Veterinary Virtual Care Association (VVCA)’s Post

Let’s dive into two issues facing veterinary medicine in the United States. The first is telemedicine (not a newcomer, of course), and the second is the acute shortage of veterinary faculty and its impact on school accreditation (making a first-time appearance here).

A DIFFERENT-LOOKING UK VETERINARY SECTOR IN 2035? The Vet Times article below mentions data from a study done for the RCVS by the Institute for Employment Studies and published on 13 December. Here are some snippets from the article (not source data): - "Modelling prepared for RCVS predicts 50% rise in registered practising vets and 78% increase in the number of RVNs by 2035 – more of the latter than required to meet demand." - "“Overall, the supply of vet nurses equated to 96% of total demand in 2023, and will exceed total demand by 2025, reaching a surplus of 22% over total demand by 2035.”" - "The projections...follow a rising trend over recent years which saw the number of registered vets climb by 25% from 23,600 in 2017 to 29,500 last year, based on college figures. The number of RVNs rose even faster, by 52%, from 15,200 to 23,100 over the same period." - "the number of vets in clinical practice is expected to rise to almost 99% of demand, while the report predicts the charitable sector’s demand will be met by around 2029." It remains to be seen how close these projections are to reality. Yet the UK veterinary sector could look very different if even something close to these projections materialises. Will we stop talking about staff shortages? Will a greater supply of vets and nurses put downward pressure, or at least reduce upward pressure, on salaries? The CMA's final report should be out within a year. What material impact (if any) will the CMA have on the sector in the years ahead? The data currently show that new independent primary care and referral practices are opening or being planned/considered at record rates. Of course, some will be sold within years of opening, as only some people are looking for a longer-term commitment. Where will the independent/corporate-owned pendulum sit in 2035? What will be the impact of generational preferences, new technologies (especially AI), changes in society and macroeconomics, and future pandemics or other national/global events? What new ideas will surface that we have yet to encounter? I know of one embryonic plan that would be paradigm-shifting for the sector and will be in full flow by 2035. TBD. I graduated twenty-five years ago. Things seemed somewhat stable in the UK veterinary sector for the first half of this period. The second half? Hmmm, not so much! Whatever happens over the next ten years, I suspect we will be saying the same about the pace of change. I would love to hear your thoughts, reflections and predictions! #VetTimes #RCVS #Veterinary #UKVeterinary #VeterinaryCareers (Vet Times article: https://lnkd.in/esmNT3gw)

Establishing a Patient Safety Culture in Veterinary Medicine: Are we doing enough? 🐾 Check out our latest VETgirl blog by Tiffany Gendron, CVT, VTS (ECC). She explores the importance of acknowledging medical errors and creating a culture of safety in veterinary practice. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gfjuZngg #VeterinaryMedicine #PatientSafety #VETgirl #VetCommunity

Enhancing responsible prescribing As a part of AHDA’s initiative on enhancing responsible prescribing. AHDA has been working hard to bring in measurers that help to reinforce best practice and give extra help to RAMA (SQPs) to help ensure that prescribing standards are kept to a high level. One such initiative was to submit to the Veterinary Medicine Regulation consultation, the idea of a record of prescription that would include the justification for the prescription that would help endorse the verbal prescription the current RAMA (SQPs) carry out. In practice what will take place is that when a verbal prescription is given, as is the case for RAMA (SQPs) and when a written prescription is not completed, and a veterinary medicine product is prescribed verbally, the person who prescribes the product will have to make a record of the reason for prescribing the product. A copy of this justification for prescribing will then need to be retained by the company who prescribed the product and would be available for audit purposes if needed. As soon as more detail is known, AHDA will be working hard to get this important initiative in place and help to inform the wider industry of all of the details needed to make it a success. 

6 Ways to Encourage Innovative Thinking in the Veterinary Practice Innovation is a critical part and immeasurable benefit to any company and veterinary practices are no different. Not only do the best people want to work in an environment where change—and good change—takes place but the learning is invaluable. At ACNY we are known as innovators and thought leaders and many of the tips and thoughts outlined in this article we follow in order to foster this kind of environment. Take a look. https://buff.ly/3UrJ7AB #veterinarians #veterinarypartnerships #dogs #cats #veterinaryspecialists #emergencyveterinarians #criticalcareveterinarians #veterinarycardiology #veterinaryneurology #veterinarySurgery #veterinaryinternalmedicine #veterinarydermatology #veterinaryrehabilitationtherapy #veterinaryneurology #veterinaryinterventionalradiology

