Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team sports new disaster response truckOctober 26, 2017The Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team now touts a new, custom 25-foot truck equipped with a veterinary medical unit that will give the team full medical capabilities in the event of a disaster. The truck is a "tremendous step forward" for the seven-year-old team, according to Wesley Bissett, founder and director of the Veterinary Emergency Team. "It has basically been developed and designed based on everything we've learned across the different types of deployments we've had," Bissett said. "The commitment to service is one of the things that sets Texas A&M apart, if you just look at our history, and this is honoring it. This [new truck] gives us the platform to do that." The new truck makes deployment quicker, maneuvers easier, and has full medical capabilities—ranging from decontamination to full surgery. Further, it includes 48 hours' worth of medical and pharmaceutical supplies, two fully insulated tent shelters, and more. When the truck is not responding to disaster situations, it will be stationed at A&M's Disaster City training facility, where it will be used to educate veterinary students and provide a training opportunity for emergency response professionals, according to officials. The Banfield …
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How do top practices increase profitability?October 19, 2017Veterinarians have a bleak outlook of their current state of financial affairs and of their future prospects, according to a 2013 landmark study* that presented financial health data of practitioners at different ages and phases of their careers.
UC Davis plans to improve Vet Med CenterOctober 19, 2017University of California, Davis announced plans to raise $115 million to update and improve three areas of its Veterinary Medical Center (VMC): the Livestock and Field Service Center, the Equine Performance Center, and the All-Species Imaging Center. This campaign, Leading the Way, marks the first phase in a long-term plan to transform the VMC. According to the university, its veterinary teaching hospital is overdue for an update. Opened in 1970 to serve 3,000 patients per year, the hospital now sees more than 50,000 patients annually. Space, layout, and capacity constraints are a problem, as is the speed at which clients receive care. "… Let's take some much-needed next steps, ones that ensure that UC Davis will continue to offer world-class care and an unbeatable education for students with a comprehensive veterinary medical center that builds on UC Davis' strengths and reinforces our role as a world leader," said Gary May, UC Davis chancellor. The university already has raised $67 million—more than half of the campaign goal—prior to the announcement. Davis' first phase The Livestock and Field Service Center will become the first patient-service area to come online. Upgrades and modifications will improve student and clinician …
The beginning of a beautiful partnershipOctober 19, 2017Â Working together to improve veterinary care for all animals is a cause that extends beyond borders and language barriers. That's what a team of veterinary specialists from BluePearl Veterinary Partners and Pet Partners discovered when they traveled to Costa Rica to share knowledge and help pets in need. "This was really a first step," said David Ruslander, DVM, DACVIM, DACVR, chief of oncology service at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas, a Pet Partners hospital. "It was a great opportunity to share knowledge and network with other veterinarians from Costa Rica. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term partnership." The idea for the trip, which took place in August, began with Dr. Ruslander, who developed a relationship with Dr. Carlos Coto, a Costa Rican veterinarian interested in learning more about oncology and introducing board certified specialty medicine to his country. Dr. Coto has visited Ruslander in North Carolina, and together they proposed organizing a trip to Costa Rica to benefit local veterinarians. The trip was divided into two segments: a community service project at …
Want to own a practice?October 18, 2017Veterinarians seeking practice ownership may be fueled with passion and excitement, feeling confident with their medical know-how in their back pocket, but this drive just isn’t enough.
