News

By now you know that the Michigan Animal Health Foundation has a Companion Animal Fund that subsidizes non-elective treatment to a select group of pet owners who have inadequate finances for necessary treatments. MVMA member hospitals are eligible to receive up to $500 per client and a total of up to $500 per clinic annually. Companion Animal Fund Month, held in October, is the foundation’s biggest fundraising event. Throughout the month-long campaign, we are asking veterinary clinics across Michigan to collect money and hold special events and fundraisers in honor of people, pets and the Companion Animal Fund. To help veterinary clinics make the most of their campaigns, we would like to send you a free fundraising kit to help encourage donations. The kits will include posters, brochures, instructions and ideas, and post-it paw prints on which you can write donor names to post on a wall. Companion Animal Fund Month is a time for you to get involved in raising money to help clients and their animals. It’s an easy and fun experience for your whole team! It can be as simple as offering an opportunity for clients to donate or as involved as hosting your own charity event like a dog walk, open house, BBQ, family event, etc. The three clinics raising the most funds during the month of October will each receive four free tickets to the Michigan Animal Health Foundation (MAHF) Benefit on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, before the Michigan Veterinary Conference (a $200+ value). If you’d like to receive a kit, please reply to this email with your name, practice name, mailing address, phone and email address. Kits will be sent out the week of September 16. For more information on the Michigan Animal Health Foundation, go to MichAnimalHealthFoundation.org.

View the Recordings Now!

Over the summer MVP and MVMA partnered with MSU CVM to provide 3 free wellness webinars which are now available online. We invite you access them at https://socialwork.msu.edu/CE/Veterinary-Webinar-Training-Series. Megan Spedoske, LMSW, Program Coordinator of Veterinary Social Work Services, MSU did a wonderful job as the instructor.

• Coping with the Complexities of Compassionate Animal Care
• Creating a Culture of Connection: The Role of Relationships in Compassion Fatigue Prevention
• Enhancing Professional Wellbeing: Pragmatic Applications for Wellness in the Workplace

Megan provides excellent takeaways that you can use in your practice right away to help team members improve their overall well-being.

MVMA has you covered!

One of the new requirements that may be more difficult to obtain is 1 hour of CE on medical records and 1 hour of CE on state veterinary law and/or federal or state-controlled substance laws. Learn More Here

MVMA members have access to both a 1 and 2-hour Michigan-specific medical record keeping online training that satisfies the new CE requirements.

These online courses can be taken at any time and are designed not only to fulfill the new requirements, but also to improve your efficiency at creating a legally defensible medical record, compliance with state, federal and other regulations, and strengthen client relationships. Hosted by MVMA member and attorney Sarah Babcock, DVM, JD, the 2-hour course will satisfy both the medical record and veterinary law requirements.

Register Here!

Preparing veterinary medical professionals, emergency responders, law enforcement & others to respond to accidents involving animal haulers.

September 23, 2019, MSU Pavilion for Livestock Education 4301 Farm Lane East Lansing, MI 48824

Following several livestock truck rollovers over the last few years in Michigan and adjacent states, Michigan State University Extension along with Michigan Pork Producers Association recognized the need to have a network of trained people across the state to respond to these accidents. These trained people will then act as advisers and be able to provide assistance to first responders and emergency response personnel when these events occur.

Most first responders lack training in handling large livestock and may not be familiar with aspects of farm animal behavior, livestock trucks, euthanasia methods and the many different people who need to be notified and involved in the response. Improperly handled livestock, especially those which are loose, can be a risk to responders, the public and a company’s public relations. This training will provide responders with the basic knowledge and experience they need to proper respond to these types of accidents.

Register Now or Learn More Here

If you were unable to attend these sessions onsite at the Great Lakes Veterinary Conference MVMA will host another continuing education seminar on November 12 that will fulfill this requirement. 

R 338.3135 requires a licensed practitioner applying for a new controlled substance license to obtain training by September 1, 2019.

Practitioners seeking a renewal for their controlled substance license must get the training beginning with the first renewal cycle after promulgation of the rule. There is an amendment to the rule that changes that date for new licenses to March 1, 2020 expected to pass by October. However, as of now if your renewal date is after September 1, 2019 this requirement also pertains to you.

R 338.3135 Opioids and other controlled substances awareness training standards for prescribers and dispensers of controlled substances; requirements.

The training must cover:

• Use of opioids and other controlled substances
• Integration of treatments
• Alternative of treatments for pain management
• Counseling patients on the effects and risks associated with using opioids and other controlled substances
• The stigma of addiction
• Utilizing the Michigan Automated Prescription system
• State and federal laws regarding prescribing and dispensing controlled substances
• Security features and proper disposal requirements for prescriptions.

Read the rules in full here.

View the Full SAS Brochure and Print a Registration Form

Register for all 6 seminars and save $10 per seminar for a total savings of $60! Deadline to register for package is August 30th.

