This new resource offers veterinary professionals and students an opportunity to earn RACE-approved CE credit via a series of informative online webinars.

dvm360 launches online CE center amid pandemic

Registration is now open for the first virtual Fetch dvm360 conference, which combines three of our exclusive annual live events: Fetch Baltimore, Hospital Design 360 and Fetch Kansas City.

Registration for Fetch dvm360 virtual conference is open

It’s no secret that dental care is one of the fastest-growing segments in veterinary practice. If your practice is among those increasing the number of dental cleanings and other procedures, you may be considering adding a dedicated space. Before you move forward, consider these factors for a well-designed dental suite.

The location of a dedicated dental space in existing clinics will depend on what space is available, but in general you are looking for a place that is out of the main traffic flow but close to the treatment area. Dental cleanings will aerosolize bacteria, so you want a separation from other treatment stations. On the other hand, proximity to other team members is important. Staff doing the cleanings need immediate access to doctors should any issues arise. A separate room adjacent to or an alcove off of the treatment area is ideal.

The space for and around your dental table is very important. Allowing a width of approximately eight feet will provide about 36 inches of space on either side of the table. This gives sufficient clearance for the technician to work from either side of the patient as well as at the head of the table and still allow for an easy reach to side countertops as well as space for equipment carts. The space depth should also be about eight feet, which allows enough room for a 60-inch table and a technician working at the patient’s head. If there is a countertop at the foot end of the table, add another two feet.

Lighting has traditionally been supplied via ceiling-mounted fixtures and that is still common today. Adjustable LED lamping has made lighting much more efficient and cooler. Gaining in popularity is the use of loupes that can be made to fit prescription glasses.

Oxygen must be supplied at the table. Depending on the type of anesthesia machine and its location, oxygen can be supplied via a ceiling drop, wall outlet or a small tank with the machine.

An exhaust fan above the dental table will help create negative air pressure to minimize bacterial spread. Because it is not needed when there are no active procedures, the fan can be controlled using a simple on/off switch.

Waste anesthesia gas disposal (scavenging) is also necessary. If you are not using canisters, an active system is highly recommended. These days central waste anesthesia gas disposal systems are available for a relatively small investment and can serve not just this station but also your treatment and surgery areas, so there’s no reason not to include this important safety feature.

Table options are several. The first thing to decide is whether you prefer a wet table or a collection-type table:

A plumbed wet table is always more expensive due to the combined cost of the equipment as well as the waste and supply piping. On the positive side, a wet table can be used for non-dental procedures as well, such as endoscopy.

A small amount of water is used during most dental cleanings, so collection tables are becoming more popular. Most collection tables are can be adjusted for height and are on casters so can be moved or repositioned easily. Height adjustability is strongly preferred for improved ergonomics, but there are more choices in the collection type than wet tables.

Thought needs to be given to purchasing and location of the dental unit and X-ray. Consider where they will be located both when they are in use and when parked out of the way. Some dental units are cart mounted with an on-board vacuum. Others can be mounted on swing arms and require connection to central systems.

Dental X-ray units can be wall, cart or hand-held units. If using a mobile unit, again consider where it will live when not in use. For wall-mounted units, the reach range is the first thing to resolve. The head of the unit needs to extend beyond the head of the table to give the greatest number of angle possibilities. The arms of mounted units fold against the wall when stored. Plan so that they do not block access to cabinets.

Multi-table dental suites can leverage your equipment for greater utilization. A single wall mounted X-ray can cover the working end of both tables if positioned such that both fall within the swing of the supporting arms. If that’s not possible a mobile unit is the next choice. Two anesthesia machines can use a single oxygen drop by using a splitter. When we design for a growing practice we almost always plan for dual tables even if the second station comes later.

Paul Gladysz is a principal of BDA Architecture, a firm specializing in the planning, design and construction of animal care facilities. He has over 30 years’ experience in design and managing animal care facility projects.

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To create a sweet dental suite in your veterinary practice, think about your options before diving in.

Considerations for adding a dedicated veterinary dental space

Following the sale of its popular client-facing Pawprint app to the investment group Metamorphosis Partners, the app’s creators are now exclusively serving veterinary hospitals under a new name — SnoutID.

