Practicing across the spectrum of care involves the ability to provide a wide range of care options that meet the needs of both the patient and the client. This includes being able to tailor care options to a socioeconomically diverse clientele. Veterinarians have been practicing across the spectrum of care for many years. So why has the phrase "spectrum of care" recently become a focal point in discussions?

Providing equitable and accessible veterinary care has become a major concern for veterinary medicine. Spectrum of care has been identified as one strategy to help address issues surrounding access to care: If veterinarians can provide a wider range of care options for more patients, this can help increase accessibility of care for a larger population of pets. ... AVMA

The AAVMC’s Spectrum of Care Initiative: Developing strategies for veterinary educators to prepare graduates to practice across the spectrum
Veterinary medical education programs are uniquely positioned to develop practitioners’ confidence and competence in practicing across the spectrum of care (SOC). The term “spectrum of care” (SOC) has only recently been defined in the veterinary literature as the wide range of care options that veterinarians can provide (Stull et al., 2018, p. 1386).

With support from The Stanton Foundation, the AAVMC established the Spectrum of Care Initiative (SOCI) in 2021. This initiative is intended to provide the infrastructure, guidance, and assistance for an inclusive and collaborative approach to supporting and enhancing SOC training in veterinary education.

All stakeholders, including pet owners, veterinary health-care providers, veterinary students, people in academia and industry, regulatory agencies, and licensing
boards, need to contribute to the
discussion of the gap between the health care that pets need and the care they are receiving and need to work together to identify and achieve solutions.
Barriers and next steps to providing a spectrum of effective health care to companion animals, Stull, J. et. al. JAVMA