VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBest holiday gifts for all kinds of veterinary peopleDecember 2, 2021By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBADr Khuly's gift guide, complete with links, to make it easier for you to think creatively as you put together your gifting list for the veterinary people in your life.
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OSU to build 35,000-sf veterinary clinicJune 11, 2019Veterinary students at the Ohio State University (OSU) are set to receive more comprehensive hands-on training, thanks to the introduction of a new 35,000-sf clinic. The Frank Stanton Veterinary Spectrum of Care (SOC) Clinic will train students to manage patients across the entire range of care, including alternative diagnostic and treatment techniques. Students will also become familiar with various clinical procedures and post-visit care protocols, as well as fine-tune their practice and business management skills. The clinic will also offer a realistic private practice environment to enhance the clinical training of students in all four years of OSU's veterinary program. "This [new facility] will extend our goal to provide students with valuable, hands-on medical and surgical experience and corresponding professional skills refinement needed to become more competent and confident veterinary practitioners upon graduation, successful entrepreneurs, and even more highly sought after by employers," says Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, dean of OSU's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Ruth Stanton chair in veterinary medicine. OSU says new veterinarians who train at the Frank Stanton Veterinary SOC clinic will have knowledge and mastery of a wider range of diagnostic, therapeutic, business, and communication skills. The two-story facility will feature exam rooms, …
The business of veterinary rehabilitationMay 23, 2019 Rehabilitation is a rapidly growing field in veterinary medicine. This client-demanded service owes its success to an approach that combines a true preventative outlook, longer dedicated appointments with more frequent visits, intensive client participation, and the potential to offer alternatives to invasive procedures. But while the field is growing, turning it into a profitable business model is a challenge. While there are many possible models for a successful veterinary rehabilitation practice, these clinics excel when a rehabilitation veterinarian leads the program. In general, the various business models in veterinary rehabilitation do not simply mimic those of general or other specialty practices. This article addresses key differences and focuses on specifics, including cost structure, staff utilization and training, and marketing tips. Business costs Providing a quality rehabilitation service is a time- and labor-intensive endeavor. Due to more hands-on care and longer appointment times, staff wages represent a larger proportion of overhead costs than in general practice. Most veterinary practices strive to have a maximum of 25 to 30 percent of gross revenue allocated to payroll, while other service-based industries can expect up to 50 percent of gross revenue going to payroll. In the authors' experience, rehabilitation-exclusive practices fall closer to …
Royal Canin launches podcast for veterinariansApril 11, 2019Having uncomfortable conversations with pet owners is the subject of the first episode in a newly launched podcast for veterinarians by Royal Canin. "Vet Talk with Royal Canin" brings together industry experts to speak on issues veterinarians face every day. The podcast will provide discussions and tips about the most common challenges in the industry. "For more than 50 years, Royal Canin has been a committed partner of veterinary professionals across the world, and 'Vet Talk with Royal Canin' is another opportunity to help facilitate conversation within the veterinary community," says Brent Mayabb, DVM, Royal Canin chief veterinary officer and vice president of corporate affairs. "We understand today's veterinarians face a landscape with a unique set of both challenges and opportunities, and we developed this podcast series to have an open, candid discussion on some of these topics." The first episode features Andy Roark, DVM, and Megan Hill, DVM as they provide ways veterinarians can approach difficult topics with pet owners such as pet obesity. Upcoming episodes will focus on how to find happiness and stay positive as veterinary professionals, along with common nutritional myths and the future of the industry. "Vet Talk with Royal Canin" is available on …
Mars Petcare introduces new division focusing on collaborationApril 9, 2019Mars Petcare has announced the launch of Kinship, a collaboration platform for start-ups, veterinarians, and industry collaborators that provides them access to data, science, and industry expertise. "We're excited about our new global division, Kinship, becoming a unique collaboration platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to create new products and services delivering on our purpose: a better world for pets," says Mars Petcare president, Poul Weihrauch. "There are extraordinary opportunities in data, science, and connected technology. Match them with the expansive reach, resources, and core capabilities of a global industry leader like Mars, and together we can create a powerful force for transforming pet care." The initiative will focus on three main areas: • Health care: Kinship will look for new ways to provide pet owners with care options that are more accessible, effective, and personalized to fit the needs of their pets. • Nutrition: By working together with its partners, Kinship will find new ways to support pet health through nutrition. • Science: Kinship will work with experts to uncover ways to help change pet care through science by applying new discoveries from microbiome biology to machine learning. "Our ambition for Kinship is to bring together the brightest minds …
What does 503B compounding mean for the future of veterinary medicine?April 3, 2019Modern compounding—often referred to as 503A—is a niche business, providing patient-specific formulations to satisfy individual needs. Because commercially available drugs are marketed almost exclusively for humans, compounding has become an essential resource for veterinary medicine. Veterinarians often depend on 503A pharmacies to provide preparations at lower concentrations and in more palatable dosage forms to optimize treatment for their patients. However, without proper management and regulations, 503A compounding can potentially be detrimental. Presently, 503A pharmacies are not required to adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) objectives put forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure pharmaceuticals achieve a specified standard of safety. The quality of products produced in a 503A facility depend on the pharmacy's voluntary conformance with cGMP, which can be substantially cost-prohibitive, requiring anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000-plus of investment for a single formulation. Testing on raw materials and finished products may be performed to an extent depending on the facility, but the data are often incomplete, testing only one or two factors while omitting others that would affect the product's overall quality. The variability of cGMP compliance from pharmacy to pharmacy paves the way for omissions in procedures that can lead to patient harm. …
OVMA names 2018 Veterinarian of the YearMarch 18, 2019The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) has named Dave Bauman, DVM, as the Veterinarian of the Year for 2018. Outgoing OVMA president Liesa Stone, DVM, BS, presented the award to Dr. Bauman at the association's annual Midwest Veterinary Conference. "A lifetime of achievement as an educator, a volunteer, and a veterinarian clearly represents the qualities worthy of recognition as veterinarian of the year," said Stone, as she gave Bauman the award. Bauman has dedicated more than four decades to the veterinary profession. He taught laboratory animal medicine at the University of Cincinnati (UC) veterinary technology program for 42 years and served on the OVMA board of directors for 18 years.
2019 World Veterinary Day highlights the value of vaccinesMarch 12, 2019Vaccines are critical to animal health, which is why this year World Veterinary Day (WVD) is focusing on the value of vaccination. Created by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000, WVD reminds pet owners of the importance of animal care, and how veterinarians and their teams can help. According to the WVA, vaccines are an essential tool for preventive veterinary medicine, promotion of animal health and welfare, and reducing the risk of human exposure to many zoonotic pathogens. Vaccination programs can reduce the need for antimicrobials, and in turn, decreases the risk of emergent antimicrobial resistance. According to WVA and HealthforAnimals, it is vital for the global veterinary profession to educate the public, particularly animal owners and producers, about the benefits of vaccination for animal, human, and public health. This year, WVD takes place on April 27.
Bridge Club recognizes two veterinary leadersJanuary 29, 2019Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP, chief executive officer of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and Julia Stephanus, founder and president of Avviare, received a lifetime Bridge Club membership from the video-based professional community.
A life lesson in veterinary careJanuary 4, 2019Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic in Worcester, Mass., is the nation’s first on-the-job veterinary clinic at a high school developed in collaboration with a veterinary school.
