OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT...

16
When exams are required October 2010 a publication of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association The OVMA office has received a number of phone inquiries from veterinarians in recent months, regarding physical examinations and state requirements. We contacted the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board for clarification and learned that -- at a minimum -- a physical examination of a patient is required at least once yearly. Below are the administrative rules that govern physical examinations. Under Division 5, 875-005-0005 (15): “Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) - Except where the patient is a wild or feral animal or its owner is unknown, a VCPR shall exist when the following conditions are met: 1. The veterinarian must have sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal. 2. This means that the veterinarian has seen the animal within the last year and is personally acquainted with the care of the animal by virtue of a physical examination of the animal or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.” Does this apply to vaccination clinics? Yes it does, according to Lori Makinen, executive director with the OVMEB. The AVMA Principles of Veterinary Ethics, and, more importantly, the Oregon Veterinary Practice Act, note that a physical examination of a patient is the foundation for establishing a valid VCPR. One cannot exist without the other. Accordingly, this applies to vaccination clinics, microchip ID clinics and general practice. Other aspects of a physical exam Under “Minimum Practice Standards” (OAR 875- 015-0030 (h), “A physical exam shall be performed to establish or maintain a VCPR each time an animal is presented with a new health problem, unless the animal’s temperament precludes examination, or physical exam is declined by the owner. For each physical exam the following conditions shall be evaluated and findings documented when applicable by species, even if such condition is normal.” The subsequent list includes, among other items to record: temperature; current weight; body condition; eyes, ears, nose and throat; oral cavity; respiratory system, including auscultation of the thorax; palpation of the lymph nodes, etc. The important thing to remember is this: This section of administrative rules does not supersede (emphasis added) the requirement to provide a physical exam if: 1. The patient has never been seen before by the veterinarian. 2. If the patient has not been seen by the veterinarian in more than one year’s time. 3. If the patient has been presented to the veterinarian for a new health problem. Other OVMEB News Earlier this summer, the state agency adopted rules on minimum levels of analgesia and sedation. In its summer newsletter the OVMEB highlighted the changes and also included material (not specifically in the rules) on common misconceptions related to pain management and a veterinary pain relief ladder that identified analgesic approaches to the various levels of pain (mild, moderate, severe) a patient might experience. Following the distribution of the newsletter, the OVMEB has received some concerns from veterinarians regarding the rule changes and specific applications of analgesia to companion animal and food animal patients. The OVMEB will further discuss the rules on analgesia and pain management and address the noted concerns at its upcoming meeting on Saturday, October 30. (The OVMA will keep you apprised of this discussion). Also, in the past several legislative sessions there have been various discussions about consolidating health- related boards, including the OVMEB. While consolidation has yet to take place, we anticipate ongoing discussion and possible legislation during the 2011 session in Salem. We will keep you updated. Viewpoint Lighter Side “There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” - Ben Williams “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” - Ann Landers “If you can’t decide between a Shepherd, a Setter or a Poodle, get them all. Adopt a mutt.” - ASPCA “Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won’t buy you the wag of his tail.” - Unknown “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” - Mark Twain Left to right: OVMA President- Elect Laird Goodman with first year veterin;ary student, Keri Clarkson, at the White Coat ceremony in which the OVMA presents each incoming student with their first lab coat and stethoscope.

Transcript of OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT...

Page 1: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

When exams are required

October 2010 a publication of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association

The OVMA office has received a number of phoneinquiries from veterinarians in recent months,regarding physical examinations and staterequirements.

We contacted the Oregon Veterinary MedicalExamining Board for clarification and learned that --at a minimum -- a physical examination of a patient isrequired at least once yearly.

Below are the administrative rules that governphysical examinations.

Under Division 5, 875-005-0005 (15):“Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) -Except where the patient is a wild or feral animal or itsowner is unknown, a VCPR shall exist when thefollowing conditions are met:

1. The veterinarian must have sufficientknowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general orpreliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of theanimal.

2. This means that the veterinarian has seen theanimal within the last year and is personally acquaintedwith the care of the animal by virtue of a physicalexamination of the animal or by medically appropriateand timely visits to the premises where the animal iskept.”

Does this apply to vaccination clinics?Yes it does, according to Lori Makinen, executive

director with the OVMEB.The AVMA Principles of Veterinary Ethics, and,

more importantly, the Oregon Veterinary Practice Act,note that a physical examination of a patient is thefoundation for establishing a valid VCPR. One cannotexist without the other.

Accordingly, this applies to vaccination clinics,microchip ID clinics and general practice.

Other aspects of a physical examUnder “Minimum Practice Standards” (OAR 875-

015-0030 (h), “A physical exam shall be performed toestablish or maintain a VCPR each time an animal ispresented with a new health problem, unless theanimal’s temperament precludes examination, orphysical exam is declined by the owner. For each

physical exam the following conditions shall beevaluated and findings documented when applicableby species, even if such condition is normal.”

The subsequent list includes, among other items torecord: temperature; current weight; body condition;eyes, ears, nose and throat; oral cavity; respiratorysystem, including auscultation of the thorax; palpationof the lymph nodes, etc.

The important thing to remember is this: Thissection of administrative rules does not supersede(emphasis added) the requirement to provide a physicalexam if:

1. The patient has never been seen before by theveterinarian.

2. If the patient has not been seen by theveterinarian in more than one year’s time.

3. If the patient has been presented to theveterinarian for a new health problem.

Other OVMEB NewsEarlier this summer, the state agency adopted rules

on minimum levels of analgesia and sedation. In itssummer newsletter the OVMEB highlighted thechanges and also included material (not specifically inthe rules) on common misconceptions related to painmanagement and a veterinary pain relief ladder thatidentified analgesic approaches to the various levels ofpain (mild, moderate, severe) a patient mightexperience.

Following the distribution of the newsletter, theOVMEB has received some concerns from veterinariansregarding the rule changes and specific applications ofanalgesia to companion animal and food animalpatients.

The OVMEB will further discuss the rules onanalgesia and pain management and address the notedconcerns at its upcoming meeting on Saturday, October30. (The OVMA will keep you apprised of thisdiscussion).

Also, in the past several legislative sessions there havebeen various discussions about consolidating health-related boards, including the OVMEB. Whileconsolidation has yet to take place, we anticipateongoing discussion and possible legislation during the2011 session in Salem. We will keep you updated.

ViewpointLighter Side

“There is no psychiatrist inthe world like a puppy lickingyour face.” - Ben Williams

“Don’t accept your dog’sadmiration as conclusiveevidence that you arewonderful.” - Ann Landers

“If you can’t decide betweena Shepherd, a Setter or a Poodle,get them all. Adopt a mutt.” -ASPCA

“Money will buy you a prettygood dog, but it won’t buy youthe wag of his tail.” - Unknown

“If you pick up a starving dogand make him prosperous, hewill not bite you; that is theprincipal difference between adog and a man.” - Mark Twain

Left to right: OVMA President-Elect Laird Goodman with firstyear veterin;ary student, KeriClarkson, at the White Coatceremony in which the OVMApresents each incoming studentwith their first lab coat andstethoscope.

Page 2: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Contactthe OVMA

Our Mission

NewsOSU CVM Student Wins Awards

Congratulations to OSU CVM Class of 2012student Elisha Adkins who received two awardsat the annual meeting of the AmericanAssociation of Bovine Practitioners(AABP). She received the AABPAmstutz Scholarship as well as anational student veterinarian awardfrom Intervet/Schering-PloughAnimal Health. She grew up ineastern Oregon, where cattle,horses and agriculture sparked herearly interest in livestockproduction and 4-H. After Adkins graduates, sheplans to begin her career in a mixed animalpractice with an emphasis in beef and dairy.

Membership DirectoryAvailable Soon

The 2010-2011 OVMA MembershipDirectory & Resource Guide will be availableon the OVMA Web site soon. Members canaccess and/or download and print the directoryin PDF format. If you do not have access to theInternet, contact us to make alternatearrangements. This year’s directory is being madeavailable in electronic format only; we anticipateprinting and mailing the 2011-2012 directory toall members.

Halloween Hazards PosterInserted in this issue is a client education

poster/handout on Halloween hazards for pets.

To serve veterinarians, the

veterinary profession and the

public through public

relations, continuing

education and

political action, and by

promoting among

veterinarians the highest

standard of animal care and

professional standards.

Oregon VeterinaryMedical Association1880 Lancaster Dr. NE

Suite 118

Salem, OR 97305

Phone: (800) 235-3502 or

(503) 399-0311

Fax: (503) 363-4218

Web: oregonvma.org

Twitter: twitter.com/oregonvma

Facebook: Search for us and

become a fan!

Executive Director

Glenn M. Kolb

[email protected]

Executive Assistant

Jenny Page

[email protected]

Public Relations Director

Raina Dey

[email protected]

October 20102

This information has also been distributed tothe media. Handouts on a wide variety of petand animal care topics are available for memberuse in client education. Download them in PDFformat from our Web site at oregonvma.org.Click on Resources, then Client Education, thenClient Education Posters. Member loginrequired. If you do not have a member login,please contact us to set one up.

