Category: Timely Topics

Cannabis Info from AVMA

AVMA submitted comments to the FDA regarding critical veterinary issues related to cannabis products, and the importance of addressing them. The AVMA submitted the comments following a public hearing held by the agency in late spring to gather stakeholder input while considering regulatory frameworks for hemp derivatives—including CBD—used for therapeutic purposes and as food additives.

“Veterinarians have a strong interest in, and enthusiastically support, exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis-derived and cannabis-related products,” according to the AVMA comments. “But we want to be sure we can have continued confidence in the efficacy, quality, and safety of products used to treat our patients.”

The AVMA’s concerns stem largely from the widespread marketing of cannabis-derived products, including hemp products, with health claims that haven’t received the required FDA evaluation and approval. “The FDA should establish a clear and efficient process for approval of cannabis-derived and -related therapeutic products, and then conduct consistent enforcement against manufacturers and distributors who are noncompliant,” the AVMA said in their comments. Read full AVMA article here.

In addition to advocating for practitioners, the AVMA provides several resources regarding cannabis:

Extortion Scam Targeting DEA Registrants

DEA is aware that registrants are receiving telephone calls and emails by criminals identifying themselves as DEA employees or other law enforcement personnel. In an attempt to create the illusion that these criminals are DEA employees, they have masked their telephone number on caller id with a phone number for a legitimate DEA office.  For example, these criminals have used the phone numbers for DEA’s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs and DEA’s 800 number which is used to provide direct support to DEA registrants.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law. Registrants should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment or threaten to suspend a registrant’s DEA registration.

If you are contacted by a person purporting to work for DEA and seeking money or threatening to suspend your DEA registration, submit the information through “Extortion Scam Online Reporting” posted on the DEA Diversion Control Division’s website, www.DEADiversion.usdoj.gov.

AVMA Report Summer 2019

Aloha HVMA Colleagues and Happy Summer!

We are preparing for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Summer Session for the House of Delegates which will begin prior to the AVMA Convention – “A Monumental Experience.”

Here are the highlights for our session beginning on Thursday August 1, 2019 in Washington DC:

2019 D.C. Hill Visits: Because we are in DC, we are planning on visiting our legislators to discuss the issues that are important to the AVMA and the veterinary profession. With over 200 individual meetings, this will be the largest veterinary event on Capitol Hill ever conducted by the AVMA!

We are scheduled to meet with Hawaii’s Members of Congress or their staff – Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz; Representatives Ed Case and Tulsi Gabbard. We will be focusing on three issues for the visits: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Enhancement Act (VMLRPEA); Fairness to Pet Owners Act (FTPOA) and Association Health Plans Act (AHP).

Resolutions to be discussed and voted by the House of Delegates:
a) Model Veterinary Practice Act: The AVMA adopt the revised policy Model Veterinary Practice Act
b) Revised Policy on Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials
c) Revised joint AABP-AVMA Policy on Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials in Cattle
d) Sexual Harassment Awareness
e) Revised Policy on Pet Heath Insurance
f) Revised Policy on Veterinary Dentistry

Proposed Bylaws Amendment:
a) Council on Research – Responsibility
b) Board of Directors – Qualifications
c) Board of Directors – Composition

AVMA Elections:
There are multiple positions that will be voted on by the House of Delegates:
a) President-Elect
b) House Advisory Committee
c) 6 Council Positions

Congratulations to Carolyn Naun who will be a speaker at this year’s AVMA Convention!

If you need to contact us with comments about the topics we mentioned, here is our email: AVMA_Delegate_HI@avma.org

Aloha!
Leianne K. Lee Loy
Hawaii Delegate

Carolyn Naun
Hawaii Alternate Delegate

HVTA Update

  • Our goal is to get as many eligible techs grandfathered in as RVTs as possible. So far only 3 have done it! This is the YEAR to get them studying. That way they can take the VTNE in 2020 and beat the 2021 cut-off. Study sessions are on the HVTA website and on the Events tab of our FB Page.
  • We have a FAQ page for anyone who might have questions about grandfathering.
  • Last, we have Clinic/Facility Membership that allows clinics and hospitals to show support for HVTA, post jobs, and we put their clinic name/logo into our newsletter.

Submitted by Sam (Craddock) Geiling, RVT, President, Hawaii Veterinary Technician Association

Rat Lungworm Disease Workshop

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo invites the public to the 6th International Scientific Workshop on Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease), held January 5-8, 2020, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Dr. Richard Malik (PhD, DVM) of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Veterinary Education will be leading discussion sessions for veterinarians on detection, treatment, and prevention of rat lungworm disease in domestic animals, wildlife, and livestock. There is no fee, but all attendees must register by September 1st at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/conferences/rat-lung-worm-2020/. Case study presentations are also welcome; abstracts due September 1st. For additional information, contact rlwlab@hawaii.edu.

