280 Sheppard Ave E. Unit 102, Toronto, ON M2N 3B1 | 647-260-8387 | yonge.sheppard.vets@gmail.com
Understanding the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)
At Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital, the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is the foundation of the care we provide for your pet. This professional agreement ensures that we can deliver safe, effective, and personalized veterinary services. On this page, you’ll learn what a VCPR is, how it’s established and maintained, and why it’s essential for your pet’s health and well-being.
At-a-Glance Summary
What is a VCPR?
The VCPR is a professional agreement between you, your pet, and your veterinarian. It is required by law in Ontario for prescribing medications, ordering tests, or creating treatment plans.
How is a VCPR Maintained?
Annual Exams: Your pet needs an in-person check-up at least once a year.
Treatment Plans: Follow recommended care to ensure your pet’s health and safety.
Community Guidelines: Adhere to our shared expectations for a respectful and effective partnership.
The VCPR defines the care we can provide, ensuring it’s tailored to your pet’s unique needs. By entering into a VCPR, you agree to our scope of practice and confirm it aligns with your expectations.
What is a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship?
A Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is a professional agreement between pet owners (clients) and veterinarians who provide care for their pet(s) (patients). As the cornerstone of clinical veterinary medicine, the VCPR allows veterinarians to deliver effective, personalized care.
In Ontario, veterinarians are required by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) to have a valid VCPR in place before providing veterinary services, including prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications, ordering diagnostic tests or developing treatment plans.
Like any meaningful relationship, a VCPR requires boundaries and regular upkeep. It may also come to an end if certain conditions arise. At Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital (YSAH), the VCPR is essential for providing safe and effective care. This document outlines how we establish, maintain, and, if necessary, discontinue a VCPR to ensure clear communication and avoid misunderstandings.
Establishing a VCPR
A VCPR is built on trust and direct interaction between you and your veterinarian. Here’s what you need to know:
In-Person Examination is Required
At YSAH, an in-person examination of your pet is mandatory to establish a VCPR. This ensures we gather the complete history and conduct a physical exam, which is vital for the safe and effective delivery of medical care, including basic treatments, prescriptions or vaccinations.
One Pet per VCPR
If you have multiple pets, a separate VCPR must be established for each one. This is because veterinary care is tailored to the unique needs of each patient. Due to the high demand of veterinary services, it’s crucial to establish a VCPR before an emergency arises to ensure your pet receives timely care. At YSAH, we prioritize patients with an established VCPR and may not be able to accommodate new patients during busy times.
Mutual Agreement
By entering into a VCPR, the client acknowledges that they understand and agree to YSAH’s scope of practice and community guidelines. Similarly, your veterinarian is also indicating that they are willing to provide care as outlined in these standards.
Transparency About Other VCPRs
If your pet has a VCPR with another veterinarian, it is essential to disclose this information. Sharing relevant medical history is crucial for ensuring continuity of care and avoiding potential risks.
Without access to all pertinent information, there is a higher chance of miscommunication that could jeopardize your pet’s safety. For example, if we are unaware of existing allergies or previous treatments, this could lead to ineffective or even harmful decisions. Providing complete medical history helps us work together to deliver the best and safest care for your pet
Scope of Practice
Understanding our unique scope of practice helps ensure that YSAH is the right fit for you and your pet’s needs. By entering into a VCPR with Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital, you acknowledge that you understand our scope of practice including what we can provide and our limitations. Please review our scope of practice to ensure that our services and values align with your expectations
Maintaining a VCPR
Like all good relationships, maintenance of the VCPR is needed to keep it healthy. Below are a list of expectations to maintain a VCPR with the team at Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital. Failure to comply with any of these will result in an automatic termination of the VPCR. We want to ensure your pet receives the care they need, so please take the time to familiarize yourself with these important guidelines.
Annual Examination: Your pet will need to have an in-person veterinary exam at least once a year (365 days). Regular exams ensure that your pets care team have recent and sufficient knowledge of your pet’s health enabling us to continue to provide safe and effective care tailored to their current needs. Remember dogs and cats have much shorter lifespans than humans, with many living 20 years or less, this means that a single year in the life of a pet is equivalent to at least five of our own.
Compliance with Treatment Plans: It is essential to follow the recommended treatment plans, including follow up, for your pet. Transparency and trust are essential in providing safe and effective medical care. If our recommendations do not align with your goals or values, we encourage open communication so we can discuss whether YSAH is the right fit for you and your pet’s needs.
Adherence to Community Guidelines: Our community guidelines outline mutual expectations between clients and our team. Following these ensures a safe and respectful environment for everyone.
Provision of after-hours care : At Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital, we are committed to ensuring access to reasonably prompt after-hours care for pets we have treated recently or treat regularly, if medically necessary. However, as a small team, we do not operate 24/7.
To best serve our clients and their pets, we offer access to a variety of after-hours care options. This may include referrals to trusted local 24-hour emergency facilities, telehealth services for guidance, or triage resources to help you evaluate the urgency of a situation. When possible, we also incorporate specific after-hours care instructions into your pet’s treatment plan to address potential concerns outside regular hours.
We believe that offering diverse care solutions ensures our clients have reliable support, no matter the circumstances, while maintaining the quality and safety of care that your pets deserve.
Terminating the VCPR
Just like any relationship, there are times when the Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) must come to an end. In most cases, this happens naturally when a client no longer needs our services. However, the VCPR can also be ended by the client at any time for any reason.
At Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital, we also reserve the right to discontinue the VCPR in certain situations, such as:
• A failure to follow our community guidelines.
• A failure to meet the requirements necessary to maintain the VCPR.
In all cases, except where there are safety concerns, we will continue to provide urgent care for your pet for a reasonable period—usually two weeks—to give you time to find another veterinarian and ensure a smooth transition of care.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) at Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital. We’re here to support you and your pet every step of the way. If you have any questions or are ready to establish a VCPR, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure your pet receives the best possible care.
Building Trust Through Community Guidelines
At Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital, we believe in fostering a respectful and supportive environment for everyone. Explore our community guidelines to learn how we work together to provide the best care for your pet.