The Drug Enforcement Administration sent out a warning regarding a widespread fraud scheme where criminals are posing as DEA agents. Scammers are calling doctors and other medical professionals demanding money, and threatening jail and revocation of medical licenses.
DEA personnel will never contact members of the public or medical practitioners to demand money or any other form of payment, will never request personal or sensitive information, and will only notify people of a legitimate investigation or legal action in person or by official letter. No legitimate federal law enforcement officer will demand cash or gift cards from a member of the public.
Don’t become the victim of a scam. Learn more about how to protect yourself and report fraud here.
Remember that disaster response is a marathon, not a sprint. Here is an update communicated to us by the team working under Maui Humane Society (MHS).
Due to the severity of the fire and limited access following the event due to safety concerns, there were not nearly the amount of burn survivors as was anticipated. Most likely, those that could be saved have already been rescued, though the field teams are still looking. Thankfully many people were able to evacuate with their pets.
The next phase will include long term community outreach for those who are now living in Lahaina, Napili, and Kapalua, as they no longer have vets on the west side of the island. MHS is leading this effort. They and other nonprofit organizations will have mobile units in West Maui starting tomorrow that will need to be staffed. There won’t be a need for many trained vet professionals all at once, but more likely over a long period of time. We will be helping MHS coordinate the pool of volunteers.
If you are interested, please fill out this online form with your interest/availability in longer term volunteer efforts.
There have been many, many hours of meetings attended by HVMA leadership, Dr. Aleisha Swartz (primary HVMA liaison to HiEMA/ State Emergency Support Functions), Dr. Nate Lam (volunteer), MHS staff, all government agencies (county, state, fed) and non-governmental organizations (e.g. American Red Cross, ASPCA). We are doing our best to identify needs and respond appropriately in a rapidly changing and challenging situation. The right people are getting in place for the long term plan. Emergency management meetings are discussing the following considerations: getting feed & water to livestock whose pasture has burnt, disease management from decomposition, marine pollution, trapping feral/strays when they re-emerge, short and long term sheltering and feeding of displaced people and pets, keeping families together with pets, veterinary needs, etc.
HVMA’s role in this emergency currently is supportive to governmental agencies and organizations like MHS that are acting under the emergency declaration. We are making every effort to coordinate volunteers, gather information on needs, and share information on resources and identify information and needs gaps. We are also coordinating support offered from national organizations such as AVMF. Most of our time and work is remote and we may need remote volunteer support for this as well, as the board is all volunteering their time to coordinate this effort.
A call to action- if your HVMA membership is not current please RENEW today! The more members we have, the stronger we are in times like this, and the more resources we have to support these efforts.
We hope this helps with some of the questions and anticipation out there. Thanks again for all your care, concern, kokua, and patience! We are proud to be a part of the HVMA and the Hawaii vet community. Let’s continue to make our community stronger!
The Honolulu Street Dog Coalition is a state chapter of the national Street Dog Coalition, which is a nonprofit organization aimed to provide free veterinary care and related services to pets of people affected by homelessness. The Honolulu Street Dog Coalition clinics is led by Aleisha Swartz, DVM and Jerrisa Ching, DVM, and has partnered with the Hawaii H.O.M.E. Project to serve Oahu communities.
The organization is always looking for donations to support the community, supplies, and resources. If you would like to donate, please click the link here. We are also looking for veterinarian and veterinary staff volunteers to help the clinics. If you want to learn more about how to volunteer, please email info@thestreetdogcoalition.org.
AVMA continues to work hard to support your professional success. Your delegates just returned from the 2023 annual convention in Denver and have a few developments to share. Most notably, AVMA has come out strongly against creating a new “mid level practitioner” position, passed and updated several animal welfare initiatives, and discussed issues surrounding the spectrum of care and sustainability in veterinary practices. It has been very exciting to observe the increased diversity and representation of AVMA leadership to better reflect who is actually in our profession.