Public OutreachDr. Leanne Eggert of The Pet Clinic in Salem

participated in the AC Gilbert House’s Fur,Feathers and Fins event in September. AC GilbertHouse is a children’s museum in Salem and thisevent was held for kids of all ages, Dr. Eggertanswered questions about the veterinary medicineand pets.

The OVMA provided the association’s tabletopdisplay, models, stickers and educationalmaterials such as brochures and handouts tosupport her appearance at this event. Dr. TerryGerros of Cordon Road Veterinary Clinic inSalem has also participated in this event in thepast.

New Board-Certified OncologistCongratulations are in order for Dr. Melanie

McMahon, as she recently became a Diplomateof the American College of Veterinary InternalMedicine with a Specialty in Oncology.

A 2005 graduate of the veterinary program atUC Davis, Dr. McMahon completed herresidency at The Ohio State University and nowis a referral practitioner with VCA NorthwestVeterinary Specialists in Clackamas.

Left to right: Dr. CyrilClarke, dean of the OSU-CVM, visits with first-yearstudent Jamie Senthirajahand Dr. Keith Sides,OVMA president, duringthe White Coat Ceremonyfor the Class of 2013.

Page 3: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Find the OVMA on your favoritesocial media sites!R

YouTube: The OVMA channel is atyoutube.com/user/OregonVMA

Twitter: Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/oregonvma.If you sign up for a Twitter account, our “tweets” willappear in your feed when you login to Twitter.

Facebook: Search for us on Facebook (facebook.com/pages /Oregon-Veter inary-Medica l -Assoc ia t ion/89514725811) and become a fan of your OVMA.

Board ofDirectors

State Fair Wrap-UpYour OVMA enjoyed another successful year of

public outreach and education at the Oregon StateFair. According to estimates, nearly 400,000 peoplevisited this year’s Fair. The OVMA’s booth in thepopular Americraft Jackman Long building gave usthe opportunity to share our message of the importanceof the partnership between veterinarian and pet/animalowner.

This year the OVMA booth focused on the topicof the overweight pet/animal. Portion cups to controlthe amount fed to pets were given out to fairgoers andinformation about weight loss and weight control incats, dogs, exotics and equine was available.

Our “Too Big to Miss” contest generated a lot ofinterest. To enter the contest, fairgoers were asked toanswer 5 questions about overweight pets. The answerswere located in the OVMA booth on handouts, postersand display materials and winners were chosenrandomly from the entries that answered all 5 questionscorrectly.

The grand prize winner was Darren Garbutt ofOregon City. Darren andhis Boston Terriers, Lola(pictured) and Maximus,were the winners of$100 of pet food fromtheir veterinarian, Dr.Robert Alford ofCompanion Pet Clinic,Clackamas.

Four first prizewinners received healthytreats and toys for theirdogs, cats, and otherpets.

As in past years, the OVMA presence at the Fairwould not have been possible without the efforts ofour committee, who works with Raina Dey, OVMAPR Director for several months each year to put

PresidentDr. Keith SidesRedmond

President ElectDr. Laird GoodmanBeaverton

Vice PresidentDr. Sheri MorrisKeizer

Immediate Past PresidentDr. Rob ShimekSalem

TreasurerDr. Jay FinemanNewport

AVMA DelegateDr. Doug McInnisKlamath Falls

AVMA Alternate DelegateDr. Jacqui NeilsonPortland

District 1Open

District 2Dr. Sandy SmalleyEugene

District 3Open

District 4Dr. Todd McNabbClackamas

District 5Dr. Tom KeckDallas

District 6Dr. Charles MeyerGrants Pass

District 7Dr. Deborah HoddesonBend

District 8Dr. Jean HallCorvallis

AVMA District XI RepDr. Thomas F. MeyerVancouver

Industry / Ex-officioBruce AshenbrennerMerial

Practice Managers / Ex-officioMichelle Campoli CVT CVPMEugene

Technicians / Ex-officioJean Breiling CVTMilwaukie

3October 2010

together the booth. Thank you to Dr. Paul Jones,Committee Chair; Judy Tate CVT and MargaretMcCart CVT for all of their efforts. Thank you also toGlenn Kolb and Jenny Page of the OVMA staff as wellas Jenny’s family for their assistance in setting up andtearing down the booth.

Last, but not least, thank you to the volunteerswho staffed the booth and gave 2 or 3 (or more!) hoursof their time to answer fairgoers’ questions as well keepthe booth running smoothly.

Lola

LaceyAllenCVTKristi AmsberryJonathan AmsberrySteve AmsberryDVMMariettaAndersonShawnette Anderson DVMBob ArcherDVMLinda Blythe DVMMissy Bohanan CVTSteve Callahan DVMTerri Clark DVMArlene CoonRichard Coon DVMMorrie Craig PhDApril DarbyMarty DeWees DVMBrian Dietrich DVMTeghan Flores CVTLora Geisler DVMJean Hall DVMRolinda Harper CVTRandall Haveman DVMKelli Hooey CVTPaul Jones DVMTom Keck DVMMichael KellyMargaret Kincaid CVTMichelle Kutzler DVM

Christiane LoehrDr. Med. Vet.

Margaret McCart CVTMark McConnell DVMKimberly McCreedy DVMSusan Morgan VMDSheri Morris DVMShanna Murphy DVMMonica Neptune CVTMissy Owings CVTCheryl Page-Rintoul CVTAngie Price CVT,

VTS (SAIM)Amy Reeves CVTJulie Rowley DVMAndria Saxon CVT, CVPMJerry Schwartz DVMRobert Shimek DVMKeith Sides DVMSandra Smalley DVMShauna Smith CVTJoe Snyder DVMJulie Stafford CVM StudentMatt Steiner CVTJudy Tate CVT

Page 4: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

OVMACE Meetings

OtherCE Meetings

Bubonic plague in Lake County

Blue-green algae toxicityThis summer and early fall the Department of

Human Services issued health advisories for blue-greenalgae levels in more than 10 bodies of water (lakes,reservoirs, rivers) across Oregon.

Exposure to the toxins can be hazardous for bothhumans and pets, with symptoms ranging fromnumbness, tingling and dizziness that can lead todifficulty breathing or heart problems and requireimmediate medical attention.

Information on blue-green algae toxicity, includingsymptoms and treatment, has been made availablethrough the OVMA’s e-News service to themembership as well as on the association’s Web site.

In the past couple of weeks, an abstract publishedin the Journal of Veterinary Emergency Medicine andCritical Care was brought to our attention. It isreprinted here, courtesy of the Veterinary Emergencyand Critical Care Society.

The abstract addresses the treatment and diagnosisof a dog with fulminant neurological disorder due toanatoxin-a intoxication. It was authored byveterinarians Chap Pratt and Birgit Puschner andElizabeth Tor, MS.

ObjectiveTo describe the clinical features, treatment, diagnostic

work-up, and outcome of a dog with acute neurologicsigns subsequent to algal toxin exposure.

Case SummaryA Golden Retriever was presented for evaluation of

acute onset of paraparesis after swimming in a man-made pond in early June and ingesting algae from anearby bucket. The dog was anxious, had mild ptyalism,and when excited, developed generalized self-limitingtremors that progressed to generalized fasciculations andlateral recumbency.

The dog was treated with activated charcoal andcrystalloid fluids. Two hours after the presentation, thedog acutely decompensated and was ultimatelyeuthanized. Gastric contents, bucket contents, pondwater, bile, and urine were positive for anatoxin-a.

New or Unique Information ProvidedAnatoxin-a intoxication is rarely confirmed in dogs

but should be considered as a differential diagnosis inany dog with acute neurologic signs. We report the firstsuccessful detection of anatoxin-a in urine and bile of adog exposed to blue green algae.

This new test provides an enhanced diagnostic toolin suspect cases and has possible therapeutic implicationsin dogs.

State health officials have released information of acase of bubonic plague in Lake County.

According to Dr. Emilio DeBess, the public healthveterinarian and an epidemiologist with OregonDepartment of Human Services, the diagnosis is thefirst in Oregon in 15 years.

Authorities have not released the name of thewoman who became ill in August. The source of theinfection has yet to be determined.

The plague, a bacterial infection carried by rodentsand transmitted to humans through flies, is extremelyrare today, and, when caught early, is treatable.

The most infamous and devastating outbreak ofbubonic plague was the Black Death, which sweptthrough Europe and killed an estimated 75 millionpeople (about 30% of the European population atthe time).

According to Wikipedia: “The Black Death isthought to have originated in the Gobi Desert, carriedby fleas on rats, it spread along trade routes and reachedthe Crimea in 1346. It also spread eastward to theYangste River valley, and the resulting epidemic,ignored by the government, brought down the Yuandynasty. In 1347 it spread to Constantinople and then

Alexandria, killing thousands every day, and soonarrived in Western Europe.

“Though bubonic plague is generally regarded asthe probable pathogen responsible for the Black Deathoutbreak, there are significant differences between thesymptoms and spread of the Black Death and morerecent bubonic plague outbreaks and several alternatetheories of the Black Death have been proposedinvolving other pathogens.”

