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November 2023

In this issue:
- A Passion for Search and Rescue
- Team Roles in Chronic Disease
- Helping Clients Retain Information
- 2023 Accredited Practice of the Year
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Inside AAHA, November 2023
AAHA president-elect Mark Thompson, DVM, CCRP, challenges you to ask yourself: “Are you thriving?” And if you own a practice, are you empowering your employees to thrive? The Community asks for some effective ways to communicate with staff. -
Notebook, November 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: AVMA updates clinical trial database; Canine Tumor Genome Atlas maps DNA in pets to help people with cancer; Arkansas’ first veterinary school could welcome students by 2026; Hill’s partners with Harvard on pet microbiome project; and more! -
JAAHA Abstracts
Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. -
A Passion for Serving Others
Peggy Wilson got involved in search and rescue about 15 years ago, and it has been a passion of hers ever since. After having lost her original search and rescue dogs to old age, she is embarking on a new journey with two new search and rescue dogs in training. -
All the Way Up
The 2023 Accredited Practice of the Year award winner has been announced! Click to read a profile of this top-tier practice. -
Making It Stick
There are many things that affect a person’s ability to retain information, and if we know what they are, we can set ourselves up for success. -
Teamwork and Disease Management
Veterinary teamwork improves patient care, client support, and job satisfaction and growth. When each team member works to their strengths and everyone, including clients, values each role, disease management cases and clinical days themselves flow better. -
Moving Toward Truly Collaborative Care
This Central Line podcast episode with Elizabeth Maxwell, DVM, MS, DACVS- SA, CVPP, and Candice Manganaro, DVM, explores collaboration among general practitioners, specialists, and emergency veterinary care teams. -
Employee of the Month, November
This month’s prize winner is Veterinarian Sue Hartmann, DVM, of Klein Animal Clinic in Bettendorf, Iowa!
October 2023

In this issue:
- Spreading Wellness Through Social Media
- Teams@Work Photo Contest Results
- 2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines
- Technicians and Dermatology
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Inside AAHA October 2023
AAHA board member Scott Driever, DVM, offers his take on some of the issues surrounding the staffing shortage in vet med. The Community weighs in on tips for effective bite prevention and safety training for new hires. -
Notebook: October 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: UC Davis Experimental Trial Saves Kitten with Deadly Disease; FDA Approves BIAH Anti-Parasite Drug; VHMA Names 2023 Practice Manager of the Year; Nonsurgical Contraceptive Alternative for Cats; and more! -
Techs Take Wellness Online
Compassion fatigue and burnout are rampant among veterinary technicians. Some techs are taking to social media to promote wellness and spread encouragement to others. -
Technician Utilization in Dermatology
Using a credentialed technician in the role they were designed for increases the number of cases the team can see, and it can increase overall revenue. In this article, we will cover some of the many ways that trained technicians can contribute to dermatology appointments. -
2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines
Optimal utilization of trained and educated credentialed veterinary technicians brings benefits to veterinary teams and to the veterinary industry as a whole. These new guidelines include practical tools to implement and evaluate credentialed technician utilization in individual practices. -
Teams@Work
October is when the country celebrates technicians with National Veterinary Technician Week—and the Trends photo contest. This year we renamed it Teams@Work to reflect that veterinary assistants are also featured. -
Managing Pain in a Community Clinic
In this hypothetical case, our patient, Teddy, is at a free clinic where you are volunteering for the morning, and you will have to communicate all the options to the owner without making her feel like the best ones are financially out of reach. -
Technician Retention and Leadership
Technician retention and good leadership are inextricably tied, as we discuss in this Central Line podcast episode with Natalie Boursiquot, RVT, and Liz Hughston, MEd, RVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM, ECC). From the role individuals can play in systemic change to insights into how leadership can show technicians—and other employees—they truly matter, this conversation was full of helpful ideas for increasing tech retention. -
Employee of the Month, October 2023
This month’s prize winner is Client Care Specialist Tana Rafter, of Edmond East Animal Hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma!
September 2023

