VetCompass Australia: A National Big Data Collection System for Veterinary Science.
Authors: McGreevy Paul, Thomson Peter, Dhand Navneet K, Raubenheimer David, Masters Sophie, Mansfield Caroline S, Baldwin Timothy, Soares Magalhaes Ricardo J, Rand Jacquie, Hill Peter, Peaston Anne, Gilkerson James, Combs Martin, Raidal Shane, Irwin Peter, Irons Peter, Squires Richard, Brodbelt David, Hammond Jeremy
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
VetCompass Australia represents the first national veterinary surveillance system to systematically collate clinical records across companion-animal species, bringing together all seven Australian veterinary schools to create a unified database for disease monitoring and treatment analysis. The infrastructure collects real-time, anonymised clinical data from hundreds of veterinary practices nationwide, enabling researchers to interrogate patterns in disease prevalence, treatment protocols, and geographical or temporal trends without the expense and time constraints of traditional epidemiological studies. By aggregating actual practice data rather than relying on self-reported or survey-based information, the system will identify frequently prescribed medications, reveal patterns in inherited and acquired diseases, and ultimately support evidence-based decisions about clinical priorities and veterinary education. The research describes Phase 1 implementation of this three-phase rollout, with future development including advanced data-coding platforms and natural language processing technology to enable real-time disease surveillance. For equine, canine, and feline practitioners, this initiative offers the prospect of accessing population-level evidence on disease occurrence and treatment outcomes specific to Australian populations, supporting more informed clinical decision-making and helping the profession collectively identify which conditions warrant research investment and curriculum focus.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Veterinary practitioners participating in VetCompass Australia contribute to identifying disease trends and treatment effectiveness that can improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
- •The surveillance system provides access to evidence-based data that supports development of improved curricula in veterinary schools and helps prioritize research directions.
- •Real-time data sharing and analysis capabilities will enable the profession to benchmark practices, identify emerging health issues, and deliver improved quality of care for companion animals.
Key Findings
- •VetCompass Australia is the first nationwide veterinary clinical records surveillance system in Australia, coordinating data from all seven Australian veterinary schools.
- •The system will enable identification of geographical and temporal trends in disease prevalence and treatment patterns across companion animal populations.
- •Three-phase implementation plan includes clinical record harvesting, coding platform development, and real-time surveillance with natural language processing technology.
- •Integration of clinical records from hundreds of veterinary practitioners nationwide provides sustainable, cost-effective access to big data for evidence-based research and clinical auditing.