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Stay tuned on dvm360.com and on our social media channels this week for engaging conference articles, videos, announcements, and more.

Our May Fetch dvm360 virtual veterinary conference starts today

Are you a veterinary professional looking to advance your career in pain management? According to 

speaker Tasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP,  VTS (Anesthesia), an easy first step is becoming joining the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM).

“One of the nice benefits of being a member is that you get access to the chats, to all the different resources that they offer. You can have a certified veterinary pain practitioner basically be your mentor on the journey,” McNerney told dvm360.

 “Also if you’re thinking about becoming a CVPP, they do require that you be a member of the IVAPM for at least a year,” she added.

For those interested in end-of-life pain management, McNerney recommends becoming a certified veterinary pain practitioner (CVPP) or getting certified in hospice care. If you're drawn to the surgery aspect of pain management, she says specializing  in anesthesia or analgesia may be the "way to go." If you're like McNerney and are interested in multiple areas of pain management, the opportunities are endless, she says.

"I really wanted to know all the aspects of pain management from surgical to post-operative to chronic pain management, and that's why I went the route I went," she said. "But there are so many other opportunities like massage therapy or becoming a rehabilitation technician. "

Watch the video below for more of McNerney’s thoughts on careers in pain management.

Videos

Fetch Virtual speaker Tasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP,  VTS (Anesthesia), offers tips and tricks for advancing your career in veterinary pain management. 


Pain management career practice pearls

We kicked off our May Fetch Virtual conference yesterday and will continue to provide you with engaging and informative content, in addition to our regular coverage of the veterinary industry.

While you wait for your next speaker to begin their talk, here are some of  week's highlights:

Caitlin DeWilde, DVM, owner of The Social DVM, informed attendees during her talk at the Fetch May Virtual conference about the crucial role that 

social media can play in promoting veterinary practices

 and how it contributes to mental health issues. Here's what you need to know.

Bash Halow, CVPM, LVT, BA, is a longtime Fetch speaker. Although he misses the in-person atmosphere, he loves the opportunity to connect with his colleagues virtually. Check out his thoughts about our Fetch dvm360 conferences and more 

 before transitioning back into a postpandemic world? Here are Marc Rosenberg's, VMD, thoughts on the matter.

 designed to promote health and well-being among associates. 

Stay tuned on social media and dvm360.com for more veterinary news.

Articles

Here is a look at this week’s highlights.

News wrap-up: This week’s veterinary headlines, plus May Fetch Virtual conference coverage 

Diversity is a hot topic in veterinary medicine, one that Pam Hale, DVM, Destination Pet’s chief medical officer and a graduate of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, holds near and dear to her heart. As a Black veterinarian in a leadership position, she's determined to use her platform to help others understand the dire need for more visibility of minorities in this profession.

During a recent interview with dvm360, Hale, also one of the 3 May Fetch Virtual keynote speakers, broke down some common misconceptions about diversity and offered strategies for bringing everyone to the table from all backgrounds, specialties, genders, and roles within veterinary medicine.

She started by explaining that when people think of diversity, they often think of just race and gender, but according to Hale, diversity also includes the types of medicine that you practice, your role, and more. She also offered insight on inclusion, explaining that to improve the visibility of Black veterinarians, you have to purposely seek them out when you're looking to fill roles at your practice. 

Watch the video below for more of Hale's thoughts on diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession. 

May Fetch Virtual keynote speaker Dr Pam Hale sheds light on some misconceptions about diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine, plus offers strategies for boosting the visibility of Black veterinarians. 

Common misconceptions about diversity, plus improving visibility

Along with the growing demand for a strong social media presence in veterinary medicine comes a dire need for a healthier work-life balance, says Caitlin DeWilde, DVM, owner of The Social DVM, a veterinarian-owned and operated social media marketing company.

