Care Frameworks enhance veterinary care in IVC Evidensia clinics

Last year, IVC Evidensia introduced Care Frameworks, an innovative quality improvement (QI) project providing practice teams with clear, structured clinical guidelines.  

By equipping their clinical teams with evidence-backed, point-of-care tools, IVC Evidensia have made significant strides in enhancing clinical care across the UK. Since launching, these frameworks have improved care outcomes for over 15,000 animals.  

Developed through collaboration between quality improvement, research, and frontline clinical teams, Care Frameworks provide practical, tailored recommendations for common conditions such as otitis externa in dogs and periodontal disease. 

Group Quality Improvement Director, Laura Playforth, who serves a vital role in delivering the initiative, explains: 

“We have built our own unique tool - there's nothing like this out there. What we have come up with is practical, innovative and very exciting."  

Delivering practical insights to improve animal care 

Each framework is presented as a visual workflow, giving clinicians easy access to clear, concise care guidelines. Additional resources include clinical notes, how-to-guides, and links to readings, to encourage wider learning. 

Alongside clinical direction, Care Frameworks also consider client communication and animal welfare. This holistic approach helps teams proactively support pets and their owners, enhancing the care experience beyond treatment. 

Fusing evidence with practice 

Inspired by quality improvement processes in healthcare and clinical expertise, Care Frameworks fuse evidence with practical decision making to form tailored recommendations.  

“Our aim is to translate published evidence into real-world clinical improvements.” Laura Playforth highlights. 

“It’s very much a passion project built by and for our teams. They conveyed they didn’t want to be told what to do, but rather have clear recommendations based on the current evidence and tailored to each individual patient.” 

With the support of the Small Animal Clinical Board (SACB), Care Frameworks are shaped by real scenarios, ensuring relevance to everyday practice. 

Otitis Externa framework success 

The first Care Framework addressed canine otitis externa, encouraging the use of ear cytology for all diagnosed cases. Since integration, this framework has shown measurable improvements in clinical care standards and antimicrobial stewardship. 

 

The Canine Otitis Externa Care Framework 

Across IVC Evidensia UK practices, clinicians reported: 

• 66% increase in ear cytology use (from 11.8% to 19.6% of cases)  
• 28% decrease in antibiotic use (from 72.9% to 52.4% of cases, already meeting the year’s target)  
• 187% increase in topical steroid use (from 5.6% to 16.1% of cases) 

UK Medical Director Richard Hooker adds: 

“These frameworks aren’t just theoretical—they are delivering tangible improvements in clinical practice.” 

“We’ve carried out and assessed the research, we’ve read the papers, and we’re presenting this information in a way that’s accessible and functional for our teams. That’s why they’re being so enthusiastically adopted.” 

Positive feedback from practices  

Additionally, clinics have given overwhelmingly positive feedback. Teams report improved patient care, streamlined management, and greater clinical confidence.  

Clinical Director, Jayne Schouten from Letchworth Vets shared her experience:  

“We have implemented the Periodontal Disease and Otitis Externa frameworks, and they have been invaluable in identifying areas where we can enhance patient care. The reports have provided crucial insights we wouldn’t have uncovered otherwise.  

“To support the framework, we have integrated it into our practice management system, and one of our new graduate vets is leading ear cytology refresher training for nurses. The resources provided are making a real difference, and we truly appreciate them.”  

The global potential of Care Frameworks 

With eight Care Frameworks published, and at least 12 more in development, the initiative continues to grow rapidly. Topics include: 

• otitis externa
• periodontal disease
• osteoarthritis
• end-of-life
• mitral valve disease
• feline renal disease
• atopy
• Cushing’s disease
• feline urinary disease
• major trauma.  

Richard Hooker shares his thoughts on the future of Care Frameworks: 

“This is just the beginning. As a global veterinary group, we have a unique opportunity to bring together expertise from different countries, learning from each other to drive continuous improvement.” 

“The frameworks will be embedded across our business, and we’ll continue to refine them as we develop initiatives even further, such as sustainability efforts like low-flow anaesthesia.”  

Currently, IVC Evidensia are offering additional training opportunities for first opinion teams to effectively implement Care Frameworks. 

This initiative reflects a major investment by IVC Evidensia in quality improvement and reaffirms its commitment to learning, development, and clinician-led veterinary excellence.