The growing demand for affordable, accessible veterinary care has led to widespread adoption of telehealth in veterinary practices. This digital shift empowers pet owners with greater control and real-time communication while enabling veterinary professionals to deliver efficient and personalized care across various practice locations. As exciting as these innovations are, they come with new responsibilities. If your practice is offering—or considering—telehealth, it’s essential to identify and mitigate potential risks to ensure both pet and practice safety (AVMA
Telehealth Guidelines: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/telehealth).
Documentation, Privacy, and Compliance
Veterinarian-client communication through telehealth should be recorded and maintained as part of the pet’s official medical record. Like in-person visits, your documentation and access protocols must meet regulatory standards for protected health information (PHI) (HIPAA Guidelines: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html).
When reviewing your documentation and compliance practices, ensure they include:
- Records of all digital communications and informed consent
- Details on diagnostics, treatment plans, and telehealth technology used
- Provider credentials and roles in each virtual interaction
- Disclosures covering:
- Technology used
- Patient safety risks
- Service limitations
- Differences from in-clinic care
- Emergency contingency plans
A clear explanation of consent, patient expectations, and privacy practices
Robust compliance ensures transparency and safeguards your practice against liability and health policy violations (AAHA Compliance Guidelines: https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/telehealth-guidelines/overview/).
Staff Training
Veterinarians and support staff involved in telehealth must undergo training both during onboarding and at regular intervals. This ensures confident, consistent, and compliant service delivery across all telehealth sessions.
Your training programs should address:
- Telehealth roles and responsibilities, including documentation and informed consent procedures
- Familiarity with various telecommunication tools and software
- Troubleshooting and support protocol
- Role-based evaluations and competency check-ins
- Integration of telehealth performance into annual reviews
- Specific instruction on digital privacy and healthcare data protection
Empowered and educated teams help reduce human error, elevate patient care, and enhance communication (NAVC Telehealth Insights: https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/telemedicine-veterinary-training/).
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
Veterinary telehealth must comply with both state and federal laws. This means your practice should work closely with legal experts and insurance providers to reduce potential risks and maintain regulatory adherence.
Risk management should include:
- Verifying that telehealth operations align with federal and state regulations
- Ensuring provider licensure in each client’s location
- Upholding confidentiality in all virtual exchanges of PHI
- Updating your Notice of Privacy Practices to reflect telemedicine
Keeping your legal bases covered helps protect your reputation, patients, and practice from avoidable violations (AVMA Practice Act Map: https://www.avma.org/advocacy/state-local-issues/veterinary-telemedicine-map).
Technology and Data Security
High-quality equipment and secure software are fundamental to effective telehealth. Subpar systems can lead to communication issues, data breaches, or even misdiagnosis, creating risks for both pets and practices.
When evaluating your technology stack:
- Choose tools with strong audio/visual capabilities and encryption safeguards
- Plan for downtime with backup processes and clear documentation workflows
- Incorporate telehealth into your disaster preparedness strategy
- Create and enforce standards for secure data transfer, storage, and interoperability
- Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), encrypted channels, and anonymization software
- Limit data access through authentication measures like biometrics or two-factor authentication
- Keep antivirus, firewalls, and operating systems regularly updated
These protections are key to maintaining trust, safeguarding patient information, and ensuring continuity of care (National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST: https://www.nist.gov/topics/cybersecurity).
Patient Safety Protocols
While telehealth expands care options, it can also introduce physical risks, especially for services like physical therapy. Proper planning and communication help maintain safety across remote sessions.
Safety best practices include:
- Demonstrating movements clearly and confirming understanding before patient attempts
- Recommending stable environments for mobility-impaired pets
- Monitoring pet activity closely during each session
- Establishing emergency procedures that include:
-
- Calling 911
- Client instructions for injury follow-up
- Documenting incidents thoroughly
A proactive approach ensures both effective care and reduced liability (American Physical Therapy Association: https://www.apta.org/your-practice/practice-models-and-settings/telehealth-practice).
Looking Ahead: Telehealth’s Role in Modern Veterinary Care
Veterinary telehealth is not a trend—it’s a long-term opportunity to enhance communication, increase client retention, and improve operational efficiency. With the right risk management strategies in place, veterinary practices can deliver care that is accessible, compliant, and client-centered.
Ready to Take Your Telehealth Offering to the Next Level?
LifeLearn helps veterinary practices implement secure, customized telehealth services through trusted tools like PetNurse. Our full suite of Practice Solutions—including SEO, website design, and content resources—empowers your team to meet evolving care demands confidently.
Connect with LifeLearn today to schedule a demo and discover how our solutions can support your practice’s future.
