ImproMed Supports Drug Monitoring Through SoftwareJune 16, 2011 ImproMed, LLC, a Butler Schein Company and developer of practice management software for the veterinary industry, announced this week that it supports multiple state drug monitoring programs by providing software for prescription reporting. California’s Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System is one of the programs supported my ImproMed’s Infinity software. Prescription drug monitoring programs assist in the reduction of pharmaceutical drug diversion without affecting medical practice or patient care. “Prescription reporting can be confusing and take up valuable time,” says William R. Randolph, vice-president of technical services at ImproMed. “Infinity simplifies the process by allowing the practice to quickly and easily create a report that conforms to their state’s reporting regulations.” When veterinary professionals report prescription information to drug monitoring programs, state law enforcement and regulatory boards are able to identify abnormal activity and stop abuse of prescription drugs, including those used in the veterinary field, a release from ImproMed states. Mandatory reporting of veterinary prescription information can be handled through ImproMed’s Infinity practice management software, which can generate a detailed controlled substance report. <Home>
SPONSORED CONTENTThis new food helps kittens with digestive issuesHill's Prescription Diet i/d Kitten helps ease digestive upsets with food specialized for kittens, including our ActivBiome+ Digestion formula. + Learn More
Gibraltar Veterinary Hospital Adds Pharmacy And Other UpgradesJune 13, 2011 Gibraltar Veterinary Hospital announced the addition of a pharmacy to its 19,000-square-foot practice. The pharmacy offers name brand and generic pet medications and supplies. Other additions to the Michigan-based veterinary facility include a 13,000 square-foot outdoor dog exercise area with a security system and lighting. A camera system gives clients the ability to watch their boarded pets in real time online. Large screen televisions in waiting rooms were added for education and entertainment. “We wanted to ease the entire veterinary experience for our clients,” says Tom Daly, vice president of hospital operations at Gibraltar Veterinary Hospital. “We wanted to be able offer clients a complete package along with the best medical care from our skilled veterinarian team, technicians and staff, state-of-the-art medical equipment and services.” The hospital is hosting an open house event on June 24 at 3 p.m. to introduce the new hospital additions. “We feel that the new improvements and interior finishes have enhanced the hospital’s already well-designed environment.” says Wayne Dutton, properties manager and senior architectural designer at Gibraltar Veterinary Hospital. “The new flooring and wall colors add warmth to the building’s interior space that will be experienced by our clients and …
UK Regulators Drop Plans For New Medicine CategoryJune 13, 2011 The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) chose to abandon plans for a new veterinary medicine category called prescription-only medicine extended administration (POM EA), which had been viewed by many as controversial. This decision came after heavy lobbying by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and other veterinary bodies. The proposed category has been discussed in the Veterinary Products Committee since 2009. The original purpose was to provide a new category under which a veterinarian would make a clinical assessment and if necessary issue a Veterinary Permission of Extended Administration allowing the animal owner to obtain the prescribed POM EA medicine for up to 36 months from the date of authorization. The BVA, along with its specialist divisions, opposed POM EA saying there wasn’t justification for a new category. Veterinarians are already able to write prescriptions for extended use. BVA states that anything beyond a yearly assessment would be unacceptable on health and welfare grounds. The BVA submitted written comments and attended a stakeholder meeting with the VMD to discuss concerns. Despite the VMD suggesting revisions to the original proposal, the BVA and other stakeholders maintained that the new category was unnecessary. The decision to discontinue the proposal was …
Vets First Choice And The Apothecary Shops Forge PartnershipJune 13, 2011 The Apothecary Shops, a national specialty and compounding pharmacy, and Vets First Choice announced a partnership today to deliver compounded medications to veterinary clients. The Apothecary Shops, accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB), will provide the compounding services. Vets First Choice is a national home delivery provider of Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency-approved pharmaceuticals and therapeutic diets. “This partnership provides peace of mind for veterinarians and their clients in knowing these important medications are prepared under stringent guidelines and strict regulations,” says Benjamin Shaw, CEO of Vets First Choice. A recent document about pharmaceutical compounding prepared by the Animal Health Institute, American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Distribution Association, recommended that consumers ask their pharmacists if the pharmacy is accredited with PCAB. “The collaboration between The Apothecary Shops and Vets First Choice sets a very high bar for quality and creates a unique and compelling added value service in the market,” says Brett Cordes, DVM and director of veterinary medicine for The Apothecary Shops. “We have been consistent and vocal advocates for third-party verification of quality and the Veterinary- Patient-Pharmacist relationship. Our partnership with Vets First Choice takes …
VetSource Receives Vet-VIPPS CertificationJune 13, 2011 VetSource, a provider of veterinary sponsored home delivery services, announced the company earned Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (Vet-VIPPS) certification from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The company was recognized for its e-scripting tools and compliance building programs. VetSource’s status as Vet-VIPPS certified identifies the company as a fully licensed pharmacy in compliance with all applicable state boards of pharmacy statutes. Vetsource met all Vet-VIPPS criteria in an onsite inspection of the pharmacy and a review of its policies and procedures regarding patient confidentiality, prescription authentication, security and processing, quality control and pharmacist consultations. “Earning Vet-VIPPS certification demonstrates our commitment and dedication to providing the highest quality pharmacy experience for the veterinary hospitals and pet owners we serve” says Kurt Green, CEO at VetSource. “Vet-VIPPS certification reinforces the fact that VetSource continues to be a trustworthy and reliable pharmacy that holds safety and quality to the highest standards.” VetSource services are marketed throughout the U.S. via its partnership with Webster Veterinary, a Patterson Company. Visit NABP's website or dial (847) 698-6227 to contact the organization. <Home>
