Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

This week we're thrilled to bring you an exclusive - and her first ever - podcast interview with the 2022 National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) President, Ashi Selke, RVT, CVT. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT learn Ashli’s story of becoming a veterinary technician, her personal military service, how she got involved with NAVTA, and plans for her leadership term. Beckie encourages NAVTA to accelerate their title protection plans and initiatives, and offers advice to work both with the AVMA and state veterinary medical Boards. Ashley offers her take on the recent AVMA HOD meeting in which the Utah Representative, veterinarian Dr. Paul Toniolli said of allowing veterinary technicians into the AVMA membership: "Little by little the camel gets in the tent, and the master of the camel gets shoved out of the tent. Now, I don't know that our association would be overtaken, but the principle that the camel in the tent teaches is that sometimes small, seemingly harmless acts, even made with good intentions, can sometimes have very negative repercussions, and that would be our concern. Somebody with alternative ideals might try to get in and strong-arm the association." Alrighty then. Viewfinders, this is a fascinating back-and-forth between two passionate veterinary technicians dedicated to improving their profession. We think you’ll enjoy it! To learn more about Utah veterinarian Dr. Paul Toniolli’s remarks, read here: https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=617&Id=10685148 To read NAVTA’s Title Protection Report, visit here: https://www.navta.net/news/navta-report-shows-title-protection-for-veterinary-technician-is-needed-and-desired-but-absent-and-misunderstood-in-most-states/

Happy belated Veterinary Assistant Appreciation Week! February 14-18, 2022 was celebrated by the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City - and we missed it! This week we take time to not only appreciate our beloved veterinary assistants, but also discuss some of the challenges and opportunities we see in the future of this essential role in veterinary medicine. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their love and respect for these often unsung heroes of veterinary medicine. The pair discuss some of the prior (unnecessary) drama between celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week and other recognitions for veterinary team members. Dr. Ward emphasizes that, “Celebrating one group doesn’t take anything away from another.” Beckie posits on whether or not vet assistants are over- or underutilized in clinics and why “Veterinary State Boards need to get ahead of this issue because private entities already are there.” Both hosts offer setting boundaries and credentialing for veterinary assistants. Beckie stresses the National Veterinary Technician Association’s Approved Veterinary Assistant Program (link in notes) and offers her opinions on some of the rapidly developing private programs. Viewfinders, this is another important topic that transcends an “appreciation week.” Share your thoughts and opinions with us! Viewfinders, if you’d like to see Beckie and Ernie “live” on the internet to take your questions, drop us a line at VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com! The Approved Veterinary Assistant program created by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America: https://www.navta.net/veterinary-assistants-program/

While many of our podcasts have focused on the current veterinary workforce shortages, perhaps we haven’t talked as much about retaining staff as we should. This week we discuss how hiring, onboarding, phase training, new employee integration, and personality matching can help keep good staff longer and improve your team’s ability to attract and retain new hires. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT talk a deep dive into the steps you need to take when hiring and onboarding new veterinary team members. From Dr. Ward’s method of “team interviews and hiring,” to Beckie’s nightmare stories of “first day disasters,” this episode is packed with practical advice for any veterinary clinic interested in attracting and retaining and the best teams. While no one can’t magically get you new employees, we can help you keep your best team members and maybe make your practice a “destination career” or at least a supportive, nurturing, and collaborative environment. Viewfinders, this is a good one to share with your friends and co-workers!