BluePearl report challenge highlights vet techs, assistantsOctober 17, 2017Veterinary technicians and assistants have been invited to participate in BluePearl's first company-wide case report challenge, and five finalists will present their reports in a live webinar today. Afterward, a panel of veterinary technician specialists will select an overall winner. Anyone at the more than 50 BluePearl hospitals in 20 states can watch the webinar and see firsthand the depth of their colleagues' expertise, said Amy Newfield, BluePearl's national technician training manager. "We're giving technicians and assistants a voice to share their knowledge about a case they worked on," Newfield said. "We're also showing that we view them as an equal part of our patients' care." The competition can be viewed online today from 6:30 to 9 p.m. EST, and those outside of BluePearl hospitals can watch free of charge. Advance registration is required through this link. The five finalists were selected by a team of judges from 22 total entrants. In addition to reports on diseases and trauma in dogs and cats, the reports also included one on a rabbit and one on a wallaby. The titles of the reports by the five finalists are: "Vital Pulp Therapy with Crown Reduction Patient"; …
iVET360 launches Pulse operational data dashboardOctober 13, 2017Veterinary hospitals often underutilize operational and financial data, according to iVET360, a Portland, Ore.-based practice management services company. To help better leverage this information, the company has developed a digital dashboard, called Pulse. Pulse combines operational data from practice management software, financial programs, and other statistical sources, allowing for one-source conversations among veterinary hospital owners, practice managers, and their teams, the company states. The dashboard is accessible through smartphones, tablets, and computers, eliminating paper reports and saving time and resources. Veterinary offices can track such metrics as new client growth, revenue, transactions, and gross profits, 24/7. Pulse also features Benchmark Reporting, which hospitals can use to compare their metrics against their peers. Users get additional access to LearningVet.com, an informational hub that translates the data and presents it simply, and teach best practices on topics such as veterinary marketing and culture building, according to iVET360. "By having real-time data, you can adjust your strategies for hospital growth as soon as you want to," said Oliver Roller, managing director of analytics at iVET360. "Traditionally, hospitals look at key metrics monthly or quarterly, but by that time, the data is old. Pulse is automated so you don't have to think about …
AVMA opens nominations for annual Excellence AwardsOctober 13, 2017The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has opened the nomination period for its annual Excellence Awards, which recognize contributions by veterinarians and nonveterinarians to the veterinary profession as well as animal health and welfare. The AVMA award categories The AVMA Award: Recognizes a member who has contributed to the advancement of veterinary medicine in its organizational aspects. Meritorious Service Award: Recognizes a member who has brought honor and distinction to the veterinary profession through personal, professional, or community service activities outside organized veterinary medicine and research. Advocacy Award: Recognizes a member or nonveterinarian for advancing the AVMA legislative agenda and advocating on behalf of the veterinary profession. Animal Welfare Award: This award recognizes a member for accomplishments in the field of animal welfare in leadership, public service, education, research or product development, or advocacy. Career Achievement Award in Canine Research: Honors a member's long-term contribution to the field of canine research. Clinical Research Award: Recognizes a member's achievements in patient-oriented research. Humane Award: Recognizes a nonveterinarian for accomplishments in the field of animal welfare in leadership, public service, education, research or product development, or advocacy. Lifetime Excellence in Research Award: Recognizes a veterinarian for lifetime …
Petplan offers rewards for National Veterinary Technician WeekOctober 12, 2017Petplan pet insurance will kick off National Veterinary Technician Week on Oct. 16-22 with a series of prizes to reward hardworking veterinary staff. "We've been committed to supporting veterinary professionals since our founding, and we believe each member of the veterinary practice deserves their day in the sun," said Natasha Ashton, Petplan co-founder and co-CEO. This year's awards from Petplan Annual membership to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) for 25 entrants All-expenses-paid scholarship to Dr. Andy Roark's 2018 Uncharted Veterinary Conference for one entrant Full conference registration scholarship to the 2018 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, with an exclusive invitation to Petplan's 2018 Veterinary Excellence Awards gala Petplan is announcing the contest via email to practice staff in the U.S. and Canada. Prizes will be randomly awarded to entrants who visit Petplan's sign-up page and register for a chance to win. "From managing anesthesia to assisting with diagnoses, veterinary technicians are among the most important members of our pets' professional health care team," said Ashton. "Unfortunately, they're not always recognized as such. We're proud to show everyone how much we value their contributions during National Veterinary Technician Week—and every week. We can't wait …
WPA names Jacinthe Moreau as new association presidentOctober 12, 2017The World Pet Association (WPA), which produces one of the largest annual pet industry trade shows, SuperZoo, has named Jacinthe Moreau as its new president. Moreau replaces longtime president Doug Poindexter, who will retire at the end of this year. She formally joins WPA at the end of this month. Her career includes previous roles with Merial, Merck, VetSource, VCA Animal Hospitals, and Vetoquinol. "[Moreau's] business acumen will be a tremendous asset to WPA," said Poindexter. "Her thoughtful eye and keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing multiple groups within the pet industry will help key stakeholders work together to ensure the continued success of our industry. I am confident that I am leaving WPA and the pet business community in capable, strategic and considerate hands." "The WPA board took great strides to ensure we were selecting a leader who would continue to advance our mission of creating a thriving industry and a healthy and happy world for the pets it serves," said Michael Twain, chairman of the WPA board. "Jacinthe is a natural leader, an open collaborator, an effective communicator, and a passionate advocate for the health and happiness of companion animals; we know this …