Although the plague can be deadly, Dr. DeBess saysit is much less of a concern today than it was 600 yearsago because of good antibiotics to treat the infection.

The popular children’s game, “Ring Around theRosy” is considered by many to relate to the Black Death.

Those who support the connection believe that “ringaround the rosy” refers to the rash-like ring that formsas a symptom of the plague. “Pocket full of posy,”proponents claim, refers to carrying flower petals at thetime it was believed the disease was spread through theether of unhygenic conditions (scent stopped thespread of the disease). “Ashes, ashes,” according tosupporters, refers to the burning of infected corpses,and “we all fall down” refers to the virulent deathsattributed to the plague.

November 13 - 14, 2010Fall CE Conference

Marion Polk VAWellspring Medical

Center, Woodburn, OR

November 18 - 21, 1010Veterinary Management

Institute: MarketingManagement

Purdue University

November 21, 2010Renal/Urinary

Rogue Valley VMA

January 13 - 15, 2011Western Canadian

Association of BovinePractitioners

2011 Annual ConferenceSaskatoon, SK

More CE listings on ourWeb site at:

oregonvma.org/continuing-education

Oc tober 13 - 17, 2010Wild West Veterinary

ConferenceReno, NV

wildwestvc.com

March 4 - 6, 2011Oregon Veterinary

ConferenceCorvallis, Oregon

oregonvma.org

Spring 2011Animal Care Forum

Corvallis, Oregonoregonvma.org

For more information,call the OVMA office at

(800) 235-3502 or visit ourWeb site at oregonvma.org.

4 October 2010

Page 5: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Oregonians honored, leadAt the AVMA Convention in Atlanta this past

July, two Portland-area individuals were recognized fortheir accomplishments.

Dr. Tim McCarthy, Beaverton, was presented withthe Practitioner Research Award for his achievementsin endoscopic research.

Board-certified in veterinary surgery, Dr.McCarthy’s main focus and primary expertise has beenin the field of endoscopy: all diagnostic endoscopy,interventional endoscopy, minimally invasive soft tissuesurgery and arthroscopy procedures.

Dr. McCarthy pioneered the application of manyminimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutictechniques that are now, or are becoming, the standardof care. These range from simple techniques such astransurethral cystoscopy, rhinoscopy and oscopy, tomore difficult and challenging techniques includingarthroscopy and transabdominal nephroscopy.

Arlene Coon, Forest Grove, was recognized by theAVMA Auxiliary for her distinguished service to thenational organization.

This award is presented to an individual whoseexceptional achievements and contributions havehelped the Auxiliary advance its mission to supportand promote veterinary medicine.

Arlene was a leader in the OVMA’s Auxiliary andhas been equally active with the AVMA Auxiliary,having served on the Nominating Committee, Long-range Planning, Media Review, MembershipPromotion, Publications and Public Relations. She alsowas an Assistant Coordinator and Coordinator forMarketplace of States.

Oregon Leaders NationallyMembers of Oregon’s veterinary profession continue

to be active with various national organizations, eitheras board members or participating committee members.

Following is a list of those we are familiar with, butit is likely others are also contributing in various ways.

American Animal Hospital Association: Dr. GreggTakashima of Lake Oswego is the current president ofthe companion animal association. Dr. Bob Franklinof Beaverton presently serves on the organization’scommittee for vaccine protocols.

American Association of Feline Practitioners: Dr.Elizabeth Colleran of Portland is President Elect andDr. Vicki Thayer of Lebanon is the organization’sAVMA Delegate.

American Association of Human-Animal BondVeterinarians: Dr. Gregg Takashima, Lake Oswego, is

a member of the organization’s board of directors.

American Association of Small RuminantPractitioners: Dr. Joe Snyder of Myrtle Point is thePast President and Secretary of the organization, andDr. Paul Jones, Woodburn, is the delegate to theAVMA.

American Association of Veterinary State Boards:Dr. Jon Betts, Woodburn, is the Past Chair.

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists: Dr.Jacqui Neilson of Portland is President Elect of theorganization. As part of her responsibilities, she alsochair of ACVB’s annual education committee.

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine:Dr. Jean Hall of Corvallis is President of theorganization’s board of regents.

American Veterinary Medical Association: A trioof individuals serve on the AVMA’s Animal WelfareCommittee: Dr. Joe Snyder of Myrtle Point, veterinarystudent Julie Stafford of Corvallis, and OVMAExecutive Director Glenn Kolb.

In addition, Dr. Chea Hall of Beaverton serves onboth the Council of Veterinary Services and on an adhoc committee to review the Model Practice Act. Dr.Bob Lester of Portland also is a member of the ModelPractice Act group.

Dr. Tina Tran of Hillsboro is on the AVMA 20/20Vision Committee and Dr. Russell Hunter of Astoriaserves as an alternate on the Clinical PractitonersAdvisory Committee.

Delta Society: OVMA President Elect, Dr. LairdGoodman of Beaverton, is a current board member ofthe organization. In addition. Dr. Takashima (notedearlier) is Immediate Past Chair.

National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners:Dr. Linda Blythe of Corvallis is Immediate Past Chair.

Unwanted Horse Coalition: Earlier this fall, Dr.Doug Corey of Adams was appointed to the positionof chair for the national organization.

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association:Michelle Campoli of Eugene, a certified veterinarytechnician and a certified hospital manager, serves onthe group’s credentialing board. She also is an ex-officiomember of the OVMA Board of Directors.

Winn Feline Foundation: Dr. Vicki Thayer,Lebanon, is President Elect.

5October 2010

IndustryPartnersThank you to these partners

who support the OVMA,

including our public relations

and education program:

*Plus Partner*

Elanco Animal Health

elancopet.com

Architectural Werks

awerks.com

AVID

avidid.com

AVMA PLIT

avmaplit.com

Boehringer Ingelheim

Vetmedica

bi-vetmedica.com

BnK Construction, Inc.

bnkconstruction.com

Butler Schein Animal

Health

butlerschein.com

Founders Financial Group

rbusby.com

IDEXX

idexx.com

McCoy Foat

mccoy-cpa.com or

mccoyfoatwmg.com

Merial

merial.com

Michael Kovsky, DVM &

Steve Correa, DVM (IBA, Inc.)

ibainc.com

Simmons & Associates

simmonsinc.com

Find out more about our

industry partnership at:

oregonvma.org/industry-

sponsors

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Budget tool for students, recent grads

Diseases reportable by DVMsClient EducationMaterials Any person practicing veterinary medicine in

Oregon is required by law to immediately notify theOregon Department of Agriculture by telephone ofobserving the following abnormalities:

1. Any unidentified vesicular disease.2. Any exotic disease or foreign animal disease,

even if only suspected.3. Any disease of unknown etiology exhibiting

highly pathogenic or lethal effect.In addition, veterinarians are obligated to

immediately report clinical evidence of any of thefollowing:

Multi-Species Diseases◗ Anthrax◗ Babesiosis / Piroplasmosis◗ Bluetongue◗ Brucellosis (abortus, mellitensis, suis)◗ Foot and mouth disease◗ Pseudorabies◗ Rabies◗ Vesicular Stomatitis

Cattle Diseases◗ Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

◗ Bovine tuberculosis◗ Malignant catarrhal fever◗ Trichomoniasis

Equine Diseases◗ Contagious equine metritis◗ Equine encephalomyelitis (WEE, EEE, VEE

and WNV)◗ Equine infectious anemia◗ Equine viral arteritis

Sheep and Goat Diseases◗ Scrapie

Swine Diseases◗ Classical swine fever◗ Swine infuenza

Poultry Diseases◗ Avian chlamydiosis◗ Avian infectious laryngotracheitis◗ Exotic Newcastle disease◗ Notifiable avian influenza◗ Pullorum disease◗ Salmonella enteritidis

The OVMA has developed a series of resources forveterinary students and recent graduates. One tooldesigned to help develop a budget and track personaldebt can be found on the OVMA Web site atwww.oregonvma.org and can be accessed using yourmember login. You can find the information underResources/Recent Graduates/Financial Planning.

The University of Minnesota financial simulatortool will assist you in creating a budget for a variety ofreal-life circumstances: internships, residency andentering practice.

The tool was created by David Lee, DVM, MBA,Hospital Director at the University of Minnesota. Ithas been refined by Dr. Jim Wilson’s editorial oversight,gained from answering questions about it at dozens ofveterinary schools where it currently is in use.

The site allows you to print hard copies of thebudgets you produce. It is a tool for students to use asthey begin veterinary school and would like todetermine what it will cost for each year so as todetermine how much money they need to borrow. Italso assists students who are planning their financialaffairs as they prepare for life after graduation, aninternship and/or a residency. Note: Recent graduatescan also find the financial simulator tool to be helpfulwith their creating a budget and calculating their debt.

Dr. Wilson has prepared a detailed set of instructionsto help guide you through the process of preparing abudget using the simulator tool. The tool is sponsoredwith an educational grant from Veterinary PetInsurance.

Other Available ResourcesThe financial simulator tool is part of a broad range

of resources the OVMA has developed and/or gatheredfor students, recent graduates as well as those a bitfurther along in their veterinary career.