Veterinary unions are once again in the news. A Thrive (formerly Pathways) veterinary clinic in New York recently voted 2 to 1 to form a union. There is growing interest in veterinary unionization, and this week we're joined once again by one of the leading voices in this movement, Liz Hughston, MEd., RVT, CVT, LVT, LVMT, VTS (SAIM) (ECC). Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT talk with Liz about the latest developments in the Thrive veterinary clinic case and other veterinary unions across the country, what a union really is and how collective bargaining could help veterinary professionals, tactics commonly used to discourage veterinary professionals from pursuing collective bargaining, and why this discussion is arguably more important than ever before in our profession. Viewfinders, this is an important topic that has the potential to improve many aspects of the veterinary profession that we feel need changing. From low pay to title protection, to resources to help prevent burnout, unionization is one mechanism to give veterinary professionals working in corporate-controlled clinics a real voice. To learn more about the National Veterinary Professionals Union, visit www.natvpu.org. To watch the John Oliver Union Busting reporting Liz referred to in the podcast: https://youtu.be/Gk8dUXRpoy8 Liz also recommends this video on Union Busting: https://perfectunion.us/

Brachycephalic Breed Bans in Europe - Can It Happen in the US? In January 2022, Norway approved a legal ban on breeding Bulldogs and Cavaliers, citing animal welfare violations. A similar ban and breeding restrictions has growing support from UK and other European veterinary organizations. Could the US be next to ban brachycephalic breeds? Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT weigh the pros and cons of brachycephalic breed bans - and whether American dog lovers and veterinary professionals would support such mandates and regulations in this week’s episode. Beckie shares the recent Norwegian court ruling and how this could affect other countries, including the US. Dr. Ward cites several studies that validate increased health risks of brachycephalics and how this impacts their welfare. Viewfinders, this is a very tough topic for both our hosts and you may feel some of the same personal conflict! It’s a good discussion! Dr. Ward challenges us to view the issue both from the pet parents’ perspective of increased cost, care, and medical conditions associated with these breeds, but also from the pet’s welfare: how it feels to struggle to breathe, walk, or play. Both hosts agree we need to do a better job encouraging more responsible breeding, promote cross-breeding of these at-risk breeds, and educate the public about the health - and welfare - risks associated with brachycephalic. Both stop far short of breed bans, but believe we can improve the overall health and wellbeing of brachycephalics by being more proactive on this issue. Viewfinders, what do you think about this issue? How can we inspire conversations in both the veterinary profession and breeders? Why aren’t more veterinary professionals talking about this issue! Now’s your chance! Additional resources: First legal ban on breeding Bulldogs and Cavaliers announced The law came into place in Norway this week and could have consequences world-wide https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/first-legal-ban-breeding-bulldogs-22943414 Unravelling the health status of brachycephalic dogs in the UK using multivariable analysis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73088-y British Veterinary Association (BVA) position on brachycephalic dogs https://www.bva.co.uk/media/4231/bva-position-on-brachycephalic-dogs-full.pdf https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/brachycephalic-dogs/ #EndTheTrend petition: We're calling on Britain's top brands to stop using brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds in their advertising https://www.bluecross.org.uk/end-the-trend-brachycephalic-petition

Recently the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board sent a memo to state veterinarians warning about Board complaints and disciplinary actions taken in response to veterinarians responding to client online posts and reviews. Vets were found at fault for ethics or professionalism violations due to an online spat. You may want to re-read that. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the blurred lines between freedom of speech, the ability of a veterinary professional to defend themselves from online attacks, and the risk of being disciplined by their state veterinary medical Board. You may also want to re-read that. Viewfinders, this is a complicated and nuanced issue that we believe needs more public discussion. Much more, as you'll learn in this podcast! There are a LOT of issues intersecting here! Have you received reports or similar warnings from your state veterinary medical Board? Have you heard of colleagues reprimanded for defending themselves against online attacks? Please share your experiences!

