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Telemedicine has had a place in veterinary medicine for decades, and yet changes in technology, and advances in human medicine, have changed the landscape in recent years. Regulatory changes, however, have not always kept pace.

Human medicine functions on a different business model from veterinary medicine, and consumers may see programs in human health that have telemedicine more completely integrated into overall care. Thus, there might be programs integrated with insurance groups, public health, and other endeavors that increase patient access and lower healthcare costs. Technologies can also be used to establish a valid physician–patient relationship in human medicine without the need for an in‐person examination.

It is important to realize that most veterinary regulations do not permit the establishment of a VCPR by electronic means alone. Clients may be exposed to such human programs and infer that it should be possible for those same services to be provided by veterinarians. It should not be inferred that because a type of service is available in human health that it is legally permissible to provide the same or similar service in the veterinary business space. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) has expanded the definition of the VCPR to include establishing a VCPR using telehealth tools but since the AAVSB does not dictate licensing requirements, veterinarians are advised to consult with their applicable organizations to determine what is allowed in their specific circumstances. The field and its applications are clearly evolving.

Veterinarians have often given advice by telephone, email and even text (SMS) for years; most of this has occurred within the bounds of a VCPR, but some advice is likely to have also been offered to prospective clients with whom such a relationship may not have been legitimately established.

Veterinarians with a valid VCPR have professional discretion to confer with specialists and consultants, but they remain the physicians of record and do not transfer that VCPR to the specialist or consultant. Most telehealth services with experts are not a replacement for specialist referral, but may increase accessibility, and may possibly be the only alternative for some clients who do not have a specialist within a reasonable referral area.