Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 4(2), pp. 75 - 81
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040205
Reprint (PDF) (227Kb)

Adopting Community Health Principles in Veterinary Practice

Erwin W. Hohn ^*
Marketing & Organizational Development and College Principal, The Medivet Partnership, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

One Health offers the veterinary community the opportunity to re-evaluate the paradigms underpinning animal health care delivery systems. To be more effective animal health care delivery, especially as traditionally viewed by small animal practitioners, needs to be broadened and move away from a primarily technologically led clinical curative approach. Improved access to clinical care does not result in improvements in the health status of populations. The distinction between Primary (Medical) Care and Primary Health Care (PHC) is made. An overview of Community Health and, in particular PHC, as practiced in human health care is provided. For this approach to have relevance and be impactful on service users (and communities), the undergraduate curriculum needs to be community oriented and community based. Veterinary Community Health (including veterinary PHC) needs to become a recognised specialty and provide the overriding context within which the more traditional specialties are presented to the student. A model that will allow for cost effective, holistic and integrated animal health care is proposed. This provides opportunities for the profession to expand it role and influence as well as collaborate with allied stakeholders.

KEYWORDS
Veterinary Community Health, Animal Health Care Delivery, PHC

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Erwin W. Hohn , "Adopting Community Health Principles in Veterinary Practice," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 75 - 81, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040205.

(b). APA Format:
Erwin W. Hohn (2016). Adopting Community Health Principles in Veterinary Practice. Universal Journal of Public Health, 4(2), 75 - 81. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040205.