You can review and access these resources on theWeb site in the section on “Resources for VeterinaryProfessionals.” Under the “Recent Graduates” headingyou will find subsections on the following areas:

1. Communication Strategies2. Connections and Networking3. Job Search4. Transitioning to the Practice

Practice Management & Business ResourcesThe OVMA has also developed and collected

information that address a multitude of business aspectsfor veterinary practices. It is available in the Resources/Practice Management section of the OVMA Web site.

Through the OVMA’s public

relations program, brochures,

posters, videos, a tabletop

display, and other materials

are available free of charge or

for a nominal fee to members.

Brochures ($25 per 100)

Dealing with the Loss of

Your Pet (English or

Spanish)

Fleas

Spay or Neuter Your Pet

(English or Spanish)

Samples available on our Web

site in the client education

area.

Posters

The client education poster

that is included in this

newsletter are available in

PDF format on our Web site

in the members-only area.

Individual copies are

available from the OVMA

office at no charge. Quantities

may be purchased; contact

the OVMA for details.

Other Materials

Would you like to borrow the

tabletop display, anatomy

specimens, or collateral

materials for pet fairs or

school visits?

Call the OVMA office at

(800) 235-3502, e-mail

Raina Dey,

Public Relations Director, at

[email protected], or

visit our Web site at

oregonvma.org for our

display materials order form.

6 October 2010

Page 7: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

7October 2010

Non-Veterinarian Ownership of PracticesNote: The issue of non-veterinarian ownership

of practices has been discussed on a number ofoccasions by OVMA ad hoc committees and theboard of directors.

The board supports moving forward withnon-veterinarian ownership. But what necessarysteps must be taken to successfully accomplishthis continues to be addressed.

A current ad hoc committee will be taking afurther look at laws in other states that allow someform of non-veterinarian ownership to identifywhat might be the best and most appropriatecourse of action in Oregon.

In the meantime, the following informationon the topic was presented by Ed Guiducci, aveterinary-specific attorney based in Colorado, ata national veterinary conference. We believe hepresents a broad overview of the pros and cons ofthe topic.

Comments on the topic are welcome andshould be directed to [email protected]

-- Glenn Kolb, Executive Director

Historically, state law in the United Statesprevented non-veterinarian ownership ofveterinary practices. The purpose of this session isto examine the original justifications and whetheror not these justifications continue to apply. Wewill examine current trends in changes to statelaws and veterinary practice acts in the UnitedStates relating to non-veterinary ownership ofveterinary practices.

This session will also focus on legal options fornon-veterinarians to own veterinary practices andalternative options structures that are slowly beingaccepted by veterinary boards across the UnitedStates permitting non-licensed veterinarians to beowners of practice assets and operations even whenthe state’s veterinary practice act has not beenamended to permit non-veterinary ownership. Wewill also focus on certain practical issues that gobeyond the legalities for non-licensed veterinaryownership of a veterinary practice.

Rationale for Historic Prohibition of Non-DVMOwnership

The historical prohibition on non-licensedveterinary ownership of veterinary practices wasprimarily based upon the fact that veterinarymedicine is a licensed and regulated business. Aspart of the regulation of the veterinary profession,as with other licensed professions, veterinarypractice acts in the United States prohibited non-

veterinary ownership of veterinary practices inorder to maintain the quality of service and protectthe professional’s independent judgment. Theprimary rational that was utilized by the states inadopting their statutes was that the non-licensedveterinarian owners would impact the professionaljudgment of the licensed veterinarians.

Modern Day Views of the Prohibition and ItsImpact on the Profession

There remain differing views in the veterinaryprofession as to the appropriateness of non-licensed veterinarians owning veterinary practices.The following are common arguments in favor ofnon-veterinarians owning veterinary practices:

Arguments Supporting Non-VeterinaryOwnership

1. Relaxing the rules will permit theintroduction and development of innovativeforms of professional practices with the input ofnon-veterinarian owners.

2. Relaxing the rules will permit widows/widowers and the heirs of the veterinarians fromhaving a hardship placed upon them with a forced“fire sale” upon the death of the veterinarian. Thisis especially a hardship for spouses that managethe practice side-by-side with their veterinarianspouse.

3. Relaxing the rules will provide moreopportunities for an exit strategy by expandingthe market to sell existing practices.

4. Relaxing the rules will provideopportunities for key employees to become ownersand remain in the profession.

5. Relaxing the rules could have a positiveeffect on competition and might afford consumersa wider selection of services and costs.

Arguments in Opposition to PermittingNon-Veterinary Ownership

Some of the arguments that are propoundedopposing non-veterinary ownership are asfollows:

1. The corporate bottom-line wouldcontrol over professional ethics and theVeterinary oath. This would create an unethicalinfluence that would damage the public.

2. It is bad for the profession for cities andother public or quasi-public entities to ownpractices and compete with private practices.

3. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!!! This wouldprevent unforeseen problems caused by non-veterinary owners of veterinary practices.

Have Veterinary Practice Acts Been Amended toPermit Non-Veterinary Ownership?

There has not been one uniform change inthe United States to this issue. There have beenthe following four basic approaches by the states:

1. Amendment to state veterinary practice actand/or corporation act permitting non-licensedveterinary ownership of 100% of veterinarypractices;

2. Amendment of veterinary practice act andprofessional corporation act to permit up to 49%ownership of a veterinary practice by non-veterinarians;

(Ownership -- Continued on page 16)

Current Oregon law does not allow a spouse of a veterinarian to assume ownership of thepractice, should her or his married partner die. A minority percentage of ownership is alsonot permissible according to present law.

Page 8: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Leadership and action getresults for the profession

Enhancing your bottom lineFaced with a tax on veterinary biologicals, pharmaceuticals, and remedies,the OVMA rose to the challenge and defeated the proposed legislation.Savings for Oregon’s veterinary practices has totalled more than $27 milliondollars since 1989. This equates to a tangible yearly savings of $4,200

for the average practice.

Exemption from onerous lawThe Association got an exemption for practices from the requirementto track, record and report -- to the county sheriff -- any sale of drugprecursors for meth production such as phenylproponalamine,pseudoephedrine and MSM. Less onerous. Less hassle for you.

Protecting you for reporting animal abuseWith your support, the OVMA introduced and got passed a bill thatshields veterinarians and technicians from civil liability for reporting ingood faith suspected animal neglect and abuse. Under the “GoodSamaritan” law, you also have liability protection for treating or euthanizing

an animal during an emergency when the owner of the animal cannot be contacted oris unknown.

Stopped cumbersome reporting requirementIt took two attempts, but the OVMA remained persistent and achievedlegislation that removed veterinary practices from having to documentand report annually their use of pesticides (EPA products) for treatingpatients both large and small.

Protecting your personal informationWhen the Attorney General’s Office supported an insurance agent’srequest to obtain your e-mail addresses on file with the VeterinaryLicensing Board, the OVMA formally objected. Our concerns were notedby the Governor, who introduced broad legislation that included keepingyour personal information (home address, phone number, e-mail) private

and not accessible through Oregon’s public records law without a compelling publicreason.

11111

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4444455555

YYYYYour prour prour prour prour profofofofofessionalessionalessionalessionalessionalinterests are ourinterests are ourinterests are ourinterests are ourinterests are our

daily focus.daily focus.daily focus.daily focus.daily focus.

“A local posing as an equinedentist was fined by theVeterinary Licensing Board --thanks to OVMA-sponsoredlegislation that gave the VMEBauthority to impose civilpenalties up to $5,000 perviolation for practicingveterinary medicine withouta license.

“The OVMA is the onlyorganization that year roundprotects our profession, theanimals of Oregon and theirowners.

“That’s why I am active with theAssociation and proud to be amember.”

Keith Sides, DVMOVMA PresidentCinder Rock Veterinary ClinicRedmond

Page 9: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Saying no to lay practice of veterinary medicineThe scope of veterinary practice continues to be challenged bynon-licensed individuals who treat animals without a license. In 2003, theOVMA introduced a bill that gives the Veterinary Licensing Board someteeth -- the authority to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation

against a person who practices veterinary medicine without a license.

Stepping up for the equine industryAt the last moment during one legislative session, the OVMA rescued a billthat added the training and stabling of livestock within the definition of “farmuse.” At the time, llamas, goats and racing dogs were considered by thestate to be okay for Exclusive Farm Use zones but horses were not. This

had significant tax implications for horse owners, breeders, stables, and trainers.Horses were appropriately added to the law.

Moving animal legislation forwardOregon was among the first states to elevate the offense for the mostdramatic forms of animal abuse -- torture and malicious killing -- from amisdemeanor to a Class C felony. But when the bill was first introduced15 years ago the committee chair decided to sit on the legislation and notconduct a hearing, which would have effectively killed the bill. The OVMA

intervened, met privately with the chair and explained the importance of the legislation.With our urging, the bill was brought up for a hearing and was overwhelmingly passed.