In January, AVMA solicited comments from members on the idea of creating a new role in veterinary medicine, the so-called “mid level practitioner” who would have the ability to diagnose, prognose, and prescribe without a veterinary degree, to address our workforce challenges. There was a broad consensus that patient health and safety would be better served if we focus on leveraging our technicians and assistants to support the role of the licensed veterinarian. Pursuant to your feedback and that discussion, Resolution 10, Safeguarding care for Veterinarian-Led Teams, was passed by the House almost unanimously. In addition, Immediate Past President Dr. Lori Teller delivered remarks to industry leaders dispelling myths about our workforce needs and outlining a path forward. You can read a summary of her comments here: https://www.avma.org/news/straight-talk-about-veterinary-workforce-issues
Measures updating policies on canine devocalization, docking of lambs’ tails, tail docking of cattle, physical restraint of animals, and a new policy of canine hybrids were also passed with strong support. Measures on sheep and goat castration as well as dehorning and disbudding were referred for further refinement. Finally, a statement to the profession outlining the need for better support of federal veterinarians to protect public health was passed.
Veterinary Information Forum topics, for which we solicited your comments this spring, addressed the spectrum of care in veterinary medicine and environmental sustainability in veterinary practice. Regarding the spectrum of care, several comments were made that we should move away from language like “gold standard,” “low vs. high quality,” and other terms that may carry judgment and toward using terms like “basic versus advanced” treatment options. The House requested that the Board of Directors research these issues and develop tools to better support the profession in these areas.
Dr. Sandra Faeh was elected President-Elect, marking the first time in history that women have occupied the roles of Immediate Past President, President, and President-Elect. We are seeing more BIPOC candidates and officers as well. This change means that AVMA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion isn’t just idle talk, and that your AVMA is ready to evolve with our profession into a new era with expanded opportunities for people of varied backgrounds and identities.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, or requests for more detail on any of these matters, feel free to reach out to your delegates!
October 8, 2023 – The Maui Humane Society continues to coordinate ongoing relief efforts to the people and animals impacted by the Maui Wildfires. Thank you to all those who have already volunteered your time and finances to support these efforts. There is still a need for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/assistants, so please sign up for volunteer shifts here.
Additionally, the HVMA has received a grant from the AVMF to provide reimbursements for airfare for volunteers traveling inter-island to assist the Maui Humane Society. To qualify for this reimbursement, you will need to sign up for your volunteer shift(s) through HVMA and submit your airfare receipts to us. Reimbursement will be made by check after your shift(s) are completed and you have submitted at least 2 pictures taken during your shift(s) for use by AVMF.
August 27, 2023 – The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association would like to thank Adjutant General Kenneth Hara and Brigadier General Steve Logan with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for their efforts working with MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) and Maui Humane Society to help Animal Search and Rescue teams gain access to previously restricted areas on Saturday August 26th. We acknowledge that efforts to search for pet animal survivors are necessarily secondary to ensuring the safety of personnel entering the burn zone and safely securing human remains.
It is important to clarify that steps to provide for animal survivors in the burn zone were taken even when Animal Search & Rescue teams were not allowed access. A FEMA veterinarian has been stationed in the burn zone supporting the canine search teams, and she oversees the delivery of any animals found alive by first responders to the Maui Humane Society for medical care. Food and water were left in various areas throughout the burn zone for any other animals that were hiding from the response teams.
We encourage all who want to provide care to animals in this or future disasters to complete the free FEMA training (ICS 100/200 & IS 700/800) and Community Emergency Response training so they can understand how to best participate in response situations and help their communities.
Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the fires on Maui and Big Island. In addition to government efforts, the Maui Humane Society, HVMA, and local vets are organizing the veterinary emergency response.
We are so grateful for the mass outpouring of support to the Maui community. Veterinary professional volunteers are needed to assist Maui Humane Society efforts to serve the people and animals affected by the wildfires. Please sign up here if you are interested, and we will contact you as shifts become available.