REGISTER FOR ALL 6 SEMINARS NOW!
Must be same registrant for all 6 seminars - no substitutions or refunds. If you choose not to register for the entire series you may register for individual seminars below.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease with Michael R. Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Register Online Now!

Dr. Lappin is a Professor of Infectious Disease in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University. His laboratory studies immune responses to vaccination against respiratory viruses in cats, as well as immune responses to feline vaccines. He also oversees a large diagnostic service for feline infectious agents, including Toxoplasma gondii, Bartonella, Ehrlichia and others. Current areas of investigation include mechanisms of transmission of Hemoplasma spp, therapies for rickettsial diseases, and companion animals as carriers of drug-resistant staphylococci. Lappin is also Director of Shelter Medicine and investigates disease outbreaks and management in shelter settings.

Topics to be covered include:

• Update on Leptospirosis
• Update on Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (including flu)
• Update on Giardiasis
• Update on the management of flea and tick-borne disease in dogs and cats
  

Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Endocrinology with Cynthia R. Ward, VMD, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
Register Online Now!

Dr. Cynthia Ward received her VMD and PhD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed residency training at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania in small animal internal medicine and a reproductive endocrinology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She was on faculty at the University of Pennsylvania until 2005 when she moved to the University of Georgia where she is currently the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor of Internal Medicine. Dr. Ward has an active research program in clinical and basic endocrinology and has authored numerous journal articles, book chapters, and research abstracts. Dr. Ward is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (small animal internal medicine).

Topics to be covered include:

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease)
• Underdiagnosed endocrine disorders
• Concurrent hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease
  

Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Cardiology with William Brown, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Register Online Now!

William A. Brown, DVM, ACVIM-Cardiology is certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and its subspecialty board of Cardiology. He is an honors graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Brown completed his internship training at North Carolina State University, where he received the Outstanding Small Animal Intern Award. Dr. Brown completed his residency in cardiology at the University of California, Davis. Following his residency, Dr. Brown served a 1 year interventional cardiology fellowship at the University of Illinois. In addition to being a Diplomate in the ACVIM College of Cardiology, Dr. Brown is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Brown has lectured on a local and national level. He has authored numerous scientific publications, including several book chapters in the field of veterinary cardiology. Dr. Brown is an active consultant and investigator for several pharmaceutical companies. His research interests include arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in boxer dogs, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Ragdoll cats and the medical management of congestive heart failure (CHF) in both dogs and cats.

Topics to be covered include:

• Latest treatment of congestive heart failure
• Arrhythmias
• Dilated cardiomyopathy and diet
• Anesthesia for cardiac patients

Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Diagnostic Imaging with Lorrie Gaschen, DVM, PhD, DECVDI
Register Online Now!

Lorrie received her DVM from the University of Florida, was in private practice in Florida for two years after which time she did a diagnostic imaging residency at the University of Bern in Switzerland and became a diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. She received her PhD in renal transplant imaging in animal models at the University Medical School in Utrecht then returned to the University of Bern where she became an associate professor upon completion of her work in vascular ultrasound of the canine gastrointestinal tract. Currently, she is a professor of diagnostic imaging in the Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and has authored publications and book chapters mainly in the field of gastrointestinal ultrasound where she has done most of her research. Lorrie is also the Executive Associate Dean of Diversity, Student, and Faculty Affairs at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University with the mission of creating an inclusive, diverse and welcoming environment and supporting faculty in all aspects of their careers.

Topics to be covered include:

• Identifying pulmonary patterns and disease
• Diagnosing airway collapse: It’s not just the trachea
• Improving your cardiac radiographic interpretation
• Diagnosing abdominal obstruction: Tips you can use tomorrow
• Upper GI Barium study: Focus on 3 main lesion types
  
• Respiratory Distress in Cats, is it the heart or lung?
  

Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Surgery with Catriona MacPhail, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS
Register Online Now!

Dr. Cat MacPhail was born in raised in El Paso, Texas. She received her undergraduate degree from Rice University and her veterinary degree from Texas A&M University. Cat completed her rotating internship, surgical residency, soft tissue/surgical oncology fellowship, and PhD all at Colorado State University (CSU). She has been on faculty at CSU as a veterinary surgeon since 2004 and became the CSU Small Animal Chief Medical Officer in 2014. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), as well as an ACVS Founding Fellow in Surgical Oncology.

Topics to be covered include:

• Surgery Potpourri

Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Veterinary Life Hacks: Communications, Leadership and Work/Life Balance with Karlene Belyea, MBA
Register Online Now!

As Chief Culture Officer, Karlene is passionate about working with groups to improve culture, communication and wellbeing in the workplace. She is a certified Everything DiSC trainer and speaks nationally to groups on behavioral styles, generational differences, body language, creating positive work cultures, leadership, wellness, work/life integration and brain training. Prior to her position as Chief Culture Officer of MVP, Karlene was CEO of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association for 15 years and has more than 30 years of experience in management. She has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA from Michigan State University so she can cheer for whoever is winning. For fun she sings and plays keyboards for a band called Rear View Mirror.