Rallying behind the Veterinary Diagnostic LabIn 2009 the Board of Higher Education had targeted the VDL at OregonState University for a 60% budget cut. This was on top of a 30% reductionslated for the College of Veterinary Medicine -- some of which also hadimplications for the VDL. The proposed cuts equaled an $840,000 loss infunding and, essentially, would have forced the VDL to close. The OVMA

was a leading advocate for the lab during the legislative session, and, with support fromothers, limited the cuts to 5%, thus preserving the statewide service.

Coming to the aid of animals in a disasterThe Association actively participated in the development of legislation-- and testified before House and Senate committees -- that called foran emergency plan to provide for companion animals and livestockduring a major disaster or emergency.

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Page 10: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

ClassifiedGuidelines

ClassifiedsNote: A new classified ad

policy will go into effect with

the January/February 2011

newsletter. Stay tuned for

details.

Classified ads will appear in

one issue of this newsletter

and on the OVMA Web site

for 2 months.

We cannot honor requests to

run ads “until filled.” Ad

placement and renewal

deadlines are: January 15,

March 15, May 15, July 15,

September 15, and

November 15.

Word Limit: 75 words,

including contact information

.

Members: FREE

Non-Members:

$100 per ad per issue

Relief Veterinarians:

Ads placed by OVMA

members are exempt from the

renewal policy; ads run

continuously. Word limit

applies.

How to submit your ad:

E-mail your ad to classifieds

@oregonvma.org or fax it to

the OVMA office at (503)

363-4218. OVMA members

can also login to the Web site

to submit an ad online. If you

are submitting an ad on

behalf of an OVMA member,

please note the member’s

name and clinic.

Veterinarians

PORTLAND METRO AREA

FT Associate. For busy PDX SA practice. Send resume Attn:Denise Saxon, Powell Blvd. Veterinary Clinic, 3654 SE PowellBlvd., Portland OR 97202. No phone calls please!

FT Veterinarian. We are a full service, small animal clinic inOregon City that mainly treats dogs and cats. We investheavily in new technology and have added digital radiography,digital dental radiography and therapeutic laser in the lastyear. We have an exceptional staff and a great clientele.Experience with ultrasonography, ferrets and rabbits are aplus. Send resume to Milner Veterinary Hospital, 1034 MolallaAve., Oregon City, Oregon 97045 or fax: (503) 722-8628.

FT Medical Director. The Cat Adoption Team, the PacificNorthwest’s largest feline only shelter, is seeking a FT MedicalDirector to oversee all hospital operations includingdevelopment and maintenance of existing programs, protocolsand procedures based on the mission and vision of theorganization, and compliance of the Oregon Veterinary MedicalPractice Act. For more information contact Aaron Asmus [email protected].

FT/PT Associate. Are you looking for an established practicewhere you can contribute to a “no-drama,” team-oriented groupand can continue to expand your skills in your field withexperienced and knowledgeable staff? Schedule may includeMon/Wed 9 am-8 pm, Tues/Thurs/Fri 9 am-6 pm, Sat 9am-2 pm. We have competitive wages, paid benefits, bonusesand CE reimbursement. Please e-mail your resume with workreferences and cover letter to [email protected] or fax to(503) 698-2268, Attn: Office Manager.

PT/FT Associate. Progressive 5 doctor small animal practiceseeks experienced PT/FT associate to join our team nearPortland. Excellent collaborative work environment with greatsupport staff. Practice offers high quality medicine and surgeryand has a strong emphasis on reproduction with a boardcertified theriogenologist on site. Resumes may be faxed to(503) 682-3540, e-mailed to: [email protected] ormailed to Wilsonville Veterinary Clinic, 9275 SW Barber St,Wilsonville, OR 97070. Questions may be directed to RayCalkins at (503) 982-3737.

Veterinarians. Looking for a rewarding and satisfying careerwith a practice that understands work/life balance, providescontinued education classes and allowance, supports theirdoctors through mentorship and a team of medical advisorsavailable to assist every doctor in our hospitals? Interested inpracticing quality medicine and surgery in a well-staffed andequipped hospital? Banfield, The Pet Hospital has wonderfulcareer opportunities in several locations in Oregon andWashington. For more information, contact Jessica Spencer at(503) 922-5435 or [email protected].

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

FT Associate. VCA Salem Animal Hospital is looking for anenthusiastic, experienced FT associate to join our collaborativesmall animal hospital. Surgical interest and experience desired.Our 5 doctor small animal practice emphasizes internalmedicine and dentistry and is appointed with digital radiology,ultrasound and CO2 laser. Our clientele is very engaged inthe health of their pets and value our evening and weekendhours. Apply online at vcahospitals.com, click on "careers"and use keyword: "salem".

PT Associate. AAHA certified small animal practice in Eugene,Oregon, with opportunity to grow into a full time position.Excellent team and facility. We are dedicated to practicing thehighest quality patient care as well as outstanding customer

service. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, CE allowanceand retirement plan. Compensation based on production,experience preferred. Please send resume to: Nancy L. Johnson,DVM, The Veterinary Hospital, 175 Silver Lane, Eugene, OR97404 or e-mail [email protected] Web:www.thevethosp.com

PT/FT Associate. Seeking an Associate Veterinarian for P/T orF/T position at a 24 hr. facility located in Albany, OR.Compensation based on experience and tailored to individualneeds. Family oriented hospital with flexible scheduling. Pleasesubmit your resume to River’s Edge Pet Medical Center at 202NW Hickory St. Albany, OR 97321 or fax to (541) 924-0600.

OTHER STATES & CANADA

Associate. Alberta, Canada. Associate Veterinarian for 3-doctorfull service, progressive small animal/exotics/avian AAHAhospital. New/recent graduates encouraged to apply. Strongemphasis on canine breeding. Hospital provides 24-houremergency care to its clients. Spay/neuter, soft tissue andorthopedic surgeries, orthopedic surgeon visits to performplating, TPLO procedures. Well-equipped: ultrasound,endoscopy, laser surgery, more. Competitive salary and benefitsto include group insurance, health, dental, more. ContactPam at [email protected], by phone toll free at (877) 838-6384 or (804) 733-9100 or fax resume to (804) 733-9100.

Relief VeterinariansArthur Lahm, DVM. Available for relief work in Oregon.Call (503) 784-8224.

C. René Fleming, DVM. Relief veterinarian licensed inOregon, Idaho and Alaska. Available for SA work and basic LAwork. Compassionate, thorough and reliable, with good clientcommunication skills. Call (541) 590-0905 or send e-mailto [email protected].

Carol Beck, DVM. Excellent SA and emergency relief work inOregon (statewide) and southern Washington. Easy commuteto the Portland area. Please call my cell phone at (541) 908-3289 (Salem).

Cathy Annunziata, DVM, VMR 1998. Available for SArelief work in the Portland metro area. Progressive, reliable,compassionate care. Call (503) 810-9284 or e-mail:[email protected].

Claire Smith, DVM. Available for equine relief work.Emergency, anesthesia (field or in-hospital), lameness andpreventative medicine. Licensed in Oregon and Washington.Call (608) 852-6262.

Dana Bailey, DVM, ORS 2004. Relief veterinarian living inBend, available for SA work throughout Oregon. Four yearsexperience as a small animal practitioner in Oregon, Montana,and Washington, including after-hours emergency work.Conscientious, easygoing, personable, and adaptable. Call(541) 647-8143 or send an e-mail: [email protected].

Daniel O'Berry, DVM, WSU 1987. 22 years of experience,strong surgical and diagnostic skills. I will keep your clientshappy and coming back to your practice. Available for work inthe Willamette Valley, and I may travel depending oncircumstance. Please call me at (541) 935-8001 or (480)220-0709.

Deborah Hodesson, DVM, UCD '79. Available for relief.Small animal. OR/CA. Advanced dentistry, emergency,internal, geriatric, preventive medicine, soft tissue surgery; Itreat your clients, patients and staff as if they were my "own"Contact me by phone: (541) 318-1053 H, (707) 695-7743C, (541) 410-2598 W, [email protected] and resume available upon request.

10 October 2010

Page 11: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Deborah Seemann, DVM, WSU 1996. Licensed in Oregonand Washington. Excellent medical and soft tissue surgeryskills on dogs and cats. I really enjoy communicating withyour staff, and retaining your clientele is my priority! E-mail:[email protected] or call (503) 695-3542.

Diane Alexander, DVM, ILL 1990. Available for SA relief inthe mid-to-northern Willamette Valley. Compassionate,reliable care. Please call (503) 363-9727. References available.

Eric R. Webb. Oklahoma State 1998. Available for reliefwork in Southern Oregon. 10 years ownership experience.Available for small animal, pocket pets, avian services.Experienced in both medicine and surgery. Will providebeneficial relief services for your practice. Please call (541)761-3901.

Frank Robison, DVM, CSU 1980. Available for SA relief orPT work in OR and WA. Call (406) 490-3228 or e-mail to:[email protected].

Gabriella Flacke, DVM, MVSc, UGA 2003. Available forcompanion animal and exotics relief work in the PortlandMetro Area, and am also willing to travel. I provide highquality medical and surgical care, have excellent clientcommunication skills, am reliable, well-organized,compassionate, and keep very thorough medical records.Experience with both small single-doctor and large multi-doctor practice environments. Flexible schedule, licensed inCA, OR, and WA. Rates, references, and full resume availableupon request. (707) 732 3575 cell or [email protected].