In this issue:
- Veterinary Social Workers
- Humor Therapy
- Debate Over Noncompete Clauses
- Telehealth and Dental Care
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Inside AAHA September 2023
Margot Vahrenwald DVM, AAHA’s president for 2022–2023, shares an anecdote that illustrates the toll that poor mental health can take on a team, and how a caring attitude can unite the team. The Community shares memories of accreditation and its importance, 90 years after AAHA began. -
Notebook: September 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: Pet Insurance Industry Surpasses $3.5 billion; New Center for Veterinary Social Work; Clemson Approves New College of Veterinary Medicine; Research Finds Dogs Have Better Health Outcomes With Another Animal in the home; and Veterinary Supplier Sentenced for Misbranded Drugs. -
JAAHA Abstracts
Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. -
Beyond the EAP
Veterinary professionals can “give ‘til it hurts,” sacrificing their mental health and wellbeing while helping pets and the people who love them. In this article, veterinary social workers and other wellness experts share tips on ways to bolster mental health in the day-to-day and why it’s so important. -
Laugh to Lighten the Load
It can be hard to find humor in a profession filled with burnout and high rates of mental health issues. But some professionals say that is precisely why it is so important to bring the element of humor into vet med. -
Noncompete Clauses and Veterinary Practice
A proposed FTC rule could ban noncompete clauses. The debate is fierce and ongoing. This article explores some of the challenges and repercussions of the proposed ban. -
Improving Patient Care with Diagnostic Dental Imaging
Internationally recognized veterinary dental expert Brook Niemiec, DVM, DADVC talks about the benefits of dental teleradiology for the practice, the patient, and the client. -
Pain Management Is a Team Sport
The prevention and management of pain in veterinary patients is a core responsibility that should be shared by all members of the veterinary team. This article explores creating a team that is focused on pain management—from the CSR to the client. -
Stress First Aid for Veterinary Teams
Melyssa Allen, MA, CHWC, DACLM, aims to make first aid for stress just as second-nature for veterinary professionals. Allen describes the Stress First Aid framework, first developed for the US military and now available for healthcare workers, and why it should be part of every veterinary practice, just like antihistamines, Band-Aids, and an eye wash station. -
Employee of the Month, September 2023
This month’s prize winner is Practice Manager Ericka Ivey, from All for Pets Veterinary Clinic in Cabot, Arkansas!
August 2023

In this issue:
- Cat Champions
- The Cat-Only Practice
- Improving Cat Visits
- Cats and Dermatology
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Inside AAHA August 2023
Lynn Happel, DVM, AAHA board member, talks about the challenges of staffing and recruitment. The Community gives advice on being a new veterinary assistant. -
Notebook: August 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: Health Care Cost Savings Associated with Pet Ownership; Tick Surveillance Key to Tracking Emerging Disease Babesiosis; FDA Conditionally Approves First Drug for Anemia in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease; UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Receives $6 Million Gift from PetSmart Charities. -
Cat Champions
Everyone from the client service representatives to the veterinary assistants and technicians can play a vital role in providing the best care to feline patients, especially in cases of dermatological problems. -
The Cat-Only Practice
There is something magical about cat-only clinics. Many of them have very highly trained doctors and staff who are true cat lovers and who know what it takes to keep cats at their healthiest and cat owners willing to keep coming back for regular care. -
Skin Diseases in Cats
Although it has been said in many different contexts that “cats are not small dogs,” this is particularly true with regards to the manifestation of skin disease in cats. -
A Better Cat Visit
Millions of pet owners are experienced with veterinary care, and already have a relationship with a veterinarian. So, where are the cats? -
Maximizing Microchipping
Veterinary teams can play a key role in educating pet owners about microchips – from clients to Good Samaritans who find lost pets – in conversations that continue to evolve. -
Bexacat and the New Era of Feline Diabetes
Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP(F), nerds out on endocrinopathy in the latest interview on Central Line: The AAHA Podcast . -
Employee of the Month, August 2023
This month’s prize winner is Customer Service Representative Gianna Rea, of Animal Care Clinic, San Luis Obispo, California!
July 2023