Topics to be covered include:

• Working effectively with everyone in your practice
• Becoming the best leader by being your best self
• Finding balance, stressing less and having more fun

Generously Sponsored by

Do You Need Help with Workplace Wellness? 

MVMA and Mission Veterinary Partners (MVP) Can Help!

We know that the #1 thing team members need is help with reducing stress and anxiety. We are committed to developing resources to assist members with their physical, emotional, mental and financial health.

With this in mind, we’d like to invite you to attend the next in a series of 3 webinars that we have developed with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Social work. The second webinar will occur on Wednesday, August 21 from Noon to 1:00 pm EST.

Enhancing Professional Wellbeing:
Pragmatic Applications for Wellness in the Workplace

Instructor: Megan Spedoske, LMSW - Program Coordinator of Veterinary Social Work Services, MSU

It is well established in the literature that veterinary professionals experience high levels of stress in their daily professional lives. This stress is intense, cumulative and has pervasive and potentially permanent implications to wellbeing if not addressed. This webinar will identify the importance of relaxation in the workplace. A variety of practical application exercises will be demonstrated so you can begin using the interventions immediately in your professional life.

As a result of this course, you will be able to:

• Summarize the response of the brain when exposed to chronic stress or trauma.
• Identify 3 formal types of relaxation.
• Identify and apply 5 techniques of stress management.
  

REGISTER NOW! 

Attendance is limited. Webinars will be recorded and available for 1 year. If individuals would like to sign up as a group, contact swkce@msu.edu. PowerPoint slides will be sent to registered participants after the webinar. For more information, policies and procedures, ADA requests, or grievances, contact swkce@msu.edu or call 517/353-3060.

MVMA Can Help!

A big part of what the MVMA does is research practice issues for our members. We know how important it is to have access to the right information when you need it.

One of the topics we get asked about frequently is compounding. Specifically: 

• Can a veterinarian compound medications in the office?
• Can a pharmacy dispense non-patient specific, compounded products to a veterinarian for office use?

According to LARA:

A veterinarian may compound medications in the office. All applicable laws, rules, and standards of practice must be followed while compounding. A veterinarian is not subject to the accreditation/inspection requirements of MCL 333.17748a, which pertain only to pharmacies who wish to perform sterile compounding.

A veterinarian may purchase non-patient specific, compounded products for in office use/administration from an FDA registered 503B outsourcing facility. You may find a list of FDA registered outsourcing facilities here. The 503B outsourcing facility would also need to be licensed in Michigan as a pharmacy.

Please note that a 503A pharmacy is limited to only dispensing compounded drugs based on a patient-specific prescription and may not dispense non-patient specific compounded drugs to a veterinarian for in office use. Also note that this email may need to be updated if the FDA issues new guidelines regarding animal compounding.

If you are an MVMA member and your question about compounding was not answered above, please contact us at mvma@michvma.org for additional information.

Did you miss the first webinar in our wellness series, "Coping with the Complexities of Compassionate Animal Care"?

Listen to the recording now!

The webinar names some of the challenges professionals navigate on a daily basis and the potential impact on wellbeing and lays the groundwork for having a more thorough understanding and discussion around compassion fatigue, emotional labor and moral distress.

Do You Need Help with Workplace Wellness? 

MVMA and Mission Veterinary Partners (MVP) Can Help!

We know that the #1 thing team members need is help with reducing stress and anxiety. We are committed to developing resources to assist members with their physical, emotional, mental and financial health.

With this in mind, we’d like to invite you to attend the next in a series of 3 webinars that we have developed with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Social work. The second webinar will occur on July 31 from Noon to 1:00 pm EST.

Creating a Culture of Connection:
The Role of Relationships in Compassion Fatigue Prevention

Instructor: Megan Spedoske, LMSW - Program Coordinator of Veterinary Social Work Services, MSU

Across the country, the term “compassion fatigue” is becoming increasingly more familiar within veterinary practice. Not only is research-informed dialogue occurring more frequently at an individual level, but professionals within veterinary medicine are seeking ways to manage compassion fatigue, at both individual and organizational levels. This webinar will provide veterinary practitioners with specific interventions to address and minimize the impact of compassion fatigue at an organizational level.

As a result of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify barriers to seeking support.
• Describe the role of connection and resiliency.
• List 5 symptoms of organizational compassion fatigue.
• Identify 4 specific practices to manage compassion fatigue.

REGISTER NOW! 

Attendance is limited. Webinars will be recorded and available for 1 year. If individuals would like to sign up as a group, contact swkce@msu.edu. PowerPoint slides will be sent to registered participants after the webinar. For more information, policies and procedures, ADA requests, or grievances, contact swkce@msu.edu or call 517/353-3060.