“Very few of us [veterinary professionals] are happy and have a good work-life balance. Over time, this can lead to a real problem like psychological distress,” she said.

 virtual conference, DeWilde highlighted the crucial role social media plays in promoting veterinary practices and how it can also contribute to mental health issues such as burnout and compassion fatigue within the profession. To curtail these evolving stressors, she provided 3 social media safeguards that practices can utilize to promote a healthier and more cohesive workplace.

bad. DeWilde told attendees that there are quite a few perks. When used properly, it can help enhance the quality of care your practice provides, boost your reputation, and increase clientele. “It’s not all bad, you can still use social media and have a good work-life balance,” she said. Here’s how.

: Allows you to connect with friends, family, and colleagues.

: Provides mindless entertainment to combat the stress brought on by COVID-19 and curbside care.

: Offers access to various groups, information, and events for us to engage in or attend.

: Enables professionals to connect internationally, converse and collaborate.

: Offers mentorship and support to professionals seeking advice on complex cases or in need of recommendations.

: Increases online visibility, facilitates appointments, reviews, and builds reputation and client base.

Does your employer have a social media policy? According to DeWilde, these policies help determine who is responsible for responding and monitoring reviews and who creates, posts, and monitors the content. “I find a lot of people are not aware of what their true policy is or maybe they don’t have one,” she said. “Social media policies help you to be aware of what those expectations, roles, and timelines are.”

For example. Many veterinarians like to dive right in and handle situations, “that’s how we operate,” said DeWilde. However, when it infringes on your personal time, a lot of unnecessary stress will start to accumulate. Having defined and assigned roles can help set boundaries so that you aren’t working or worrying after hours about negative reviews or comments. “Are we responsible for this 24/7? The answer should be no,” she added.

Determining your level of involvement in social media at your practice is integral. Do you want to share the responsibility of creating and posting content or be the only one in charge? How much time are you willing to spend on it? “If you’re becoming involved in [social media management], you should know what that commitment looks like,” she said. DeWilde generally divides veterinary social media into 2 groups of people: Those who love it and spend way too much time on it, and those who don’t enjoy it and are unsure about how much time (and skill) is required.

Additionally, upper management doesn’t always consider the time, effort, and commitment it takes to manage social media properly. If you’re involved in creating, posting, monitoring, and analyzing content, you should be compensated for the additional workload.

“Bottom line is, how much time are we investing in this? Most practices don’t think about this from a time perspective. They don't think about the fact that it will take this person or these team members 4 hours a week to create, post, and analyze this content,” DeWilde said.

Social media can feel like a full-time job, making it tempting to manage it all on your own. Remember that your team is there to help. Implementing a team approach to managing social media ensures that the weight is being distributed equally so that no one is bogged down. DeWilde says taking a team approach enhances clinic culture by incorporating a diverse collection of voices to represent the practice. In addition to this, it also promotes the fostering of new ideas and support. “However you divvy out [the responsibilities], know that it allows for a collective voice and the bouncing of ideas. Talking to the front desk for ideas is a great resource as well as they are the ones who understand your clients the best,” she said.

The vast and evolving world of social media can be consuming and addicting, which is why it’s crucial to take breaks from it every now and again. According to DeWilde, managing your social media use can help you avoid negative effects on work-life balance, addiction, and boost productivity. “I can tell you from experience that going unplugged helps me be more in tune and in the moment. Sometimes you just need that break, and it’s amazing what you will get done when you’re not looking at your [device].”

Overseeing your clinic’s social media comes with many caveats ranging from fun and creative to stressful and burdensome. Find out how to curb your social media use and set boundaries when you’re on and off the clock. 

3 safeguards for managing social media at your veterinary practice

Longtime Fetch speaker Bash Halow, CVPM, LVT, BA, owner of Halow Consulting and dvm360

 Editorial Advisory Board member says although the Fetch conferences (register 

 have been virtual this past year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he's still enjoying the unique opportunity to connect with his colleagues online. 

“I’m so grateful for this organization,” he says. “The bond that the faculty has had over the years has been tremendous. I have 10-year friendships that I developed with the attendees," he told dvm360.

