When they write the book on the long term impacts of COVID, the increase in pet ownership will be one of the chapters. As people were home, unable to socialize and unsure how the virus would impact them long term, they adopted pets that served as supportive companions. In fact, U.S. households took in almost 9 million dogs and 5 million cats during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, those supportive companions are members of the family, who receive the same quality healthcare as a child or partner. Unfortunately, the increase in the number of pets coincides with a growing shortage of veterinarians which can make obtaining pet care difficult. So what happens next? When a practice isn’t taking new clients or the pet needs immediate care, consumers often turn to emergency veterinary care instead.

From the Five Rights Of Medication Administration and the annual National Patient Safety Goals, to internal processes and protocols, healthcare organizations are laser focused on medication safety. Yet, despite the priority it receives, medication errors are still difficult to prevent. And given the sheer numbers - 55% of Americans take at least one prescription medication, 20% of those have taken three or more, and there are 6,800 FDA approved drugs - it’s no wonder.