In this issue:
- TikTok Docs
- Mentorship: A Student’s Perspective
- Mentoring Guidelines
- Improve Client Service—Virtually
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Inside AAHA July 2023
Adam Hechko, DVM, AAHA’s immediate past president, talks about the challenges of staffing and recruitment. The Community answers the question of how you handle a scared or skittish patient. -
Notebook: July 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: State of the workplace health report; Canine PTSD study; Demand returns to pre-pandemic levels; new bill introduced to combat illicit Xylazine/ Bipartisan bill aims to crack down on ‘tranq.’ -
JAAHA Abstracts
Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. -
TikTok Docs
Leveraging social platforms effectively can be challenging for veterinary professionals, but in the right hands they can also be a powerful tool to combat false claims and provide reliable content to pet owners. -
Mentorship: What Do Students Want?
Mentorship is heavily discussed in academic settings, but what it means and how to find it can be daunting for budding veterinarians. There is a fear that asking for guidance equates to a lack of clinical competency, but there is also a deeply driven desire to provide the best care for our patients. This is the perfect place for quality mentorship to step in and bridge the gap. So, what do new graduates want when seeking mentorship? -
2023 AAHA Mentoring Guidelines
Effective mentoring is key to attracting and retaining veterinary professionals, and you can set your practice apart by making mentorship part of your culture. The 2023 AAHA Mentoring Guidelines show you how to implement effective mentorship strategies to improve your practice’s recruitment and retention and your team’s job satisfaction. -
90 Years of AAHA
Special section celebrating AAHA’s 90 th anniversary, and the practices that have been there for the whole journey. -
Navigating the Waters of Staff Retention
Hospital leadership has the biggest impact on employee retention. If you are a leader in your hospital, you can be the reason someone stays or someone quits. -
Improve Client Service Through Virtual Employees
Nowadays client interaction with your brand can happen before they even step through the door. -
Being the Leader You Needed
Niccole Bruno, DVM, and Genine Ervin-Smith, DVM, MPH, were friends at Tuskegee University during their pre-veterinary studies. The two reconnected in 2022 as veterinarians and leaders with a vision, and BlendVet was born. -
Employee of the Month, July 2023
This month’s $500 prize winner is Lori Dreischmeier, CVT, of Dodgeville Veterinary Service in Dodgeville, Wisconsin!
June 2023

In this issue:
- Rethinking Recruitment
- Social Media: Your Secret Weapon
- Selected Endocrinopathies Guidelines
- Bridging the Gap to Belonging
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Inside AAHA June 2023
AAHA director Cheryl Smith, CVPM, weighs in on the challenges of recruitment and the need to encourage technicians’ professional development. AAHA Community asks how to re-assign caseloads after a veterinarian leaves the practice. -
Notebook: June 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: CDC Warns of Emerging Threat of Cat-Transmitted Sporotrichosis; UC Davis Study of Symblepharon in Kittens Breaks New Ground; New Research Shows Environmental Impact of Small Animal Parasiticides; and more. -
Rethinking Recruitment
It’s a job-seekers market, so we need to work even harder to make a career in veterinary medicine appealing to as many people as possible. Melody Martínez, CVT, talks about building workplace cultures that are welcoming to people of all cultures, races, and genders. -
Your Secret Weapon for Recruiting
In today’s era, social media has perforated almost every area of our lives, and in recent years, the business world has certainly noticed. Digital marketing specialist Nicole Scott-Jones explains how by leveraging the power of social media, you can showcase your clinic's culture and team dynamics while also highlighting the unique aspects of each job position. -
2023 AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines
Executive summary of the latest from AAHA, the 2023 AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines. -
Authentic Leadership: What It Is and Why You Need It
This article defines authentic leadership. It also outlines the roles of one’s personal history and life experiences, the larger social context, and self-awareness in it. Questions are provided to prod the reader to examine his/her/their authentic leadership style. -
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Bridging the Gap to Belonging
In the midst of more conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging than ever before, people with whom we share critical patients and break room donuts are being forced to hide who they are, flee their homes, and live in fear simply for existing as they are. A conversation with Ewan D.S. Wolff, PhD, DVM, DACVIM, sheds some light on this critical problem. -
Employee of the Month, June 2023
This month’s $500 prize winner is Heather Stitzel, RVT, of Edmond East Animal Hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma!
May 2023