Halow, says although he loves the convenience of virtual meetings, there's nothing like being in person. In fact, he says he can't wait to return to the live conferences later this year. For him, there's nothing like reuniting with friends around his passion—veterinary medicine. Continue to stay tuned on our social media channels and on dvm360 for our latest Fetch Virtual conference coverage, updates, interviews, and more! 

Watch the video below to hear more of Halow's thoughts on the Fetch Virtual conferences and more.

Certified practice manager and Halow Consulting owner reflects on how the Fetch dvm360 conferences have impacted his life both professionally and personally.

'These are few of my favorite things'—about Fetch

Park Animal Hospital, like many veterinary facilities, had a challenging year. But there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. Dr Hays, the clinic’s owner, was strategizing how to transition her team back to pre-COVID-19 normalcy and decided to perform a detailed assessment of staff performance during the pandemic.

Mistakes were made, innovations were created, and policies were changed, all topics Dr Hays decided to discuss in 3 separate “COVID-19 exit meetings.”

There was no shortage of mistakes presented by the staff to the clinic administration in the “mistakes” meeting. Staff members also expressed their concerns about mandating COVID-19 vaccination. Hospital leadership decided that they would strongly recommend vaccination, but refusal was not grounds for termination.

Staff members also noted that were overwhelmed by the increased client load during the pandemic and suggested that hours be shortened and new clients temporarily suspended to ease the burden.

During the innovations meeting, team members highlighted the benefits of pandemic protocols on their overall health and safety. For example, all team members were assigned a pen for their personal use. Additionally, on-duty staff was given personal cell phones, and social distancing was maintained in the breakroom and lunch area at all times. Anyone with a non-COVID-19 illness was encouraged to self-quarantine.

Curbside innovations were the most dramatic, according to hospital staff. Parking spots were enhanced with signage with specific instructions for client check-in. The team also offered amenities and frequent updates to clients who had to remain in their cars for extended periods. Some euthanasia procedures were performed in larger vehicles such as SUVs and vans so that family members could still be present. The goal of these innovations was to maintain staff safety without compromising compassionate pet owner and pet care.

The final meeting focused on “new normalcy policies.” This new normal would never equate to pre-COVID-19 normal. Although the pandemic would eventually get better, the threat would not fully disappear. That's why Dr Hays and the team created several new normalcy policy practices, all of which would be incorporated into existing practice procedures. They are the following:

CDC guidelines would remain the primary directive for health and safety practices.

Clients would be able to enter the clinic with their pets but be given the option of curbside service upon request.

Even if no longer required by CDC guidelines, staff members could elect to wear a mask while on duty if desired.

Staff cell phones would not be shared and clear partitions between all staff workstations would remain.

Finally, if a staff member became ill for whatever reason, and even if vaccinated, COVID-19 testing would be strongly encouraged.

Dr Hays thought these meetings and decisions were great first steps for navigating the post-pandemic world. She felt that planning and being prepared was the practice’s primary directive. Her hope was to not have to repeat the panic and chaos that occurred when the pandemic first struck the community and the clinic.

Do you agree with conducting COVID-19 “exit meetings” before returning to a new form of normal at your practice? How would you have handled this situation? Let us know your thoughts by emailing dvm360news@mmhgroup.com.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to the veterinary profession, since we face crises and emergencies every day, we were able to be resilient and continue to provide a high quality of care to our patients. Dr Hays responded like most of her colleagues and became a “wartime“ leader. What I found most impressive was her foresight. She knew that a “peacetime“ was coming, and she wanted her clinic to be prepared. Planning is the best way to prepare for future success. My hat goes off to Dr Hays.

Dr. Rosenberg is director of the Voorhees Veterinary Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. Although many of the scenarios Dr. Rosenberg describes in his column are based on real-life events, the veterinary practices, doctors, and employees described are fictional.

Should you assess your veterinary team’s performance before transitioning into a post-pandemic world?

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IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

Our May Fetch dvm360 virtual veterinary conference starts today