Webinar recap roundup: Amplify, mitral valve disease, and HR problems

Every month, AAHA’s Learning platform hosts a variety of webinars on topics ranging from the latest medical advances to improving practice culture and beyond. If you missed our most recent offerings, you can get the basics below. Plus, you can always see all of our upcoming and past webinars here!

Amplify: Simplifying your journey toward AAHA Accreditation

Veterinary professionals seeking accreditation through the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) now have a streamlined solution: the Amplify Group Accreditation Program. Presented during a recent webinar, the program emphasizes collaboration, integrity, and simplicity, making it accessible and effective for time-constrained practitioners.

Core values

Angela Small, LVT AAHA Amplify facilitator, highlighted the program’s guiding principles, explaining, “We believe in working smarter, not harder,” a nod to Amplify’s focus on reducing complexity. By offering tailored guidance, the program helps clinics navigate the rigorous AAHA accreditation process, which requires adherence to over 900 standards, including mandatory and point-based criteria.

Collaboration lies at the heart of Amplify. Small emphasized that success in accreditation demands teamwork. “It takes everyone to be successful,” she said, encouraging practices to involve all staff members, from veterinarians to front-desk personnel. The program’s bi-weekly virtual sessions foster peer networking and knowledge sharing, allowing participants to learn from one another’s experiences and insights.

The program is also designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. “We know that our participants are busy,” said Small. By breaking down the accreditation process into 12 manageable modules, Amplify ensures participants can stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. Feedback is a cornerstone of the program, offering participants proactive support and actionable recommendations to ensure compliance and success.

Setting up for success

Veterinary teams leave the program not only with AAHA accreditation but also with enhanced protocols, professional development opportunities, and a stronger sense of community. As Small concluded, “Amplify is about elevating every aspect of your practice and setting your team up for lasting success.”

For those ready to embrace this journey, Amplify promises a supportive, collaborative path to achieving veterinary excellence.

Mitral valve disease in dogs: Supporting the journey (Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim)

The recent AAHA webinar on mitral valve disease (MVD) in dogs, presented by Wendy Ware, DVM, MS, DACVIM (cardiology), provided veterinary professionals with actionable insights into managing this prevalent condition. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, the session emphasized recent advancements in diagnosis and treatment strategies, particularly for general practitioners.

Key takeaways

Prevalence and Progression: MVD accounts for 70–75% of cardiac diseases in dogs. Ware focused her recommendations on preclinical disease in dogs. “This is where you can have a big impact on the largest number of dogs,” she said.

Staging for targeted care

Ware outlined the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) staging system:

• Stage A: No apparent structural disease that can be detected clinically.  This includes dogs at risk for heart disease due to their breed or family history.
• Stage B1: Mild or no cardiac enlargement; monitoring is sufficient, no treatment needed.
• Stage B2: Significant heart enlargement that warrants treatment to help delay the onset of congestive heart failure.
• Stage C: Congestive heart failure, even if it is well-controlled; requires additional therapy including diuretics.
• Stage D: Persistent or end-stage heart failure that is difficult to control or refractory to standard therapy.

Diagnostic tools

Radiographs and/or echocardiography are key for staging. Echocardiograms are the best non-invasive way to assess cardiac structure and function but are not always accessible. Radiographs are usually much more accessible. Ware recommends taking baseline radiographs as soon as a soft murmur is detected.

Biomarkers like NT-proBNP are ancillary tests that can aid in predicting congestive heart failure, but they should not be used on their own.

Client engagement

Encouraging owners to monitor resting (or sleeping) respiratory rates helps detect early signs of heart failure. “Alert and knowledgeable owners are the best early warning system,” Ware emphasized.

Treatment breakthroughs 

The EPIC trial confirmed pimobendan’s role in delaying heart failure by over 15 months in Stage B2 dogs.  Ware highlighted its importance: “Pimobendan is the first drug to show significant delay in failure.”

Ware concluded by urging veterinarians to optimize early detection and leverage recent advances for improving outcomes, stating, “General practitioners can make a real difference.”

Back to basic HR: 5 common HR issues

Melissa Tompkins-Lewis, BS, CVPM, PHRca, CCFP, is a certified veterinary practice manager and HR expert. In a recent webinar, she shared her expertise on addressing common HR struggles in veterinary practices, focusing on five key areas: recruitment, communication, training, retention, and motivation.

Recruitment: Finding the right fit

“Don’t settle for a warm body,” advised Tompkins-Lewis, emphasizing the importance of recruiting the right people for the role. She outlined strategies including leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, connecting with veterinary and tech schools, and involving the team in candidate evaluations. She warned against rushing hires, stating, “Every single time I’ve hired someone who wasn’t the right fit, it caused issues.”

Communication: Building bridges

Effective communication remains a top challenge. Tompkins-Lewis highlighted fostering a culture of openness and regular check-ins. She advised mediating conflicts, holding daily huddles, and adapting communication tools to fit the team. “Communication starts with leadership. Without it, the clinic culture suffers,” she stressed.

Training and Retention: Setting employees up for success

Structured onboarding and phase training can set new hires on the right path. “It takes four to six months for most new employees to feel comfortable,” Tompkins-Lewis noted. Retention strategies like fair compensation, career development opportunities, and team appreciation are essential. She cited AAHA research revealing that 30% of veterinary staff plan to leave their roles.

Motivation: Encouraging initiative

Finally, Tompkins-Lewis suggested acknowledging contributions, offering growth opportunities, and understanding individual motivators. “Appreciation and development are keys to keeping a happy, motivated team,” she concluded.

Veterinary leaders can transform HR challenges into opportunities with these actionable strategies. As Tompkins-Lewis remarked, “Strong teams build strong practices.”

Photo credit: Rabizo via iStock/Getty Images Plus 

Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.