🩺 In May, my article, "Communication as Treatment in Veterinary Medicine: Engaging Clients for Success," was published in Clinician's Brief! In it, I explore the two predominant client-bonding strategies employed by successful veterinary practices. A big thank-you to the Clinician’s Brief team for the opportunity to share these insights. I hope it helps veterinary practice leaders design purposeful client experiences. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e2NnK4XQ I’d love to hear your thoughts—how do you feel these strategies impact your practice? #VeterinaryMedicine #ClientExperience #CommunicationMatters #VeterinaryCare #VeterinaryClientExperience

My letter to the editor James Westgate at vet times, in current edition, in all good newsagents now. One editor to another ... Dear editor, As someone who has this wonderful profession to thank for his entire career, and as the editor of VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk, my heart sank as I read the inevitable flurry of statements issued by the RCVS, the BVNA, the VMG, SPVS and IVC, following the result of the Competition and Market Authority review of the veterinary sector, all predictably pushing their own agendas, and none addressing the bellowing elephant in the room. When I started working on the fringes of this profession a bit over 20 years ago, you never heard anyone say a bad word about a vet. Nowadays, every conversation is overshadowed by talk of the cost of veterinary care. That’s putting it mildly. Only yesterday a member of VetSurgeon.org shared how their practice signage had been daubed with the words ‘rip off’. The biggest problem isn't the lack of transparency identified by the CMA review. It's that over the last twenty years, the veterinary profession has completely changed what if offers the market, and the market doesn’t want it. Twenty years ago, dogs weren't referred. They were treated in house, with less regulation, and possibly less successfully, but at lower cost. Now there is more regulation (cascade anyone?), there are more, more expensive drugs, more eye-wateringly expensive equipment, and everything is referred to multi-disciplinary referral centres that put human hospitals to shame, at the drop of a hat. And people don’t want that. Or rather, they do, but they can’t afford it; like I want a Ferrari, but I can’t afford one. I think the profession needs to think far more seriously about reducing the cost of its offering, and how that might be done. Perhaps everyone would do well to listen to the words of Paul Manktelow, Chief Vet at Blue Cross, who responded to the CMA review by urging veterinary practitioners to take a more pragmatic approach to treatment. Perhaps regulators need to look much more closely at the impact of regulation on the cost of providing veterinary care. The effect of the cascade on drugs that have been in use in humans for years, and for whom they cost a tenth as much, might be a good place to start. Either that, or just live with the growing resentment that drives people to daub signposts with the words ‘rip off', and accept that ultimately less people will buy dogs and the market will shrink. Arlo Guthrie Publishing Editor www.vetsurgeon.org and www.vetnurse.co.uk Discuss here: https://bit.ly/3PyFbLB

The Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 is ushering in a new era of team-based care that will modernize veterinary medicine and provide new possibilities for practices to grow their businesses and revenues. At Veterinary Purchasing’s member appreciation events in Ajax, Cambridge, London, and Barrie, the OAVT’s executive director Elise Wickett, RVT, MBA, shared insights with veterinarians, practice managers, and RVTs about the Act and what it means for the future. The panel discussions provided a unique opportunity to share the advantages RVTs bring to practices that adopt a team-based model of care and how practices can leverage RVTs and RVT-owned businesses to grow revenues and provide a more efficient client experience. Did you know that for each additional RVT on staff, research shows clinics’  revenue grew by $78,000? RVTs can perform many activities typically handled by veterinarians, and leveraging that for routine care can free up a veterinarian’s time to handle more complex cases. What would you accomplish if you had more time in a day? The OAVT is following the work of the Transition Council closely and will continue to update our members and the broader veterinary medicine community so we can all make the most of this new opportunity. Be sure to follow our social channels to stay in the know. For more information from the OAVT about the legislative reform, click here: https://lnkd.in/gcJjhTmY For more information on the research into the value of an RVT, click here: https://lnkd.in/eFAe3sM6 Veterinary Purchasing Co. Ltd.

Discover how enhancing veterinary systems integration can lead to improved patient care!. Streamlining workflows and data sharing boosts efficiency and ensures better health outcomes for our furry friends. To learn more: https://lnkd.in/dujazzSy #VeterinaryCare #SystemIntegration #AnimalHealth #VetTech #PatientCare

90% of pet owners who contact VidiVet do not need to visit an out of hours service, and are redirected back to their own practice. Clients appreciate the reassurance they receive from VidiVet, and want the continuity with their own practice. Having an extra level of support for your clients displays the dedication you have to their pets. Implementing VidiVet is a no brainier, evolution not revolution. #vidivet #clientcare #evolution #onepercentgains