James Weikum, DVM. 15 years experience in Portland Metroarea. Available for small animal PT time/relief work in PortlandMetro area. Call (503) 675-1927 or e-mail:[email protected].

Jason C. Nicholas, BVetMed(Hons), RVC 2004. NorthwestRelief Veterinary Services, LLC. Internship-trained (AMC2006-07) small animal clinician. Extensive experience in bothGP and ER settings. Strong clinical skills in internal andemergency medicine. Excellent client relations/communication, record keeping and rapport with supportstaff. Assured independent contractor status and full PLITcoverage. Available for relief in PDX area, Willamette Valley,North/Central Coast, Hood River area, and Central Oregon.E-mail: [email protected] or call (503) 953-3232.

Jill Suess, DVM. SA relief doctor available in WA and OR.Graduated from WSU 2005. Phone: (360) 918-1700 or e-mail [email protected].

John Bachmann, DVM, UC Davis 1985. Over twenty yearsexperience with dogs, cats, and some pocket pets. Seekingrelief work in Oregon. To contact me, please [email protected].

Jonathan Perchick, DVM, KSU 2005. Licensed in Oregonand Washington. Providing reliable and efficient SA medical/surgical and emergency relief coverage. Short notice okay.Resume available upon request. Call (206) 818-4017 or e-mail me at [email protected].

Julianna Burke, DVM. 1996 Graduate of Oregon/Washington State University. Available for large and smallanimal relief work in the mid Willamette Valley. AssociateVeterinarian rural mixed animal practice for 9 years. Reliefveterinarian since 2005. E-mail [email protected] call (503) 606-2089.

Lauren Stayer, DVM. Relief veterinarian living in CentralOregon. Compassionate, hard working, reliable, team andclient oriented small animal general practice and emergencyveterinarian. Please call: (503) 679-9944 or [email protected].

Lisa Williams, DVM. Small animal veterinarian.Compassionate, reliable and professional. Genuinely caresabout your clients, their pets and your revenue. Works greatwith staff! Call (503) 260-8142 or [email protected].

Lora Geisler, DVM, ORS 1998. SA veterinarian available forrelief/part-time work in the Willamette Valley, Portland andsurrounding areas. Please contact me at [email protected].

Lori Herrold, DVM, UC Davis 1989. Small animalpractitioner with proven ability and experience providing high-quality medical, dental, and ST surgical services. Exceptionalpeople and patient skills, with caring manner and conscientiouswork ethic. As a former practice owner, I am prepared to keepyour patients healthy, your staff happy, and your clientssatisfied. Available for relief/part-time work. Based in theRogue Valley - will consider travel within Oregon. Pleasecontact [email protected] or call (541) 890-3240.

Margaret Bowyer, DVM. Located in West Linn, available onshort notice and for extended absences. I am an adaptable andknowledgeable veterinarian with five years of general smallanimal medicine and surgery experience. References andresume available. Please contact me via e-mail [email protected] or by phone at (503) 305-8591.

Melinda Ann Knox, DVM, Tufts 1998. Experiencedveterinarian available for SA and Feline-exclusive relief workin Oregon. Conscientious, flexible, reliable, will uphold yourpractice standards and relate well with your clients and staff.Resume and rates provided upon request. Please reply by e-mail to [email protected] or you may call (503) 675-8061.

Patti Smith, DVM, COL 2000. Compassionate,hardworking, efficient and reliable SA (dogs and cats) reliefveterinarian available in Portland and surrounding areas.Flexible schedule. Send e-mail to [email protected] call (503) 467-8127.

Robert J. Nix, DVM, UGA 1992. I have 17 years ofexperience in small animal primary and emergency practicefrom rural to urban environments. I provide excellent serviceto your clients and great teamwork to your veterinary staff. Iam licensed in both WA and OR. E-mail me with your needsfor short to long term relief work at [email protected] or call(503) 956-0133.

Shelley Barlow, DVM. Providing excellent SA relief servicein the Willamette Valley for more than five years. In SA practice10 years prior to beginning relief service. At home in theexam room or surgery suite. Call (503) 831-0592.

Sheri Hensley, DVM. Relief especially west of Portland andMcMinnville, Newberg, Salem, coast. Licensed in OR, WA,ID, CA, VA. Travel to Boise, LaGrande, CA, other areas OK.Small animal, moderate equine, enjoy clients and staff. 15years of vet relief. Call (503) 537-8465 ATT cell or [email protected]

Tim Ramsey, DVM, UC Davis 1978. Available for SAmedicine and surgery relief work in Oregon and Washington.Proficient in soft tissue and routine othopedic procedures.Call (541) 923-2172 or (541) 729-2885 or send an e-mailto [email protected].

Vicki L. Thayer, DVM. Relief veterinarian available for felinepractice in Oregon, Washington and Northern California. 25years experience in clinical feline medicine/surgery, includingpractice management/ownership. Resume provided uponrequest. Please call (541) 409-1313. Visit my Web site:www.purrfectpractice.com

Whitney Bost, DVM. Friendly, compassionate, with excellentcommunication skills. Available for SA medicine and surgeryrelief services in the Portland Metro area. Licensed in Oregonand Washington. Call (360) 531-0178 or [email protected] Corriher, DVM NCSU 1995. Licensed and APHISaccredited (Category II) in OR and WA. Available for smallanimal and basic equine relief or PT work in both states.Excellent patient care, very organized and thorough,compassionate, reliable, outgoing personality. Respectful ofdiffering clinic protocols/policies. Ability to be practical aswell as academic. Special interests: internal medicine (especiallyfeline), pocket pets, high volume spay/neuter surgery

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11October 2010

Page 12: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

(including pediatrics). Resume, references available onrequest. Email: [email protected] or call(503) 205-3802.

Health Care Team

PORTLAND METRO AREA

Experienced Licensed Technician. Murrayhill VeterinaryHospital is a 5 doctor practice looking for an experiencedlicensed veterinary technician to join our team.Responsibilities would include patient nursing care, clienteducation, venipuncture, anesthetic induction andmonitoring, intravenous catheter placement, ultrasonicdental cleaning and charting, and performingradiographs. Ideal candidate must be licensed with greatcommunication skills, self motivated and team focused.Please visit website (http://www.murrayhillvethospital.com/careers.shtml) for moreinformation and application form. Send resumes [email protected] or fax to (503) 579-4645.

FT/PT Technician. Meridian Park Veterinary Hospitalis currently looking for a PT experienced technician thatmay turn into a FT position. Successful applicants mustbe hardworking and have the ability to juggle multiplepriorities at once. The ability to work well as part of ateam is critical as are excellent patient care and clientcommunication skills. Please fax your resume to Attn:Office Manager, Melanie Brown, (503) 691-9518 ordrop off in person at 6650 SW Nyberg St., Tualatin,OR 97062.

Licensed Technician. Cedar Mill Veterinary Hospital inPortland is looking for a licensed veterinary technicianfor our SA practice. New graduates welcome. Benefitsinclude: medical, dental, vision, life, CE, and paidvacation. Please fax your resume to (503) 574-3141.Or send an e-mail to: [email protected].

Technician/Assistant. Gladstone Veterinary Clinic isseeking an addition to our team. We are a 3-doctor smallanimal and exotics practice. 2 yrs. of experience as aveterinary technician/assistant is required, as are excellentproblem-solving skills, attention to detail, a positiveprofessional attitude, and abilities to multi-task, takedirection, and work as a team. Experience with Cornerstonepreferred. Four 10-hour shifts, rotating Saturdays.Benefits after 90 days. Fax/email resume to Di at (503)653-3459 or [email protected].

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

CVT. Are you a CVT interested in providing high qualitycare? We are seeking a CVT for our practice. Shift is 9:30am to 6 pm, Monday-Friday. We pride ourselves onproviding high quality service by keeping up withtechnology and care for our patients. We offer competitivewages and benefits. Must have experience in small animalsetting and be certified in radiology. For moreinformation, visit: http://evvc.com/. Email resume andcover letter to [email protected].

CVT/Head Technician. We are seeking a CVT for ourHead Technician position at our 24-hour hospital innorth Albany. Salary and benefits will be based onexperience. Surgery and emergency experience ispreferred. This is a FT position. For more information,please contact Ranee at River’s Edge Pet Medical Centerat (541) 942-1700. Or fax resume to (541) 924-0600.

CVT. Growing, two doctor SA practice in the heart ofthe Willamette Valley seeks experienced, self-directedCVT. Newly remodeled facility, also specializing in exotics.If you are interested in a FT position, with flexiblescheduling, we would like to hear from you. Wage DOE.

Please submit cover letter, resume and rerferences via faxto (541) 926-5554, attn: Practice Manager.

FT CVT or Assistant. McKenzie Animal Hospital isoffering a fantastic opportunity! Our AAHA certifiedhospital provides wellness care; cutting edge medicine,dentistry and surgery; and acupuncture and herbalmedicine. We are looking for an individual who hasexcellent communication techniques, and is productiveand caring. Please hand deliver a resume to 5303 MainSt., Springfield, OR 97478, including a handwrittencover letter and references. Only qualified applicantswill be contacted.

