Veterinary Mental Health Practitioners forms as part of AAVMCDecember 11, 2017The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is addressing mental health issues within the profession through its newly established Veterinary Mental Health Practitioners (VMHP) group. The group, which includes all licensed mental health practitioners working within colleges of veterinary medicine, is designed to protect and enhance the health and wellness of veterinary students as they conduct their studies and prepare for professional practice. "Veterinary medical students and doctors grapple with mental health and wellness issues, as do practitioners in other health professions," said Chandra Grabill, Ph.D., VMHP chair, assistant dean for student wellness and engagement at Michigan State University, noting that some of the challenges include depression, anxiety, compassion fatigue, interpersonal challenges, and the struggle of balancing professional and personal responsibilities. "By combining our resources, the VMHP group will be in a stronger position to focus on these important issues." The group's goal is to enable all veterinary students to thrive during their education and flourish as veterinary professionals by: Addressing the personal, social, educational, mental health, and career needs of veterinary students; Cultivating a culture that values a healthy, diverse and inclusive veterinary community; Graduating students with competencies necessary to be healthy, successful professionals …
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Can arbitration provisions keep employment disputes private?December 7, 2017Many practice owners include an arbitration provision in their employment contracts with associate veterinarians. This is often to ensure that employment disputes will be resolved in a private setting and out of the public eye.
VETgirl launches free veterinary wellness app for iOS, AndroidDecember 6, 2017VETgirl, the online veterinary continuing education resource for busy veterinary professionals has released a free app to help maintain daily wellness. The subscription-based service offers RACE-approved, online veterinary continuing education that teaches through podcasts, webinars, blogs, videos, and social media. The company was created by veterinary specialists, lecturers, and clinicians, Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT, and Garret Pachtinger, DVM, DACVECC. The team has a passion for wellness, said Dr. Lee. With the growing prevalence of burnout, compassion fatigue, and suicide within the veterinary profession, she and Dr. Pachtinger created a veterinary wellness app as a gentle reminder to engage in self care. The VETgirl veterinary wellness app can be downloaded for free here: iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vetgirl-wellness/id1310785374?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.communityone.veterinaryselfcare&hl=en Users can check in every day to receive an easy reminder of how they can help take care of themselves with simple tips. For more information, visit VETgirlontherun.com.
The devil's in the detailsDecember 4, 2017I’m the first one to say I love, love, love my job. This is undoubtedly the best profession on earth. It does not, however, find me leaping out of bed with joy on every single day.
Recoup veterinary med revenueDecember 1, 2017As the veterinary pharmacy landscape continues to move away from traditional in-clinic sales, practice owners are left wondering how to regain some of their lost revenue, especially for the sale of parasite preventives and prescription foods.
What to do about growing stress in the veterinary professionNovember 30, 2017 Stress is an all-pervasive phenomenon in modern day societies and various professions, but the veterinary discipline suffers from the negative effects of stress and its sequelae at a troublingly disproportionate rate. A recent report, written by Richard W. Kim and his colleagues at the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Center for Animal and Human Health at Lincoln Memorial University, and School of Public Health at Jackson State University, published in the November 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, discusses the issue of negative stress in veterinarians and veterinary students and suggests a novel approach in combating this scourge. Pervasive problem with elusive effective change Negative stress, often called distress, is at the root of many mental health problems and dysfunctional behaviors. Surveys by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other researchers have found that veterinarians suffer two to three times the prevalence of serious mental illness and feelings of despair relative to the general population. According to a 2015 survey published by Nett et al in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, it has been reported that almost a third of veterinarians had experienced depression, with as high as …
Avoid body language blundersNovember 22, 2017Doctors and technicians will talk to multiple clients today, tomorrow, and the next day about their pets’ dental diagnoses and treatments. Among those clients, how many will accept professional care recommendations? Your medical team can use teaching tools and persuasive body language to help guide pet owners’ decisions.
Ultrasound adviceNovember 16, 2017“An ultrasound machine that is a ‘must have’ for one practice may not hold the same status for another.” What seems like an obvious statement is testament to why veterinary practices must thoroughly evaluate exactly what equipment their practice needs.
Times and titles are changingNovember 15, 2017Over the past few years, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) has stepped into a number of conversations that have spurred great debate in the community: transitioning from the term “veterinary technician” to “veterinary nurse.”
Next-gen clinicsNovember 14, 2017Today's veterinarians seek to create diverse hospital models that meet growing clinic and client demands. We look at how a progressive practice embraces facility upgrades and fosters an enhanced customer experience.