Conference Registration Open

Registration is open for our 66th Annual HVMA Conference, which will be held from November 7-10, 2019 at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel. We are again offering over 80 hours of RACE-approved CE (up to 27 credits for vets and 16 credits for vet techs) and bringing in world-renowned speakers covering a variety of topics including cardiology, oncology, sports medicine, equine medicine, soft tissue surgery, infectious disease, exotics, essential oils, wellness, the opioid crisis, and emergency & critical care.

Our wet lab offerings include orthopedic labs by Brian Beale and Don Hulse, a small diameter endoscopy lab by Carrie Palm and Sean Hulsebosch, dental radiograph positioning and interpretation labs by Kevin Stepaniuk, and a laser lab by Yukiko Kuwahara.

During the conference, we will hold our annual HVMA Hui on Saturday November 9 at 12:00pm during lunch. You do not need to be a conference attendee to come to the meeting. During the meeting, we will provide an update on what the HVMA has been doing this past year as well as overview any important legislative and island news. If you are interested in sharing anything during this time, please email us.

Also on Saturday November 9 from 6-8pm we will be hosting our annual social cocktail party. Tickets to this event are $60 or complimentary with full conference registration.

Register online for early bird pricing by September 15th. Remember to log in to your HVMA online account to register at the reduced member rates. If you have forgotten to renew your membership for 2019, it’s not too late! We hope you and your staff can join us!

Veterinary Palliative Medicine

Veterinary Palliative Medicine is growing globally.

Co-Founders of the World Veterinary Palliative Medicine Organization (WVPMO), Dr Lynn Hendrix and Dr Caroline Ficker discovered soon after meeting that they shared a vision for the future of veterinary medicine.  Not only that, they saw how it could change the lives of veterinarians, their patients and the people who love them.

As palliative care awareness grew in veterinary medicine and became a hot topic at veterinary conferences, they saw the need to bring more education on the subject, formalise the field, and usher palliative medicine into the mainstream. The WVPMO’s mission is to elevate palliative medicine to the forefront of veterinary education, improve the lives of animals across the globe, and support clients by promoting and advancing veterinary medicine centered on quality of life. Dr Hendrix states, “We really also want to improve the lives of our colleagues, which in the US are suffering from increased levels of depression, anxiety and suicide.”

Dr Hendrix and Dr Ficker have noticed a rise in interest in veterinary palliative medicine in recent years. Dr Ficker says “We believe we can help every veterinarian around the world enhance their skills, educate their clients, and help animals live better.  We also believe that in helping animals and their people live better, the veterinarian can also.”

They are working to provide webinars and interactive workshops. In addition to education, they want to build a community of veterinarians who are looking for an evidence based approach to provide the best standard of care for end of life veterinary patients and their caregivers.

The World Veterinary Palliative Medicine Organization is a non-profit Corporation, 5013c pending. The WVPMO is open to licensed veterinarians around the globe. You can join by visiting wvpmo.org.

If you would like more information about the WVPMO, please contact Dr Lynn Hendrix at President@wvpmo.org or Dr Caroline Ficker at President-elect@wvpmo.org .

Pesticides Rules Change

§4-66-54 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules is being updated by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture Pesticides branch to mandate that “every retailer that sells or distributes pesticide products to the public shall prominently post within ten feet of any pesticide product display or sales area, a warning sign that includes:

  1. Information regarding the proper handling, storage, and disposal of all pesticides sold;
  2. Emergency telephone numbers to call in case of poisoning from the pesticides; and
  3. A statement that use of any pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with its label is prohibited by law.

The warning sign shall be no less than seventeen inches by twenty two inches and contain lettering of sufficient size, no less than sixteen point bold type, which will enable the sign to be read from a distance of six feet under all lighting conditions normally encountered during business hours.”

The rules have not yet been signed as law by the governor but are expected to be signed some time in the May-June timeframe. These rules will affect
retailers that sell pesticides in any form (flea collars, topical medicine, etc.).

Sample signage wording below:

  1. For the proper handling, storage, and disposal of a pesticide product as required by Federal and State law, please refer to its label.
  2. In case of pesticide poisoning, please call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
  3. It is a violation of Federal and State law to use any pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with its label.

[Pesticide product signage as required by Hawaii Administrative Rules(HAR) 4-66-54(d).]

For more information, please see the Department of Agriculture website.

Honolulu Street Dog Coalition

The Street Dog Coalition is a Colorado-based nonprofit founded by veterinarian Jon Geller whose mission is to provide free veterinary care and related services to pets of people affected by homelessness. Dr. Geller began providing care through street clinics in Ft. Collins in 2015 and has since expanded to mentor and provide supplies to licensed, volunteer veterinarians willing to lead clinics in their communities. The Street Dog Coalition partnered with the AVMA in July for a clinic at the Denver convention in July, read more about it here.

The Honolulu Street Dog Coalition clinics are led by Aleisha Swartz, DVM, and have started providing veterinary care such as vaccinations, parasite control and treatment of minor medical concerns at the new Punawai Rest Stop in Iwilei. The facility was built by the City and County of Honolulu and is a pet-friendly hygiene center where people can do laundry, take showers, receive mail and access social services.

