VPN Plus+ ExclusiveRewire fixed ideas to ease personal torment over euthanasiaDecember 3, 2020Learn tips to focus your mindset on the positive aspects of euthanasia to boost your well-being.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveLasering in on a better approach for BOAS patientsNovember 13, 2020A practical guide of surgical tips to using lasers for BOAS patients, as well as an overview of related issues for brachycephalic dog breeds.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveHow AI is helping get veterinary radiology results fasterSeptember 10, 2020 It's no secret most veterinarians are swamped with more work than they can complete in a day. Specialty radiologists face the same problem. As more and more veterinarians send radiographs to specialists for interpretation, the workload keeps growing and there aren't enough specialists in the field to handle it. In fact, one study predicted by 2022, 66 percent of the teleradiology caseloads won't be met.1 What if computers could be trained to think like humans, creating an extension of the veterinary team to get more done in less time? That's the power of artificial intelligence (AI). Why add AI to veterinary medicine? AI is increasingly being used in other industries to get more done with less, so we see the same promise for veterinary medicine. Having an AI-based tool in the veterinary practice to assist with radiology reads is like having a personal radiologist on staff to review cases in real-time and provide analysis and recommendations within five minutes. How does AI work? What makes it exciting? Today, when veterinarians take radiographs, they typically send out for results and receive analyses back in 10 to 15 days or more – sometimes up to 30 days. Treatment is delayed – if …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy unions matter to the veterinary professionAugust 25, 2020 Liz Hughston: President, National Veterinary Professionals Union, explains why unions have a role to play in the veterinary industry. The topic of unions has always been a controversial one in the veterinary practice community and beyond. In America, the first unions were organized in the late 1700s and the first recorded worker strike occurred in 1768, when journeymen tailors protested wage reductions. Since then, employees and employers have been debating wages, working conditions, workers' rights, and much more, but consensus has been hard to reach. We sat down with Liz Hughston, president, National Veterinary Professionals Union (NVPU), and asked her why the time has come for the veterinary profession to join the union movement.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveIn the Navy: How veterinarians are keeping military-trained mammals healthyAugust 18, 2020For six decades, the Navy has relied on trained marine mammals to assist and protect its personnel and assets in the water.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveRemoving blind spots: Conflict resolution in veterinary practicesAugust 11, 2020Conflict is a natural part of the human condition and occurs in any environment where people spend an extended amount of time together. It arises as a result of unmet needs and expectations, when one person’s desires, wishes, and feelings do not match another’s.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBright ideas in veterinary ophthalmologyJuly 23, 2020The field of veterinary ophthalmology is always evolving, uncovering new theories, diagnostics, treatments, and surgeries. The Vision for Animals Foundation (VAF) is funding various ophthalmology studies, including one led by University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center resident Kayla Banks, DVM, that is comparing cleaning and sterilization protocols for diamond burr tips used in diamond burr debridement for canine superficial chronic corneal epithelial defects. Another study, led by Maggie Jinks, DVM, a resident at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, is looking at the role of extrinsic forces on lens cell mitosis. Lionel Sebbag, DVM, DACVO, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says there are continued efforts in the veterinary ophthalmology community to find new diagnostic tools and therapies to improve patient comfort and vision. "For instance, there are task forces working on glaucoma and sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS), two devastating diseases resulting in vision loss," he says. "Further, the recent advances in genetics are exciting, and it is only a matter of time before they fully benefit veterinary patients. "A better understanding of genetics will help reduce the prevalence of serious inherited ocular diseases, such as progressive retinal …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveImproving the outlook for brain tumor patientsJuly 21, 2020The path to discover and perfect new cancer treatments is long and expensive. It can take more than a decade and cost over $2 billion to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic before it reaches the marketplace. To expedite the process, researchers are thinking outside the box—or rather, outside their own species. The concept of comparative medicine (i.e. One Medicine) has great potential to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments. By examining the similarities and differences in biology among different species (e.g. dogs and humans), we gain increased understanding of the mechanisms of disease in each. This comparative medicine model, as demonstrated in the field of neuro-oncology by the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium (CBTC), has already shown promising results. Launched by the Comparative Oncology Program (COP) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2015, CBTC comprises veterinarians, physicians, and basic researchers who have joined forces to improve outcomes for dogs and humans affected by brain cancer by using more predictive and accurate preclinical models. Laboratory animal models don't always adequately mimic the complex genetic, biologic, and environmental conditions of the human experience. Dogs get many of the same spontaneous cancers as humans, and their genome is …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy offering a 401(k) plan is a good ideaJuly 16, 2020As a veterinary practice owner, taking care of your employees is paramount to hiring and keeping wonderful staff around. By offering great benefits, you are showing they matter to you both in and out of the office. One extremely valuable benefit to offer is a 401(k), which allows your employees to put away money for retirement. In the past, practice owners may have felt a 401(k) was too costly or complex for small veterinary clinics to provide, but that's no longer the case. With the modern 401(k), you don't need to worry about having extensive investment knowledge, or even a lot of time to manage the plan. You'll get access to features that can make it both easier and less expensive for both you and your employees. How a modern 401(k) can help your practice According to a recent survey by Capital One, 94 percent of small business owners who offer a 401(k) plan say it helps with their recruitment and retention of employees. By providing this benefit, you show you value their contribution and want to help them invest in their future. Setting up a 401(k) can sound daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here's what you can …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhat is website accessibility and could you be at risk for a lawsuit?July 14, 2020Most business owners are familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the requirements this law imposes on them to make their facilities accessible to those with disabilities. For businesses that are "places of public accommodation" (e.g. veterinary practices), access includes providing on-site features including wheelchair ramps, handicap accessible bathrooms, and parking spots. In the past few years, there has been increasing debate around whether a company's website is an extension of a place of business and must be accessible just like its physical counterpart. The ADA does not speak directly to this question and the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is responsible for interpreting the act, has not weighed in on the matter. This ambiguity in the law has led to a wave of litigation, suggesting businesses with "inaccessible websites" are violating the ADA and are subject to penalties. While it is difficult to identify out-of-court settlements, according to the ADA, the maximum civil penalty for a first violation under title III ranges from $55,000 to $75,000. For a subsequent violation, the new maximum is $150,000. In 2019, there were thousands of lawsuits filed against businesses and tens of thousands of legal demand letters. In the fall of …