Help foster a pet! Home to home is helping connect people in need looking for temporary housing for their pet while they are displaced from their homes.
Maui Humane Society has reported they may have a need for feed for large animals including horses, cattle, goats, and pigs. If you are interested in donating any large animal feed or supplies, please contact public_relations@hawaiivetmed.org. For cattle feed/supply donations, please contact the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council.
There are AVMF disaster grants that may be of help to some members.
Disaster reimbursement grants for veterinary medical care, up to $5,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by veterinarians providing emergency veterinary medical care to animal victims of disasters.
Disaster relief grants for veterinarians & veterinary students, up to $2,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred immediately following a disaster. Copies of receipts or other approved documentation must be submitted along with the application form.
AVMA has several resources on disaster preparation, including:
Xylazine is an important animal sedative used to facilitate the safe handling and treatment of many species. Recently, illicit xylazine is increasingly showing up in street drugs as traffickers have begun mixing xylazine with fentanyl and other narcotics. Collaborative efforts among congressional offices, the AVMA, stakeholders, and federal agencies to address the complexities of the xylazine issue led to the introduction of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R. 1839/S. 993) – an AVMA-supported, bipartisan bill that would provide harsher penalties for trafficking illicit xylazine while maintaining current veterinary access to this important animal sedative. Please join the veterinary community and urge your members of Congress to support the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act through the AVMA’s Congressional Advocacy Network.
Canine Oral Melanoma – Not the Killer We Once Knew
Canine oral melanoma can be a terrifying disease with short survival times being quite common. However, newer treatment options and a low-grade subtype have made this disease very rewarding to treat. In this presentation I will talk about why I’m not as afraid of this disease as I used to be and how I can help you manage canine oral melanoma for those clients who can’t pursue referral.
Speaker: Vanessa Rizzo, DVM, ACVIM (O) Sponsored by Hope Veterinary Specialty Services Friday, May 19, 2023 12-1pm (Hawaii)
Open to veterinarians and all veterinary staff. 1 hour CE credit available. Register here.
Your AVMA continues to advocate for the profession and animal welfare issues. As always, the House of Delegates met during the 2023 Veterinary Leadership Conference in balmy Chicago. We had a busy agenda and lively discussion. Keep reading to discover important resources available to you, our members, and find out what we made progress on this January!
If you aren’t already a member, consider joining over 100,000 veterinarians and gain access to valuable benefits. Some recent highlights of what AVMA has been doing for YOU:
Be an industry leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Practices are encouraged to join Journey for Teams, an interactive program to educate and engage your workplace to make it a safer space for all. Get involved at journeyforteams.org
In the next newsletter we’ll take a deeper dive into what your AVMA has to offer. In the meantime, here are the updates from the winter meeting.
Veterinary Information Forum topics:
Every meeting, members of the AVMA House of Delegates meet to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our profession. AVMA members shared their thoughts on the following topics:
Utilization of credentialed veterinary technicians and the creation of a “mid-level practitioner” role: It is no secret that we are facing serious workforce shortages. What is the best way to reduce burnout and better meet increased demand for our services? This topic generated over 160 pages worth of responses from constituents! While some favor the creation of a “Veterinary Professional Assistant” who could diagnose, prognose, prescribe, recommend treatment plans, and perform minor surgery, most members feel we are still underutilizing the skills of credentialed veterinary technicians and the focus should be there first. Creating a new position within the profession presents some significant challenges including:
The need to develop educational programs to train these individuals. Accredited institutions are already having trouble filling teaching positions for veterinary and veterinary technician programs
The need for changes to be made in federal laws and regulations as well as those in all 50 states
In short, implementing such a solution will be costly and could not be deployed in time to address the immediate workforce shortage.