Licensed Technicians (Relief). The City of Eugene Spayand Neuter Clinic (established 1978) is looking forlicensed technicians for relief work. Surgical roomexperience necessary. If interested, please call (541) 682-3643 (voice mail) or (541) 682-3395 (weekdays 9 amto 4 pm)

PT/FT Technician/Assistant. Woodburn VeterinaryClinic is a 7 doctor mixed animal practice seeking aperson with excellent animal and customer servicetechniques. A caring atttitude and productivity skills area must. Please send your resume to 225 S. Pacific Hwy.,Woodburn, OR 97071 or fax to (503) 982-2425.

CENTRAL OREGON

Relief CVT. Bend Spay & Neuter Project in Bend, ORis looking for a relief CVT for limited on call work. Weare a non-profit high volume spay/neuter clinic lookingfor a licensed technician to fill in when our tech is sick oron vacation. Please contact Megan Wellinghoff [email protected] or by calling (541) 617-1010.

FT CVT or Experienced Assistant. Needed for CentralOregon high quality SA practice. Applicant should befriendly, self-directed, and caring. Technical skills shouldinclude IV catheter placement, anesthesia monitoring,ultrasonic dental cleaning, radiography, and general patientnursing care. Radiation safety certification andmanagement skills are desirable. Competitive wages andbenefits. Fax your cover letter and resume with referencesto (541) 484-5260.

Manager. Needed for Central Oregon high quality SApractice. Looking for cheerful, organized, problem-solving person with experience in basic bookkeeping,inventory control, personnel managemen, andscheduling. Previous experience in veterinary clinicpreferred. Compensation includes competitive wage andbenefits. Fax cover letter and resume to (541) 484-5260.

SOUTHERN OREGON

Experienced PT Veterinary Assistant/Technician.Needed for small animal clinic in Central Point, Oregon.Applicant needs to be able to perform catheter placement,take and develop radiographs, and perform dentalcleanings. We are a relaxed, flexible, family friendlyworkplace. Wage will be based on experience. E-mailresume to [email protected] and visit Web site atwww.mountainviewvet.net.

OTHER STATES AND CANADA

CVT. Small Animal/Exotics practice in Lacey, WA seekinglicensed veterinary technician with strong interest indentistry for Mon-Fri, 8 - 5 shift. We're a friendly andhardworking group and are looking for the right teamplayer. Contact Tristin at [email protected] (360) 459-6556.

Equipment WantedUp to 5 used stainless steel dog kennels. Sizes 30 up to48 inches, not picky. Call Sheri Morris, DVM at (503)307-9197 or email [email protected].

Equipment for SaleGeneral Electric Mobile X-Ray Generator. Free to goodhome. 200ma, 110kv capabilities. [email protected] or call (503) 663-1515if interested.

Idexx Vet Test/Idexx Vet Lyte. Our recent upgrade isyour wish come true. Purchase an Idexx Vet Test or anIdexx Vet Lyte machine (plus our extra supplies). Eachone is ONLY $650 OBO. Both machines are in excellentcondition. Just plug them in and start running labsamples in your clinic today! Call Liz at (541) 884-2926.

Isolett Infant Incubator. In great condition but needssome tinkering. Adjustable temperature control andoxygen input. Only known problem is that it sometimesturns off at random times. If you are handy with simplerepairs, this is an unbeatable deal. Only $600 OBO.Call Liz at (541) 884-2926.

Mobile Clinic. This is an easy to drive, well equippedvan. Contains an anesthetic machine, dental machine(both were used infrequently), medium size treatment/surgical counter (up to 60lbs), easily maneuverablesurgical light, sink, refrigerator, microwave, mediumkennel, induction box, auto ceiling fan/exhaust and lotsof storage. Lots of surgical instruments and some nicedental tools, other supplies. Forced to give it up due tohealth. In Portland metro. 20K takes all. Please call Kellyat (503) 515-6973.

Surgical Laser Unit. Cutting Edge 30 watt surgical laserunit. This unit was purchased in late 2005 and has lowhours of use. Please contact Dr. Mark Omann at (541)963-2748 Monday - Thursday for a good deal on thismachine.

Various Equipment. Suburban SS Runs (8) at 3’ x 6’ +(1) 4’ x 6’ w/ flooring $10,000. Double K dog dryerw/ stand $150. Human Surgery Table $200. Ehlmanvet-surg $1,400. Leave contact information for JeffRoberg DVM at (503) 682-6000.

VetOx 4403 SpO2. Pulse, Temp, (many other adaptersavailable). Works great. Only $100 OBO. Call Liz at(541) 884-2926.

Practices for Sale or LeaseColumbia Gorge. 1+ DVM small animal practice inColumbia Gorge area. High net, low overhead. 18%growth 2009. Outstanding staff that like their jobs.Realistically priced with real estate sale or lease. Ownerwill finance with modest down. 100K income with debtservice. Call (541) 296-6527 evenings or weekends.

Portland Metro Area. For Sale or Lease. Small animalclinic located in north Willamette Valley, 30 minutesfrom downtown Portland, Oregon. I’ve only beenworking it part time for the last several years due tohealth problems; now it’s time to retire. Way morepotential. Equipped, and loyally staffed. Let’s talk. [email protected]

Vancouver, Washington area. 1 DVM SA practice withreal estate for sale. Newly remodeled, well equipped clinic,practicing high quality medicine. No weekend or eveninghours. Contact Dr. Steve Correa (IBA) at (253) 548-4578

12 October 2010

Page 13: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

Central Washington. 1 DVM SA practice. Scenic settingclose to mountains, hiking and boating. Established 25+years. Practice is well equipped for in-house blood workand has radiograph digital converter. Contact Dr. SteveCorrea (IBA) at (253) 548-4578.

Salem area. Practice with real estate available. Wellestablished 1(+) DVM practice in smaller community.Close to veterinary college. Contact Dr. Steve Correa(Practice Concepts) at (253) 548-4578.

Eastern Oregon. 40% bovine, 10% equine, 50% smallanimal. Well-equipped, free-standing hospital. The priceof $800,000 includes the practice and the real estate.Financing is available. Practice grossing about $810,000.Income to buyer, $100,000+ after debt. Contact Dr.Dave Gerber at Simmons & Associates (208) 664-3100or (800) 846-0062. (LOR54)

Washington. Cats, cats, and only cats. Feline practice inSeattle metro. Nicely equipped, great reputation.Leasehold space with good renewals. 4½ day work week.Income to buyer ~$110K. Price $335K. Contact Dr.Dave Gerber at Simmons & Associates (208) 664-3100or (800) 846-0062. (LWA47)

Washington. Small animal practice north of Bellingham.Attractive, pleasant leased space. 2009 gross $530K.Income to buyer $100K. Price $420K. Contact Dr.Dave Gerber at Simmons & Associates (208) 664-3100or (800) 846-0062. (LWA48)

Alaska. Southeast coastal small animal practice. Very well-equipped leasehold clinic. Highly profitable. 2009 gross$1.93M. Income to buyer $270K. Price $1.85M.Contact Dr. Dave Gerber at Simmons & Associates(208) 664-3100 or (800) 846-0062. (LAK04)

Oregon Coast. Small animal practice.This nicelyequipped, free-standing hospital is located in a smalltown on the Oregon Coast...a wonderful place to liveand raise a family. The price of $610,000 includes thepractice and the real estate. Financing is available. Practiceis grossing $500,000+. Income to buyer, $100,000+after debt. Contact Dr. Dave Gerber at Simmons &Associates (208) 664-3100 or (800) 846-0062.(LOR53)

LaGrande, OR. Turnkey operation, includes practice,equipment, supplies and real estate. Small animalpractice, but large animal opportunity exists and couldbe developed. A wonderful area for outdoor enthusiasts:skiing, hiking, hunting, fishing are all at your doorstep.Please call (541) 963-0287.

Services & ConsultantsPractice Sales/Associate Buy-In. Practice evaluations andsale representation for sellers and buyers. Licensedcommercial real estate broker in Oregon and Washington.Prior practice owner. Dr. Michael Kovsky (IBA) at 800218-4422 or e-mail: [email protected]

Now assisting with practice sales or purchases.Business/legal. Practice valuations and practice salesrepresentations, for buyer or seller. Plus rent-a-CEOservice to raise profits. Start CEO work a minimum oftwo to three years before the sale. Karl R. Salzsieder,DVM, JD. Call (360) 577-8115. E-mail:[email protected]

Veterinary Anesthesia Specialists, LLC. Offersconsulting, training and clinical services related to pain

management and anesthesia. Contact Heidi Shafford,DVM, PhD, DACVA at (503) 805-5515. Please visitwww.vetanesthesiaspecialists.com for more information.

