Introduction

This recognition is central to developing a One Health approach to health care, which prioritizes “an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.” ¹ When health care practices in both human and veterinary medicine are firmly centered within a One Health system, this establishes companion animal health within the broader and more inclusive context of individual, community, and societal health.

Veterinary teams are well versed in addressing the clinical aspects of disease and injury, but they may not be aware of the many ways in which they can support human family members to improve health outcomes for the whole family. Human health care professionals may benefit from veterinary professionals’ insights into zoonotic disease, animal behavior, and the human-animal bond. Enhancing communication and collaboration between the veterinary and human health care professions within a One Health system has the potential to improve individual patient and family outcomes, strengthen mental health and wellbeing through promotion of the human-animal bond, and support public health initiatives.

What can One Health practice look like?

One Health veterinary medicine may look like a clinic that treats both humans and their animal companions, such as the One Health Clinics developed by the University of California, Davis, and the University of Washington/Washington State University.

For others in private veterinary practice settings, One Health practice entails treating the whole family by recognizing the points of intersection between the health of clients, companion animals, and their environments and taking those into consideration when making clinical recommendations.

The need for a multidisciplinary approach

Although protocols exist for collaboratively addressing zoonotic diseases (e.g., rabies), the lack of overarching guidelines on how and when collaboration between animal and human health professionals should occur currently limits this type of interaction. A One Health system emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary, unifying approach to health care in which human and veterinary health care professionals collaborate to address the dynamic and interdependent health of people, animals, and the environment. By working together and breaking down barriers between human and veterinary medicine, practitioners can better understand and address the complex health issues that affect both humans and animals. These guidelines propose a roadmap to guide veterinary teams in establishing a One Health system within their practice to help them decide when and how to reach out to other medical professionals.

In practice, tackling One Health problems on top of a daily caseload may feel overwhelming to busy veterinary teams. However, putting in the effort to adopt a One Health approach provides the support and network to address challenges in clients’ lives that would otherwise interfere in ensuring patient care. Having a plan of action ready for when these issues arise mitigates stress for the veterinary team and allows for interdisciplinary learning and camaraderie.

The role of expert consensus and evidence in developing the Guidelines

There is limited evidence-based programmatic and systematic guidance specific to providing One Health family-centered care. As a result, these guidelines rely upon expert consensus to offer strategies for communication and collaboration among professionals involved in the care and protection of families.

What is in the Guidelines?

Section 1, Definition of Terms and Professional Considerations: introduces a common language for communication between veterinary and human health care disciplines, and includes key considerations for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Section 2, The Need for a One Health Family-Centered System: establishes the basis of a One Health family-centered clinical practice, including recognizing and responding to needs that may be overlooked in veterinary practice, along with challenges this approach brings.

Section 3, Grounding Principles of a One Health System: includes an interdisciplinary team approach, collaborative communication, and ethical considerations.

Section 4, The One Health System Roadmap: outlines steps for communication and coordination among veterinary and human medical professionals to benefit both human and animal patients.

Section 5, Case Scenarios: offers some common scenarios illustrating the steps outlined in the One Health System Roadmap. Scenarios include zoonotic disease, cognitive impairment and older adults, physical disability, and intimate partner violence.

The AAHA One Health Guidelines are generously supported by Merck Animal Health.