We also had a lively discussion regarding workplace culture and how to improve quality of life for veterinary team members. A recurring theme was the need for leaders to set an example and demonstrate that it’s OK to ask for help. Practical suggestions included the use of Employee Assistance Programs (larger employers and some state VMAs already offer these as a member benefit) or providing access to free counseling to struggling veterinary professionals. There are many relevant AVMA resources available, including the Workplace Wellbeing Certificate program, the Brave Space Certificate program, the Train the Trainer program and Journey for Teams (diversity, equity, and inclusion training for your workplace). These resources are available to members at avma.org. Watch for more details about these programs in the next newsletter.
AVMA business and policy actions:
Several resolutions came before the House for a vote, touching on a variety of topics ranging from policy on dog bite prevention, service animals, horse racing, responsible breeding, dehorning and castration of cattle. Most were housekeeping and minor updates to existing AVMA policies.
Of interest was a new policy on so-called “bush track racing,” or unregulated horse racing, which presents grave animal welfare and public safety threats. Bush tracks operate with no veterinary oversight. Practices include the use of stimulants, electric shock and other abuses. Bush track operations have been linked to outbreaks of piroplasmosis (via use of contaminated needles to inject performance enhancing drugs) and equine infectious anemia. The HOD passed a resolution condemning unregulated horse racing. This is hopefully a first step in creating pressure to make unlicensed horse racing illegal. You can learn more about this issue at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/05/bush-track-horse-racing-georgia/
With aloha, Carolyn Naun, Hawaii Delegate Jenee Odani, Hawaii Alternate Delegate
Governor Green has declared January 2023 as Hawai’i One Health Month! #OneHealth represents the intersection of human health, animal health, and environmental health, and helps us address complex health problems in Hawaii and beyond. See the proclamation here.
Awareness of the One Health approach helps to inform our decision-making, particularly for policy makers and leaders seeking to comprehensively address current issues such as climate change and emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19 or avian influenza. Thinking about how human health is inextricably related to animal health and environmental health also informs our individual everyday decisions: our food choices, the products we buy, appropriate use of antibiotics or other medications, how we care for the native species and habitats we live near, etc.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a recent example of a zoonotic disease that can pass from humans to animals and vice versa, causing illness and death in multiple species. The more humans encroach on wild habitats and interact with non-domesticated animal species, the more opportunities there are for viruses or other infectious organisms to spread and mutate into forms that can cause global pandemics. But zoonotic disease spread is just one example of the interplay between human, animal, and environmental health. Other important examples include how the use of pesticides has decimated bee populations, which in turn decreased pollination, crop yields, and human food supply; or how medication prescribed in human and veterinary medicine can pass through their patients to enter the environment and cause developmental deformities in wildlife and drug-resistant infections; or how lead shot used in hunting has resulted in lead toxicity in scavenging animals such as birds of prey and humans alike.
One Health concepts have been a part of many veterinary curricula and may seem obvious to veterinarians, but many of our colleagues in other health and science disciplines were not trained to think outside of their specific fields. Keep the One Health perspective in mind, and encourage others to do the same!
APEX, NC —The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is urging veterinarians to participate in the 2022 AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey.
The AHS maps, dating back to 2001, are generated every three years and are widely used by veterinarians, animal shelters, animal rescue organizations and media to educate the pet-owning public about the threat of heartworm disease. The maps, which are built using data submitted by thousands of veterinary practices and animal shelters, also provide vital insights for veterinary professionals about trends in heartworm incidence and the spread of heartworms into new areas of the country.
“Each veterinary practice that submits data enables the AHS to create a more comprehensive and useful map,” states AHS President Jenni Rizzo, DVM. “We urge every practice—large or small—to take a few short minutes to submit their information.”
The deadline to submit survey data on heartwormsociety.org/2022survey is March 15, 2023. The new 2022 AHS map will be made available in April as part of Heartworm Awareness Month.
You must be logged in to post a comment.