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Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for choosing to be a part of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association. You are a valuable member of our veterinary community here in Hawaii, and we welcome you to be active with us! As a non-profit organization, the HVMA serves as our local veterinarians’ public face and collective voice.

This year we will seek to improve the accessibility of the HVMA to its members in various ways. Our website has undergone tremendous upgrades and continues as a work in progress in providing services such as an online public membership directory, as well as job postings and relief vet listings for members. Our transition to electronic communication continues with improved online membership registration and our first e-newsletter!

We have many areas that members can volunteer to contribute to, such as with Membership outreach, Public Relations, Newsletter production, Legislative action, and Website updates. All of our current progress has come about from members seeing areas of need in our organization, and stepping up to offer their services. We are so grateful for every cog in our wheel, and we welcome any input or help you can offer to improve our HVMA.

If you are interested in getting involved and would like more information, let us know! You can email us at contact@hawaiivetmed.org, indicate your interest when you complete your membership registration online, or find a board member to speak with directly.

Wishing you good health, growth, and abundant aloha in 2017!

On behalf of your HVMA Board,

Jill Yoshicedo, DVM

Veterinary Feed Directive

The use of certain antibiotics in medicated feed for food-production animals will be considered a ‘veterinary feed directive’ or a ‘prescription medication’ starting January 1, 2017.  If you have questions, or want to be added to the list of veterinarians who can a feed directive for clients, please contact the University of Hawaii’s Extension Veterinarian, Jenee Odani, at 956-3847 or jsodani@hawaii.edu.

Downloads:

More Information on VFD from CTAHR

VFD order form

New APHIS Travel Website & Important Information for Accredited DVMs

USDA APHIS announced the launch of a new pet travel website on July 18th.

See this factsheet for more information.

The new APHIS Pet Travel Website will be located at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pettravel

The site contains pet import, export, and interstate movement information for the following types of privately-owned companion animals:

Dogs
Cats
Ferrets
Pet Birds
Rodents
Rabbits
Hedgehogs/ tenrecs
Reptiles
Amphibians

 

The new website does not cover pets other than the types listed above nor does it cover movement of the above listed pet species intended for resale, commercial use, or research. Protocols for these shipments, when available, will remain on the IREGs. The IREGs will cross-reference the Pet Travel Website and the Pet Travel Website will cross-reference the IREGs.

A few key features of the site:

– Simple language approach with clearer headings, intuitive navigation, and bold graphics.

– New frequently asked questions and answers document

– A step-by-step checklist to help stakeholders better understand and prepare for international travel requirements

– Fillable health certificates for countries with known pet export requirements

– Pet import requirements including links to other agencies with (potential) regulatory authority over the import

– Detailed guidance documents on sending pets to select countries as well as importing pets into the U.S.

– An improved link to find APHIS’ closest Veterinary Services endorsement office

There are many country specific VEHCS-style HCs available. Please be aware that effective July 31st, APHIS VS will no longer endorse any documents not required by an importing country.

 

Here are the key points for clients:

o Effective July 31st, APHIS VS will no longer endorse any documents not required by an importing country.

o This includes, but may not be limited to, an APHIS 7001 requested by an airline but is not required by the importing country.

If an APHIS 7001 is used for a pet to gain entry into a foreign country OR there is no country-specific guidance available, APHIS VS will continue to endorse the APHIS 7001.

If the client does encounter a problem (even if it is resolved), please encourage them to send APHIS the following information:

o Airline

o Name of the desk agent

o Port

o Date

o Flight

If you have questions, or are not accredited by USDA to write health certificates and would like to be, you can contact:

Todd Carnes
National Veterinary Accreditation Program Coordinator
California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa
USDA APHIS VS
10365 Old Placerville Road #210
Sacramento, CA 95827
916-854-3903
Todd.D.Carnes [at] aphis.usda.gov

Got Loans? USDA Offers Some Relief

Do you have an interest in food animal practice? Here’s an opportunity to support local farmers, protect our island community’s food supply, and help shape the future of Hawaii agriculture.

The USDA will fund two positions in Hawaii as part of their Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. Participants can receive up to $25,000 per year toward repayment of student loans in exchange for working in underserved regions of Kauai and Oahu.

The application process is expected to open in mid-April. We will post the information here when it becomes available. In the meantime, you can call with any questions:

JASON D. MONIZ, D.V.M.
Program Manager, Animal Disease Control Branch
Division of Animal Industry
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
(808) 483-7106

Vet Techs and Controlled Drug Reporting

The Veterinary Technician bill SB2671 is up for another hearing on Monday 3/14 at 2 pm in House conference room 325. We ask that you would again submit your testimony to support recognizing our vet techs by Sunday 3/13. If you have questions about this bill, please contact Eric Ako (akoe002@hawaii.rr.com).

Link to bill for info and for online testimony submission: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2671&year=2016

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We are still awaiting hearing dates for the electronic drug reporting bills, so stay tuned. You may also email or call your local reps at any time to let them know you support these amended bills that exempt veterinarians from all electronic controlled drug reporting requirements.

SD2461 SD1, http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2461
SD2915 SD1, http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2915&year=2016

Veterinary Technician Bill Up for Hearing – Request to Submit Testimony

As this year’s legislative process begins, our Veterinary Technician bill is up for hearing this Wednesday, Feb 3rd. Please submit your testimony to support recognizing our vet techs by Tuesday, Feb 2nd. If you have questions about this bill, please contact Eric Ako (akoe002@hawaii.rr.com).

Link to bill for info and for online testimony submission: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1955&year=2016

The Senate version of the bill (SB2671) does not currently have a hearing scheduled but is accessible at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2671&year=2016

Thank You for a Great Year!

We would like to extend a warm mahalo to our manufacturers and distributors for their support in 2015, and especially for helping us make the 62nd Annual Meeting a success! More than 300 attendees, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians and other veterinary professionals, enjoyed top notch continuing education, camaraderie, great food, and exhibits. Special thanks to our 2015 sponsors:

  • Boehringer-Ingelheim
  • Hills
  • Idexx
  • Merck
  • inTrauma
  • Roadrunner
  • Veterinary Orthopedic Implants

Save the dates! Our 63rd Annual Meeting and continuing education conference is scheduled for November 10-13, 2016. Stay tuned for details or visit our 2016 Conference Page for the latest.

Welcome to the New HVMA

The HVMA site has been revamped with your needs in mind! New features include information for veterinarians moving to Hawaii, resources for technicians and assistants, and expanded information for pet owners. We hope to add job announcements and classifieds in the near future.

This site is for you, and we want your feedback on what you would like to see here. Please email webmaster@hawaiivetmed.org to make suggestions. Even better, volunteer to help make your HVMA stronger:

  • We need content authors to help keep our members up to date on news events, legislative updates, pet product recalls, and more.
  • If you have any great photos you would like to see featured on our site, we would love to have them!