care Curricular Change in Your Program
Looking to engage colleagues in conversations about strengthening spectrum of care preparation in your veterinary program? These PowerPoint slides are designed to help you initiate meaningful dialogue with faculty and other academic partners.
The slides are fully customizable, allowing you to tailor the content, design, and examples to reflect your goals and your program’s unique context. Speaker notes are included to support presentation delivery. Use this resource to build awareness, foster collaboration, and support thoughtful curricular innovation to enhance spectrum of care preparation in your program.
Contact Us
For questions or comments about the AAVMC SOCI or its resources, please contact us at soci@aavmc.org.
[1] https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/253/11/javma.253.11.1386.xml
[2] https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/5/javma.259.5.463.xml
[3] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X231209855
[4] https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.1113
[5] https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.4567
[6] https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1136/vr.104724
[7] https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/evidence-based-veterinary-medicine/
[8] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X231209855
[9] https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.1113
[10] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X231215639
[11] https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/5/javma.259.5.463.xml
[12] https://pullias.usc.edu/project/the-change-leadership-toolkit-for-advancing-systemic-change/
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