Exotic Pet Consultations & Referrals Do you needhelp with an exotic pet case? Perhaps you’re strugglingwith a diagnostic dilemma? Does your patient needsurgery beyond your expertise? Dr. Mark Burgess atSouthwest Animal Hospital has 24 years’ experiencepracticing, writing, lecturing, and teaching exotic petmedicine. Phone consultations and referrals are welcome!Call us at (503) 643-2137 or email us([email protected]). We’re located inBeaverton at Murray and Allen Blvds.

Compassionate Care Home Pet Euthanasia Service:For those requests that you just can't do yourself, refer toa caring, experienced, dependable and responsiveveterinarian who will respect your existing patient/clientrelationship and will support them as you would.Available 24 hours. Please contact Lori Gibson DVM at(503) 880-1172.

Practice Sales/Purchases/Buy-ins/Appraisals.Representation of sellers, buyers, or facilatation oftransaction. Practice appraisals. Dr. Gerber is the ONLYDVM and accredited practice appraiser (AccreditedValuation Analyst) in the NW. We work exclusively withveterinary practices. Broker licenses in OR, WA, ID.Owned small animal practice for 15 years. Dave Gerber,DVM, AVA. Call: 208-664-3100 or 800-846-0062E-mail: [email protected] Website:www.simmonsinc.com

The OVMA wishes to recognize veterinarytechnicians and celebrate their significantcontributions to veterinary medicine, as part of

Veterinary Technician WeekOctober 10 - 16, 2010

National Association of Veterinary Techicians in America

www.navta.net

13October 2010

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14 October 2010

Economic Climate Survey ResultsGiven the economic downturn that has

occurred nationally as well as in Oregon, theOVMA prepared a survey to allow our membersto evaluate their economic situation over the pastyear compared to that of other OVMA members.

In summer 2010, we asked 394 practiceowners who were OVMA members to respond tothis survey. We received 79 responses, a 20%response rate. Practice owners were asked to answer19 questions regarding changes to their practiceeconomics and staff over the past year. Survey

questionnaires gathered through the survey Website.

Not every question was answered by all of therespondents, so the number of responses shownvaries.

The following results reflect a sampling of thestatewide data.

The full statewide results as well as specificgeographic areas of Oregon are available to OVMAmembers on our Web site at oregonvma.org. Weencourage you to check out the report for your

geographic area, as there were marked differencesin some data based on region.

If you do not see the link under the Newssection on our home page, go to the Resourcescategory. click on Practice Management and thenFinances. You will need to use your member loginto access this members-only data.

If you do not have a Web site login set up,have any questions about this survey or do nothave Internet access, please contact us [email protected] or (800) 235-3502.

55% of practices reported a decrease in practice revenue, with the largestnumber reporting a 6-10% decrease. 33% of practices reported an increase.

Practice Revenue45% of practices reported a decrease in pharmacy sales, with the largestnumber reporting a 1-5% decrease. 35% of practices reported an increase.

Pharmacy Sales

49% of practices reported a decrease in vaccination compliance over the pastyear, with the largest number reporting a 1-5% decrease. 16% of practicesreported an increase.

Vaccination Compliance61% of practices reported a decrease in wellness visits/regular checkups overthe past year, with the largest number reporting a 1-5% decrease. 19% ofpractices reported an increase.

Wellness Visits/Regular Checkups

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

Page 15: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

15October 2010

46% of practices reported a decrease in diagnostic procedures over the pastyear, with 17 reporting a 1-5% decrease, while 39% reported an increase.

Diagnostic Procedures9% of practices reported a decrease in fees for procedures over the pastyear, while 62% reported an increase.

Fees for Procedures

63% of practices reported a decrease in transactions over the past year, while30% reported an increase. 7% reported no change.

Transactions19% of practices reported a decrease in past due accounts and accounts incollections, while 37% reported an increase and 44% reported no change.

Past Due Accounts & Accounts in Collections

37% of practices reported a decrease in health care team staffing overthe past year, while 9% reported an increase. 54% reported no change.

Health Care Team Staffing16% of practices reported a decrease of 1 DVM, while 6% reported anincrease of 1 DVM. 78% reported no change.

DVM Staffing

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1 staff

Increase 2 staff

Increase 3+ staff

Decrease 1 staff

Decrease 2 staff

Decrease 3+ staff

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1-5%

Increase 6-10%

Increase 11-15%

Increase 16-20%

Increase More than 20%

Decrease 1-5%

Decrease 6-10%

Decrease 11-15%

Decrease 16-20%

Decrease More than 20%

No change

Increase 1 DVM

Increase 2 DVM

Increase 3+ DVM

Decrease 1 DVM

Decrease 2 DVM

Decrease 3+ DVM

Page 16: OVMA Newsletter October 2010 - · PDF fileLora Geisler DVM Jean Hall DVM Rolinda Harper CVT Randall Haveman DVM Kelli Hooey CVT Paul Jones DVM Tom Keck DVM Michael Kelly Margaret Kincaid

MemberServices

(Ownership -- Continued from page 16)

3. Various amendments of state statutes that areinconsistent with each other permitting corporateownership through certain legal entities but not othersi.e. professional corporation acts prohibit non-veterinaryownership but for-profit corporation acts permit non-veterinarian ownership.

4. No amendment to act thereby continuing theprohibition on non-licensed veterinary ownership ofveterinary practice.

How Do Non-Veterinarians Own an Interest inPractices in States that Continue to Prohibit Non-Veterinary Ownership?

Non-veterinarians are prohibited from individuallyowning a veterinary practice or forming a for-profitcorporation to provide veterinary medical services anddirectly receive the fee for these services that reside instates that prohibit non-veterinary ownership ormajority veterinary ownership. The individual orcorporation would in these states be unlawfullyengaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, whilethe licensed veterinarian employed by the corporationor individual would violate the prohibition againstpermitting or allowing another to use his or her licenseto practice medicine and would be subject to havinghis or her license canceled, revoked, or suspended bythe states’ board of veterinary medical examiners.

This would appear to prevent a non-veterinarianfrom obtaining ownership of a veterinary practice inthe states that have not amended their veterinarypractice acts. However, there is another option. Insome states a non-veterinarian is permitted to enterinto an administrative services structure to work inconjunction with a veterinary professional servicescorporation that provides veterinary medical care.

The basic premise of this approach is that theadministrative services legal entity provides any andall services and staff that the veterinary professionalservices corporation needs to operate the veterinarypractice except for hiring veterinarians and in somestates licensed technicians. This includes providing theveterinary professional services corporation with leasedspace, equipment, furniture, instruments, marketingservices, accounting services, billing services, generaladministrative services, training, recruiting ofprofessional staff, etc.

The majority of the fees that are generated by theveterinary practice are received by the veterinaryprofessional services corporation but are then disbursedas service fees or reimbursement except for theprofessional personnel expenses of the veterinaryprofessional services entity. This structure has satisfiedmany states’ concerns to protect the public becausethe separate structure insures that the professionaljudgment of the veterinarians is not being controlledby non-veterinarian owners.

What is a Typical Administrative Services Structure?A typical administrative services structure involves a

for-profit corporation being formed to purchase practiceassets from a selling veterinarian to serve the role of anadministrative services entity. A separate professionalveterinary corporation is formed to provide professionalveterinary services and one veterinarian will be the solestockholder of the corporation to comply with statelaw. If one of the owners of the for-profit legal entitywere a veterinarian then typically this person would bethe sole shareholder of the professional legal entity. Ifthe purchaser doesn’t have a licensed veterinarian aspart of its ownership, then a veterinarian would needto be hired by the veterinary clinic to provide theveterinary services and to hold the share of stock whileemployed.

Typically the practice assets that are sold as part of aveterinary asset sale transaction consist of an assignmentof the commercial lease on the land and buildings (or apurchase of the land and building), all the fixtures,furniture and equipment of the practice, trade nameand drug and office supply inventory of the practice aswell as the telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, websites, client and patient records and goodwill. Thestructure will vary depending upon the state that thepractice is located in because certain states prohibit thefor-profit administrative services corporation fromowning the client/patient records and goodwill. In thesecases the purchase of the client/patient records and goodwill assets will be assigned to the veterinary professionalservices entity.

The administrative services agreement is a formalizedcontract that clearly identifies the rights andresponsibilities of each of the for-profit administrativeservices entity and the veterinary professional servicescorporation. It will outline the services that will beprovided and the fees that will be paid the for-profitadministrative services company.

Check Recovery

FedPayUSA will take the

worry out of accepting checks

from your clients.

Collections

The sooner you start to

collect on your outstanding

receivables, the more money

you’ll recover. I.C. System,

the OVMA’s endorsed

provider, has more than 60

years of experience and has

adopted new options for

practices. I.C. System has

collected more than $3

million for OVMA members.

Credit Card Processing

Put more money into your

pocket by enrolling in the

OVMA’s program through

the Retail Council Services

Corp. Get a free cost

comparison of your current

program with ours.

Insurance

Through the OVMA’s

endorsed providers,

Founders Financial Group &

Wells Fargo Veterinary

Insurance, you can find

insurance coverage (and

other services)

to meet your varied needs.

To learn more about these

membership services,

contact us at

(800) 235-3502 or visit our

Web site at oregonvma.org

and click on the About

category.

16 October 2010