In this issue:
- Active Shooters: Be Prepared
- To Board or Not to Board?
- The Art of Bandaging
- Josh Vaisman on Culture
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Inside AAHA May 2023
AAHA treasurer Dermot Jevens, MVB, DACVS, discusses the importance of having a team that is well-prepared to face any type of emergency or disaster. AAHA Community discusses the best ways to handle inactive clients and pets. -
Notebook: May 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: Statement Issued on The Standardization of the Abdominal Ultrasound Examination; Dry Food Effects on The Antioxidant Profile of Dogs; Genetic Test Can Detect Deadly Bleeding Disorder in Dogs; and more! -
JAAHA Abstracts
Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. -
Preparing for the Unthinkable
Mass shootings are unfortunately a fact of life in the United States. Being prepared for such an emergency as well as other forms of workplace violence is critical to keeping staff, patients, and clients safe. This article looks at some ways to prepare for the worst. -
To Board or Not to Board
It might seem like a no brainer for animal hospitals to offer boarding—after all, clients trust their veterinary teams. But is there enough revenue potential to make the staffing issues and added workload for veterinarians worth it? This article interviews experts at AAHA-accredited practices about the pros and cons of offering pet boarding at veterinary hospitals. -
The Rules of the Game: Employee Handbooks
Introduce new employees to your clinic and enable them to shine. -
Dental Case Study: Tella
Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP and his team had to get creative when trying to intubate a dog with such severe periodontal disease that its mouth could not be opened far enough to see the larynx. -
It Takes a Village
Being an ally, an advocate, and committing to diversity are important steps toward making the veterinary profession a safer and more equitable place for everyone. This article outlines some ways to make that happen. -
The Art of Bandaging
Bandaging is an art. It is a skill that every technician, new or experienced, should continue to hone throughout their career. Bandages themselves are multifaceted. Proper selection and application are critical components of wound healing. Understanding the properties and functions of bandages is key to correct selection and will aid in a successful application. -
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Veterinary Education and Beyond
In an interview for Central Line: The AAHA Podcast, Tina Tran, DVM, associate professor and clinical relations lead veterinarian at the University of Arizona discusses how intertwined diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are with her work in helping veterinary students enter the field as confident, empathic colleagues with the ability to handle conflict and to examine their own biases. -
Employee of the Month, May 2023
Jamie Swick, Veterinary Assistant, of Pine Grove Veterinary Hospital in Severn/Ontario, is the May 2023 EOTM winner!
April 2023

In this issue:
- Parasite Conversations
- Preventive Care Communication
- New Cancer Tool
- Tufts Simulation Lab
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Inside AAHA April 2023
AAHA President-elect Mark Thompson DVM, MBA, CCRP, shares how he learned that vets are people helping pets, but also people. AAHA Community asks: Do you charge for online prescription requests? -
Notebook: April 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: New Therapeutic Diet for Pets with Cancer from Hill’s Pet Nutrition; UC Davis Veterinary ER Saves Puppy Abandoned in Storm; Saving the Lives of Dogs with NSAID Intoxication; and more! -
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Noninvasive Cancer Detection: Does It Work?
A new tool could provide easier diagnoses for lumps and growths -
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Boost Your Training Game with Simulations
Simulating on-the-job experiences not only engage employees but teach valuable soft skills -
Strengthening Client Bonds Through Technology
A conversation with Stacee Santi, DVM, founder and CEO of Vet2Pet -
Employee of the Month, April 2023
Courtney Einecker, CVT, of 43rd Avenue Animal Hospital in Glendale, Arizona, is the April 2023 EOTM winner!
March 2023