With the reality of veterinary workforce shortages and challenges hiring veterinarians and veterinary technicians in 2022, talk of improving license portability has resurfaced. This week we discuss why we believe it’s time to make it easier to share veterinary and veterinary technician licenses among states. Hint 1: It’s already been done in the human medical professions. So, yeah. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the recent discussions at the January 2022 AVMA meeting that addressed veterinary shortages and a call for license portability. If you couldn’t guess, there’s a committee for that. Have no fear, Viewfinders, apparently an official investigation is underway. Never mind that the AVMA has no regulatory jurisdiction in the matter... Meanwhile, 29 US states are already part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to provide expedited licensure for physicians among member states. Hint 2: We think the IMLC serves as an excellent template for state veterinary medical boards and licensing agencies. Our hosts discuss the current challenges of obtaining veterinary professional licenses and how this may be making it harder for some states to recruit veterinary staff. They also discuss how making it easier and more affordable to obtain licenses may lead to longer participation in the workforce. This is a good conversation, Viewfinders! Finally, Beckie shares her strong opinions on the January 2022 AVMA discussions around allowing non-veterinarians to join the AVMA. You don’t want to miss her thoughts on this "controversial" topic! Speaking of controversy, why on earth is this an AVMA flashpoint in 2022? Beside, Beckie says a simple name change is all it would take if credentialed veterinary technicians aren’t allowed a voting voice in the AVMA. She suggests renaming it to the “American Veterinarian Medical Association!” She’s got a point… Viewfinders, this episode is full of practical steps each state can take to address the issue of veterinary license portability. If you’re struggling to hire veterinary professionals, contact your state veterinary medical board today! Let us know your thoughts!

What happens when a veterinary professional’s own pet needs veterinary care? Do they schedule an appointment? Who cares for them, when are they seen, and how much do they charge? What are some of the potential disruptions and discord that bringing in our own pets for veterinary care can create in a veterinary practice? Perhaps more than you’d think… Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore the benefits - and potential pitfalls - of taking our own pets into the clinics we work in. From “picking staff favorites,” to micro-aggressions and staff tensions, to determining fair fees, and being asked to perform diagnostic tests or treatments on our ailing pets, this week we tackle a tough topic rarely discussed publicly. Beckie shares her recent experiences in not being able to get prompt care for her own pet and Dr. Ward offers some of the solutions he discovered in his clinics. Both express the need for being proactive on this issue, particularly given the current state of staff shortages and overwhelmed schedules. Viewfinders, this is a good one! Viewfinders, how do handle staff pets in your clinic? What problems and solutions have you found? Share them on our social media or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com! Finally, as Dr. Ward says, “GO DAWGS!” Congratulations on Dr. Ward’s alma mater the University of Georgia for winning the 2021-22 NCAA college football national championship this week by defeating rival University of Alabama!

There's been a surge in the number of veterinary professional certifications over the past few years. But are those extra initials behind your degree worth it in 2022? Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT start the new year off with a conversation about the what's, when's, why's, and (probably most important to employers) worth of professional certifications. It gets complicated. Viewfinders, our hosts have a number of professional certifications to their credit, yet they encourage caution before adding one (or some) to your signature these days. Beckie asks whether or not imposter syndrome is behind the need to add professional clout and Dr. Ward ponders how much profit motive is at play. Both worry that certain organizations or companies may be taking advantage of some veterinary professionals by leveraging the "need to be seen" by colleagues as capable and competent by adding certifications. Did we mention it's complicated? Beckie argues that title protection should (once again) be our profession's top priority and that we need better clarification on the difference between "credentials" and "certifications." Both hosts agree that VTS and Board-certification are true "professional credentials" but are concerned that some groups may be promoting a "certification" as a "credential," leading to confusion by the pet-owning public and dilution of value by our colleagues. Told you it was complicated. Dr. Ward challenges the notion that every certification (or credential) must carry a profit motive or "return on investment" and encourages Viewfinders to better themselves through education, and, yes, certification when appropriate. Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation that tackles a tough topic we believe needs to be talked about more in the veterinary profession. Happy New Year and staff safe! And keep it simple! ;-)