The number of pets belonging to people affected by homelessness is unknown but is estimated to be approximately 10%. For the first time the 2019 Hawaii Homeless Point in Time Count survey asked people if they had pets; this information should be available in the spring.

If you are interested in more information on how to support this effort, volunteering at the Honolulu Clinics, or starting a clinic on a neighbor island, contact Aleisha at honolulu@thestreetdogcoalition.org. Support staff are welcome to volunteer. For more information about The Street Dog Coalition visit their website.

AVMA Update Jan 2019

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Winter Session and The Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC)

Aloha to you all and a belated Happy New Year!

The House of Delegates convened for the Winter Session in combination with the Veterinary Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois, January 10-13.  This years theme was Evolution of Leadership – Learn, Grow, Lead, Evolve your Leadership Journey. The purpose of the VLC was to provide veterinary professionals, at all stages of their career, personal and professional leadership that benefits the individual attendee and the Veterinary Profession.  The conference included:

a) AVMA governance meetings

b) Continuing Education Sessions focused on leadership development

c) Network opportunities

At this conference, Rising Leaders are interacting with Experienced Leaders to expand leadership skills and gives everyone the tools to create a roadmap for our leadership journey.

Here is a summary of our AVMA House of Delegates Winter Session:

Membership

AVMA membership is strong with the association’s official membership at more than 93,400. AVMA retained a higher percentage of members to start the year. Three out of every four veterinarians are members of the AVMA.

Health Insurance is returning!

Beginning in July, members and their employees in the AVMA LIFE Trust, or a related entity, may be able to offer health insurance as an ‘association of employers.’ This means veterinarians who are employers – including those who are self-employed – might be eligible to purchase group health insurance for themselves, their families, and their employees through the AVMA family. The program is expected to build over time.

For more information and to sign up for the latest updates,  go to: AVMALife.org or call 800-621-6360.

Enhancing the utilization of veterinary technicians

During the House of Delegates business meeting, the HOD’s Veterinary Information Forum was committed to the topic of enhancing the utilization of veterinary technicians. Prior to the forum, AVMA members were asked to provide their input on the topic to their House representatives, and more than 400 comments were received.

The value of veterinary technicians is certain and that efforts need to be made across the profession to increase technician use and boost job satisfaction. Members of the House of Delegate recommends that the AVMA Board of Directors convene a task force to design a plan to improve veterinary technician utilization and that a progress report be shared with the HOD within a year.

Governance: House of Delegate Actions

HOD members also acted on several resolutions and bylaws amendments, including:

  • Model Veterinary Practice Act: Refer to the AVMA Board of Directors
    • Consideration of a revised version that incorporates input from HOD deliberations conducted during the meeting.
  • Membership Dues Increase: Approved
    • A resolution submitted by the AVMA Board of Directors to increase annual membership dues $30 in 2020, and, if necessary, up to $10 in 2021 and 2022 for regular and affiliate memberships. Reduced dues memberships will be made equal to 50% of the annual dues of regular members.
  • Bylaw amendment expanding the composition of the AVMA Council on Veterinary Services to include a credentialed veterinary technician.  Approved.
  • Bylaw amendment changing the name of the AVMA Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine to the AVMA Council on Public Health. Approved
  • Bylaw amendment removing a statement of responsibility of the AVMA Council on Research. Approved.
  • Bylaw amendment removing a statement of responsibility of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents. Approved
  • Bylaw amendment that replaces the AVMA Judicial Council with an ad hoc hearing panel to adjudicate complaints of unethical conduct by AVMA members. Approved
  • Bylaw amendment related to the maintenance of House status for House of Delegates member organizations. Approved
  • Bylaw amendment expanding eligibility of membership on the AVMA Council on Public Health (formerly known as the AVMA Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine). Approved

Keynote speaker Drew Dudley: Day One Leadership.

Leadership is more than money, power and influence.  Drew’s message is to focus on the “everyday leadership.” We have all changed someone’s life — usually without even realizing it. Let us celebrate leadership as the everyday act of improving each other’s lives.  Create those moments that have powerful impacts and growth and that can be life changing for you and your organization. To learn more about Drew’s message refer to his Ted Talk on Leadership or enjoy his book: This is Day One, A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters.

Future VLC Meeting

January 9-12, 2020

VLC benefits veterinary professionals at all career stages to take on new challenges and leadership roles that benefit both the individual attendee and the veterinary profession. The benefits of attending the combined VLC and House of Delegates winter session are:

  • Evolve your leadership skills – Gain new insights, expand your personal tool set, and learn from those who’ve come before you.
  • Connect with a diverse network of leaders from across the veterinary profession.
  • Deepen your understanding of how the AVMA works and discover exciting opportunities to get involved!
  • Earn up to 8 hours of continuing education credit.

Please feel free to contact your AVMA Hawaii Alternate Delegate – Carolyn Naun, or myself – Leianne Lee Loy if you would like to learn more about this meeting (avma_delegate@hawaiivetmed.org).

AVMA Convention: A Monumental Experience

Save the date: August 2-6, 2019 in Washington D.C.

Aloha!

Leianne K. Lee Loy

Hawaii Delegate for AVMA