These comprise:
- Electronic patient health records from equine veterinary practices
- Electronic results from clinical equine submissions to diagnostic laboratories.
Launched in 2020, EVSNET collects electronic health data from approximately 10% of the UK horse population (over one million consultations) and from a dozen diagnostic laboratories nationwide. The network continues to grow as more veterinary practices and labs join the initiative.
EVSNET aims to respond to a wide variety of challenges in equine health and welfare. These include:
- Monitoring diseases in horses and highlighting emerging diseases and syndromes
- Identifying populations at risk
- Researching specific equine diseases and monitoring treatment responses and outcomes
- Monitoring antimicrobial resistance
- Informing antimicrobial stewardship
- Providing data resources for researchers, horse owners and others.
Our key achievements include:
- Developing processes for data access and sharing to allow researchers, veterinary surgeons, equine health professionals and horse owners to access and use anonymised data for the benefit of equine health and welfare
- Establishing methods of feedback and benchmarking to collaborative equine practitioners.
Our benchmarking and clinical data research provides a tangible benefit to UK veterinary practice. In recognition of this, the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme awards points to practices that contribute clinical data to EVSNET.
I believe this progressive equine surveillance system is a powerful tool which is directly relevant to equine practice and it has the potential to truly impact equine health and welfare in a positive and meaningful way.
Dr April Lawson, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology and Equine Medicine