Veterinary students from Washington State University converse with a patient regarding their cat’s wellbeing at the Seattle One Health Clinic. A recent study led by UW revealed that combining veterinary and human healthcare improved accessibility to preventive measures for both individuals and their pets. Credit: Prenz Sa-Ngoun
Each year, almost 2 million young Americans face homelessness. Up to a quarter of them have pets, which can serve as a vital source of emotional support while simultaneously posing an obstacle to receiving services like housing or healthcare. Research indicates that unhoused individuals with pets may be less inclined to visit healthcare facilities. Some may prioritize veterinary services for their animals over seeking medical attention for themselves.
The Seattle One Health Clinic was created to tackle these challenges. Spearheaded by the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research, in partnership with the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and aided by two nonprofit organizations, the clinic provides free veterinary services alongside its medical offerings. A publication released on July 31 in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health indicated that the integrated model enhanced access to preventive healthcare for both individuals and their pets.
“It’s genuinely integrated — human and animal providers collaborating is a distinctive method,” remarked Natalie Rejto, principal author of the article and a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for One Health Research.
At the One Health Clinic, a nurse practitioner and a veterinarian, frequently accompanied by veterinary students, deliver primary care services, while UW students volunteer as patient navigators, assisting in coordinating care and addressing overlapping health concerns such as extreme weather, environmental pollutants, and zoonotic diseases. The clinic also aids clients in registering their pets as emotional support animals, thereby granting them access to a broader spectrum of housing and additional services.
“The data clearly illustrates that this care model is fostering trust,” Rejto expressed. “It’s remarkable to witness holistic care that considers the environment, the animal, the person, and their connections within society, to provide care to these young individuals. Preventive care is crucial, and that in turn has a significant effect on public health.”
The study examined medical and veterinary records from clinic visits occurring between 2019 and 2022. The majority of human participants were 23 years old or younger. Out of the 88 human clients who accessed the clinic during this timeframe, 75 met with a healthcare provider at least once, and 40 patients established care for the first time in a minimum of the past two years. Most of these patients returned for at least one follow-up appointment within two years of their initial visit.
Most notably, nearly 80% of all visits to the One Health Clinic resulted in clients receiving human healthcare. This encompasses 69% of visits where clients initially intended to seek care exclusively for their pets.
“Incorporating veterinary services into a primary care clinic fosters a supportive atmosphere that greatly differs from a conventional medical care setting,” stated co-author Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, co-founder of the One Health Clinic and director of the UW Center for One Health Research, who is also a UW professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and an associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine. “This distinctive environment encourages clients to pursue care for themselves as well as their animals.”
A fully integrated model may be a novel notion for many, necessitating innovative partnerships between human health and veterinary practitioners, acknowledged Rejto. However, the findings imply that healthcare providers ought to give more consideration to the health impact stemming from the bond between humans and their pets.
“A potentially effective starting point would be fostering collaboration and communication between animal and human healthcare sectors, developing human health facilities that maintain communication with veterinary establishments. This could aid in identifying diseases and shared environmental risks,” Rejto asserted. “It’s about broadening the framework for healthcare providers and human health workers in addressing health.”
Other contributors include Julianne Meisner, a UW assistant professor of global health and epidemiology and deputy director of the Center for One Health Research; Hannah Fenelon, Michael Xie, Alice Tin, and Erin Tabor from the UW Center for One Health Research; Katie Kuehl from the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine; Kate Schneier and Andrew Nee of Neighborcare Health; and Amanda Richer of Uplift Consulting.
This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Nursing Research Training Program in Global Health Nursing at UW, the New Tudor Foundation, and a donation from the now-closed Y/YA Shelter “Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets.” Funding for the publication of this study was provided by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) Open-Access Publishing Fund.