Dog Food Diets Demystified WebinarJune 13, 2011 Sign up now. Time is running out. As a concerned professional in the veterinary field, do you feel overwhelmed with all the onslaught of information about dog food ingredients? This is NOT another “how to read a pet food label” webinar. Join VeterinaryPracticeNews.com and our sister site DogChannel.com for an exclusive webinar on demystifying dog food diets presented by Nature's Variety on Thursday, June 16th at 11 a.m. PST. Register here » The Nature’s Variety Webinar “Dog Food Diets Demystified” will help you demystify nutrition objectives, the nutrients provided by ingredients, their different sources and how to keep a pet’s body in top condition through natural nutrition. One lucky attendee will be chosen to win 12 certificates for any Nature’s Variety product. That’s good for one small bag a month for a whole year! <HOME>
Three In Five Americans Own Pets, Harris Poll FindsJune 10, 2011 More than three in five Americans (62 percent) own at least one pet, according to The Harris Poll, an online survey of 2,184 adults conducted by Harris Interactive between May 9 and May 16, 2011. The 62 percent figure matches the overall pet ownership statistic from the American Pet Products Association’s APPA National Pet Owners Survey 2011-2012. Of the pet-owning respondents, 69 percent owned dogs, 51 percent owned cats, 11 percent reported owning fish, 7 percent reported owning one of more birds and 8 percent reported owning some other type of pet, Harris reported. Of dog owners, 62 percent reported owning one dog, 25 percent reported owning two, 8 percent reported owning three, and 4 percent reported owning more than 4. Of cat owners, 47 percent reported owning one cat, 30 percent owned two, 11 percent owned three, and 11 percent owned more than four. Of bird owners, 61 percent reported owning one bird, 18 percent reported owing two, 8 percent reported owning three, 2 percent reported owning four and 10 percent reported owning more than six. Not surprisingly, 32 percent of fish owners reported owning six or more fish, with 23 percent reporting …
NIMBioS Taking Applications For Investigative WorkshopJune 10, 2011 The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is calling for applications for its investigative workshop titled Modeling Free-Roaming Cats (FRC) and Rabies. The workshop is set for Nov. 9 through 11 at NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. NIMBioS brings together researchers internationally to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to investigate solutions to basic and applied problems in life sciences. The institute’s workshop objectives include acquiring a better understanding of population dynamics and ways in which FRC transmit infectious disease. There are more than 81 million pet cats in the U.S. The number of FRC is unknown, but estimated to be 32 to 53 million. Concerns about the health of cats, zoonotic disease transmission, transmission of diseases to other non-human species, predation on wildlife species and nuisance complaints are an ongoing issue. The institute says it initially hopes to identify data sources and critical data gaps relating to FRC population dynamics and rabies transmission. Then review and consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different types of modeling approaches using the expertise of participants. Participation is limited. Those selected to attend will be notified within two weeks of the application deadline of July …
Preparing For The WorstJune 10, 2011Chemical spills, electrical fires and even terroists can force a practice to pause. First responders make up only about 2 percent of the U.S. population, so the other 98 percent would be wise to prepare for a natural disaster or other emergency situation. Complacency and a natural aversion to thinking about potential disasters means veterinarians, like many people, put off making a plan to protect their homes, practices and patients. “Too often veterinarians don’t think about a disaster until it’s on top of them,” says Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM, professor at the University of Kentucky and a spokeswoman for the American Association of Equine Practitioners. “Less than 3 percent of veterinarians have a business plan, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.” Recent news events, including the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the tornadoes in the South and Texas wildfires, underscore the imprtance of disaster preparation. Making an emergency plan enables veterinarians and their staff to coherently and effectively act during an emergency. Heather Case, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVPM, AVMA, VMAT, says preparing for an emergency doesn’t have to be a negative experience. “I focus on the peace of mind …
Supplements For Chronic ConditionsJune 9, 2011 Many people believe that supplements can help manage health issues and chronic conditions in their horses, leading to a more productive and better quality of life. Clinical and field experience has demonstrated that many health problems and disease conditions can be either prevented or effectively treated with proper nutrition and the use of specialty health products and supplements, says Roger V. Kendall, Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Vetri-Science Laboratories in Essex Junction, Vt. “[For example,] the use of antioxidants to reduce the damaging effects of free radicals in equines has found applications to deal with many metabolic issues,” he says. Though nutrients and other natural ingredients such as glucosamine and perna canaliculus (New Zealand green shell mussel) may work more slowly than selected drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Kendall says, in the long run they may enhance metabolic processes and help restore function and balance to the body. “Selected supplements and animal health products can contribute important metabolites for cellular regeneration, improve the flow of energy, enhance immune function, detoxify cellular toxins and improve enzyme activity,” he says. “Such supplements can contribute to the animal during times of stress and aid …
