Vancouver’s First Vet Pop-Up Clinic

On December 4th, 2016 a team of UBC Nursing students collaboratively put on Vancouver’s first primary care clinic for clients and their pets. The idea for the clinic was proposed by Kelsi Jessamine, a UBC School of Nursing (SoN) student, who integrated development of the clinic into The SoN Synthesis Project course (NURS 334). Kelsi worked on organizing, developing, and directing the clinic with a devoted team of UBC Nursing students. The student team included: Jessica Ardley, Laura Gallagher, Livianna Cristea, Jennifer Hoffman, and Anna Dupas. The team of students partnered with the not-for-profit agency, Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO), to provide free veterinary care to pets of under-housed individuals, while offering health and social services to the owner(s). CVO and the UBC Nursing students collaborated with groups including: Paws for Hope, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver Family Services, to launch the highly successful pilot at Directions Youth Services.

The pilot was targeted to street youth with pets in the downtown region. Internal referrals for the clinic were made by Michelle Simms (NP, VCH); however, walk-in appointments were also accepted the day of the clinic. Paws for Hope provided veterinary care to 25 animals which included immunizations, deworming, spay and neuter referral, nail trimming, and preventative education to owners. The UBC nursing students provided primary health care services to the pet owners, including the administration of 11 influenza vaccines to youth and supplying 33 clients with naloxone kits and training in using them to prevent death by overdose. Additional care and education was provided on topics such as dental care, STIs, and wound care. “We realize the potential of veterinarians and veterinary care to influence the health and welfare of marginalized people who are pet owners”, says Dr Michelle Lem (CVO founder). “The opening is the animal.”

CVO clinics are extremely influential in improving the public health of vulnerable populations, through harnessing the strength of the human-animal bond, especially in those who are marginalized. The same group of students, with UBC Master of Public Health Candidate, Dr Doris Lueng, conducted a further clinic with CVO in May 2017 at the Veteran’s Manor and Evelyne Saller Centre. Under the title, “Pet Fair and People Care,” primary care services were offered to clients and grooming services to the pets for an entire afternoon. It was also a UBC IPE event for both Nursing and Pharmacy students, with additional contribution from UBC Masters of Public Health Candidates, providing an opportunity for invaluable leadership and clinical experience for students.

For more information about CVO and how to get involved, please visit https://vetoutreach.org.

Blogged by Kelsi Jessamine