Happy New Year, Viewfinders! This week our hosts preview the veterinary profession’s toughest topics and trends we predict for 2022! Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT join in a rapid-fire discussion of the top challenges they foresee for 2022 (and beyond). Some of the issues they discuss include: * Veterinary workforce shortages * Mental health issues (burnout, depression, compassion fatigue, substance abuse, etc.) * Veterinary staff wages and benefits * Student loans and the rising cost of DVM/RVT degrees * Inflation of vet services and products - what impacts will inflation have on patient care and client communications? * Social media complaints - We’re seeing reports of vets being charged with ethics and professional behavior violations when they engage clients online. Yikes! * Corporatization vs Independent Practices: How can we get along and compete? * Core vaccines - potential challenges post-pandemic vaccine controversies? * Politics - Veterinary Practices and 2022 Midterms * What happened to the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI)? Our continuing plea for veterinary technician Title Protection * Telemedicine - Muddy waters ahead or smooth sailing? * Brachycephalic breeds - Will US veterinary professionals speak out as they are in the UK? * CBD - definitely maybe? * Climate change * Animal welfare and Food animal production, ventilation Shutdown (VSD) Looks like 2022 is going to be an exciting and promising year! Happy New Year, Viewfinders!

Happy Holidays Viewfinders! This week, we’ve got TWO Very Veterinary Holiday Poems to share! Pull on your favorite comfy clothes or hit “play” on your way to work, because we’ve got plenty of holiday cheer to spread to you this week! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discovered two “very veterinary holiday poems” to put their best holiday podcast spin on! These are family-friendly, so blast away on your sound systems! (Or share your headphones…) Our first poem was written by the UK’s Dr. Marc Silpa when he was but a wee student at the University of Edinburgh in 2015. It was titled “The Veterinarian’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and published in SAVMA’s “Vet Gazette.” Set in his teaching hospital’s ER, we bet you’ll recognize similarities with many of your own holiday emergencies! Will Dogual survive? Will their treatment plan work? Listen closely to learn his fate! You can read it here: https://bit.ly/3pbzvKO We hope you like our special “twist on the tale!” Next, we have a mixed-animal practitioner perspective on Santa’s reindeer called “Equine Vet Xmas Poem.” No, we didn’t make that up. What it lacks in title creativity it more than makes up in reindeer medicine fun! Santa has a load of sick reindeer, and his “Elf recommended” treatments don’t seem to be helping. It’s nearly Christmas and Vixen may be pregnant (thanks, Rudolph), Blitzen has antler arthritis, Cupid is foundering, and Donner needs a shot of bute. Plus, will Santa run off without paying the veterinarian? Listen to find out! It was written by Dr. Madison Seamans in 1993 and can be enjoyed here: https://bit.ly/3pbzV3Q Viewfinders, we hope you enjoy these fun renditions and share with friends and family! Be safe and we hope you’re able to be with those you love. Happy Holidays from us to you!

There’s a new TikTok trend we believe could potentially harm dogs called the “Bark at your Dog Challenge.” Veterinary colleagues and concerned pet parents, let’s discuss. And, WTF is wrong with people? Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT revisit their concern that some popular social media trends could be harmful to animals. This week our hosts discuss what many are calling a “funny, hilarious and surprising” challenge that they categorize as “disturbing.” Beckie recalls the history of potentially problematic social media trends (and our past podcasts addressing them) and why this particular challenge especially irks her. Dr. Ward ponders if these “scary” challenges are an extension of other “bad behavior” social media trends and what impact social media may have on the the human:animal bond among the youngest pet owners (we’re looking at you, late Get Z pet parents out there). Dr. Ward also shares his concerns that this is an extension of a broader expansion of “videos of people behaving badly” that seems to get more social media likes, views, or attention. Again, WTF is wrong with people? Viewfinders, once again, we’re bringing you a veterinary topic lurking just below the mainstream that we think needs more discussion by our colleagues. Beckie repeats her wish for a dollar every time we’ve said, “Let’s get out in front of this topic.” We accept all major forms of payment! Our loyal Viewfinder Family, what do you think about these trends? What do you think about Beckie and Dr. Ward’s advice on how veterinary professionals can - and should - address them? We want to hear from you!

