A new initiative shows just how difficult it is for animal owners to find veterinary care. The Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, founded by a veterinarian along with a public policy expert, has launched a tool that uses data from a variety of sources to account for key factors that affect access to veterinary care. The result is a single number that helps answer a complex question: How accessible is veterinary care in my community?
According to an interview with founder Mike Greenberg, DVM in The Fountain Report, the purpose for developing the tool is “to help industry members and policymakers effect positive change when it comes to improving access to veterinary care.” The team used data from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau and a data mapping company.
Each county is given a score from 0 to 100, which is based on four criteria: the median income in that county, access to transportation, the number of veterinary caregivers in the area, and the primary language spoken by residents. According to the article, the creators agree that the map isn’t meant to be the single go-to resource. By necessity, the scores include assumptions that can’t always be substantiated. But it’s a place to start.
For more information, read the April 1, 2022 issue of The Fountain Report.
Posted April 1, 2022