In this issue:
- The Gender Pay Gap
- Assessing Behavior Virtually
- Remote CSRs
- Being a Mom in Vet Med
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Inside AAHA March 2023
AAHA President Margot K. Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ, digs into the stresses and opportunities of tough behavior cases, and the AAHA Community tackles the question of whether practices should share AAHA’s mandatory standards with clients. -
Notebook: March 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: Dog’s Behavior is a Product of Their Genes; Six New Studies Will Focus on Health Issues in Cats; PrideVMC Announces Leadership Award Winners; and more! -
JAAHA Abstracts
Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. -
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Telehealth Increases Accessibility—and Visibility—of Veterinary Care
A conversation with Cherice Roth, DVM, MS -
Employee of the Month, March 2023
Kelsie Reider of Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Glen Carbon, Illinois is the March 2023 EOTM Winner!
February 2023

In this issue:
- Marketing to Owners of Senior Pets
- How Old is Too Old for Dentals?
- 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
- Communicating with Infographics
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Notebook: February 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: What Dog Owners Should Know About Collars and Harnesses; Vetster Launches Mobile App for Veterinarians Practicing Virtually; What FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Does & Does Not Do; and more! -
Are You Seeing Enough Senior Pets?
Veterinary practices tend to focus their educational and promotional efforts on puppy, kitten, and middle-life adult pet wellness, but often fall short when communicating with and marketing to owners of senior pets. Let’s fix that! -
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2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
Executive Summary of the latest guidance from AAHA -
Cherice Roth: A Veterinarian of Influence
Entrepreneur magazine’s Woman of Influence talks telehealth, access, representation and more -
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Doing Death Right
A conversation with Lynn Hendrix, DVM, CHPV, on rethinking palliative and hospice care -
Employee of the Month, February 2023
Payton Henderson of Desert Veterinary Clinic in Yuma, Arizona is the February 2023 EOTM Winner!
January 2023

In this issue:
- Sharing the Load with Techs
- Using Techs to the Fullest
- Client Education: Respiratory Distress
- Hiring and Keeping Great Staff
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Inside AAHA January 2023
AAHA secretary/treasurer Dermot Jevens, MVB, DACVS, offers tips for creating a positive culture. A Community highlight asks about core versus noncore vaccines. Log in to the AAHA Community to join the conversation with other AAHA practice team members. -
Notebook: January 2023
News briefs from across the industry and beyond. This month's articles include: CSU Plans $278 Million Veterinary Health Complex; Genetic Test Identifies Dogs’ Risk of Common Ligament Rupture; US Pet Insurance Market Size Set To More Than Double; and more! -
JAAHA Abstracts
Abstracts from the latest issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. -
Sharing the Load with Techs
Credentialled technicians are notoriously underutilized in most practices. All-star technicians Stephen Cital and Tasha McNerney offer tips on actions that practices can take to improve collaboration between technicians and veterinarians. -
Are Your Credentialed Technicians Allowed to Be All They Can Be?
It’s a stressful time at many veterinary hospitals as they struggle with shortages of veterinarians and professional staff. Making the most of their credentialed technicians can go a long way to easing the stress and helping the bottom line. -
Respiratory Distress in Pets
Educating your clients on what respiratory distress looks like can help save a pet’s life. After losing a foster puppy due to respiratory distress, writer Roxanne Hawn set out to clarify what clients should do if they notice breathing problems in their pets, and how clinicians can help educate them. -
Find and Keep Your Best Employees
For any organization, one of the only things more important than hiring the best employees is retaining them. This article offers 5 steps for hiring the best candidates—and retaining them—in 2023. -
One Health for the Veterinary Team
In an age where multiple infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and monkeypox affect both humans and animals, and where significant environmental changes are linked more and more often to human activity, the concept of One Health has become increasingly more important. And the veterinary industry has been integral in advancing the visibility of One Health programs worldwide. -
Finding Your Carrot with Senani Ratnayake
Senani Ratnayake, BSc, RVT founder of Motivatum Consulting, talks to Central Line: The AAHA Podcast host Katie Berlin, DVM, about her experience helping teams build trust through personal stories. -
Employee of the Month, January 2023
Johan Buckner of Broad River Animal Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut is the January 2023 EOTM Winner!