In early 2021, a hypothetical veterinary technician degree was proposed and discussed by a select group of about 20 individuals representing 12 organizations. Called a “Masters in Veterinary Clinical Care,” the exploratory degree has garnered a lot of questions and confusion. This week we discuss what we know and our initial impressions on how this may - or may not - benefit the veterinary profession. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their concerns and offer their advice when it comes to better access to veterinary care and utilization of licensed veterinary technicians. As you can imagine, Beckie has strong opinions on this topic and isn’t afraid to tackle it! Beckie stresses the need for veterinary title protection, standardization of credentialing processes and requirements, recognition of credentialed vet techs, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities within the vet clinical setting. In short, Beckie believes there’s a lot of work to be done on the current AS and BS veterinary technician degrees before we create a new one. Dr. Ward supports expanding the roles and duties of licensed veterinary technicians, including expansion into a “Veterinary Nurse Practitioner,” but worries the proposed Masters in Veterinary Clinical Care is more “paper than progress.” Both hosts advocate for an expansion of what vet techs can - and should - be allowed to do in veterinary clinical practice. Dr. Ward also recounts how he “angered lots of colleagues” about 10 years ago when he proposed that licensed vet techs be allowed to undertake additional training and licensing to perform spay and neuters in shelter settings. He also says you can tell where someone lies in their support of this issue by asking, “What medications can they dispense?” You can imagine how our duo discusses that one! Viewfinders, we hope this conversation sparks you to explore and discuss with your friends and colleagues. By working together, w can help expand access to veterinary care and propel our profession! Stay safe and we’ll talk to you next week! Read the white paper published in February 2021 here: https://navc.com/download/MS_Advanced_Veterinary_Clinical_Care_Report.pdf

Recent news of a veterinary technician’s death by suicide went viral on social media, and included discussions on the responsibility of employers to identify and offer help. This week, we discuss how veterinary professionals and clinics respond to personal tragedies such as suicide, workplace harassment, bullying, and other personal tragedies and challenges and steps any veterinary clinic can take to provide a more caring, compassionate, and healthy workplace. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT revisit a recurring theme we’ve tackled over the past five years: poor veterinary working conditions leading to mental health challenges and burnout. The duo explore simple and inexpensive strategies that can help retain and attract the best team members along with improving productivity, morale, and personal job satisfaction. They also ask why these solutions aren’t being implemented more widely? For starters, Ernie and Beckie believe access to counselors and therapists should be a mainstay in every veterinary clinic. Health insurance, opportunities (and encouragement) for self-care measures, along with clear mechanisms for handling team (and management) complaints are all essential elements of healthy workplaces. If your clinic is missing any (or all) of these, our hosts encourage you to demand change now. Beckie muses that many independent clinics don’t offer access to counseling because they fear what changes might be required and Dr. Ward compares today’s discussions to his efforts to promote workplace wellness and self care in the early 2000’s. Viewfinders, we hear your slow roar on these issues. Waves of change are crashing on our profession’s shores, and together we can navigate to a safe - and healthier - harbor. This is a heavy conversation but we believe these discussions help propel positive change throughout our profession - and world. Share your thoughts with us! And thanks for over five years of loyal listening! Viewfinders are the BEST!

In the United States, it is estimated that almost 150,000 horses per year are unwanted. What is “unwanted”? The term is used to refer to horses that are old, injured, sick, unmanageable, or fail to meet expectations. The horse may have a lameness or illness…or he could just be the wrong color or gender. His problem could be life-threatening…or chronic and manageable. He may have a mild behavioral problem…or a severe one. … This week we speak with Dr. Stacie Boswell, an equine surgeon and author of “The Ultimate Guide for Horses in Need,” a veterinarian who has dedicated much of her career to helping “horses in transition” and provide better care and welfare for all horses. … Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT learn how Dr. Boswell became an equine veterinarian and why this topic is so important to her. … The trio also discuss the unique mental health and self-care challenges faced by large and mixed-animal veterinary professionals and how Dr. Boswell keeps her energy and enthusiasm high, despite the challenges she encounters. … Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation that offers us a glimpse into another side of veterinary practice. To learn more about Dr. Stacie Boswell and her book, “The Ultimate Guide for Horses in Need,” at: https://stacieboswell.com/