“We’re focusing our efforts to where we can have the most impact — directly supporting veterinarians and their care teams with modern tools they need to continue providing essential services,” says San Francisco-based SnoutID CEO Emily Dong, 30, who founded Pawprint in 2015, in a 

. “Pet owners will continue to use the Pawprint app as they always have, and now veterinary practices and hospitals have a platform developed just for them.”

SnoutID offers a touchless curbside check-in and patient intake system that allows veterinary practices to serve more patients more quickly. “Practices using SnoutID report the system improves reliability and patient experiences,” Dong says. The app is supported by a team of veterinary technicians who retrieve, verify and summarize medical records before a patient’s first visit.

Fully customizable for individual practice branding, SnoutID enables practices to:

Streamline curbside operations with touchless check-ins

Access standardized and verified medical records from any practice in North America

Minimize face-to-face contact and avoid physical paperwork

“Snout ID has been a wonderful resource for our clinic to have all of our patients’ information in one place,” says Suzanna Berry, veterinary services manager for Jacksonville Humane Society. “Our veterinary technicians are able to gather more information prior to the appointment in order to provide better service to our clients and patients during curbside services.”

MWI Animal Health, which made the Pawprint system available to veterinary practices across the U.S. to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19, believes SnoutID will benefit hospitals. “We’re excited for Emily and the SnoutID team, and also for MWI’s veterinary practice customers,” said Brian Topper, vice president of product strategy at MWI Animal Health. “We agree that, by focusing on practice enablement, SnoutID will have a more profound and positive impact on the veterinary industry and animal health.”

For more information about SnoutID, click 

SnoutID offers touchless, efficient curbside check-in and patient intake. 

Pet health app maker launches app for veterinary practices

Juan Orjuela, a Colombian-born third-year veterinary student at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, says he’s always wanted be a veterinarian, a career path he knew wouldn’t be easy. After his dream of being accepted into veterinary school came true, he quickly moved on to his next challenge: addressing the lack of diversity in the profession.

When he sought veterinary organizations for Latinx students, Orjuela found none. “That’s when the light bulb went off and I was like, wow, there’s something I can do to change the profession and to represent the people who grew up like me and need those resources and need the mentorship,” he told dvm360 in a recent interview.

, an organization founded in 2018 to connect black veterinary students and professionals in the industry, inspired him to want to create a similar organization for Latinx veterinary professionals and students. Through social media, he connected with Yvette Huizar, a Mexican-American fourth-year veterinary student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the two quickly realized that they shared the same vision.

“We were both passionate about wanting to create a community and we exchanged notes in a sense, and we [found we] were literally doing the same things,” said Orjuela. “So, it was heartwarming and an incredible feeling to be like ‘oh my God someone else wants this and is working toward it.’”

The duo co-founded the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) in January 2020 with a mission to empower Latinx veterinary professionals and support Latinx students. The group primarily uses Instagram and 

 to share its four pillars: community outreach, scholarship, mentorship and professional development.

LVMA regularly features Instagram Live interviews with Latinx professionals and students, and has hosted fun events like a Karaoke night to build the community. One of the group’s primary initiatives is to create a directory that will give Latinx pet owners access to Latinx veterinarians. Orjuela said they would also like to host an annual conference that will open up further networking opportunities.

The LVMA planned to introduce itself as an organization at the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA Symposium 2020) in March, but the event was canceled amid COVID-19 concerns.

LVMA is open to Latinx people of all genders and sexual orientations, and includes individuals from such countries as Brazil and Spain. Anyone interested in learning more about the Latinx culture is encouraged to join.

“Our main goal is just to create Latinx excellence and visibility of our Latinx capabilities in this profession,” said Orjuela.

Watch the video below to learn more about why this new organization is vital to the profession.

LVMA co-founder Juan Orjuela aims to help increase representation of the Latinx community in the veterinary profession, and provide resources and mentorship to students. 

Introducing the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association 

On a Tuesday in mid-May, the ElleVet Sciences’ “ElleVan” — a 38-foot RV turned mobile relief vehicle — arrived in San Diego to begin a two-month journey to provide free veterinary care and supplies for pets of homeless and otherwise vulnerable people in California communities.

The journey, formally known as the Pets in Need Project, is the brainchild of Christian Kjaer and 

manda Howland, cofounders of the Maine-based CBD+CBDA company.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we learned about the [devastating] effects it brought to homeless communities,” Kjaer, also the company’s CEO, told 

 in June. “Within homeless communities there is a large pet population and we were learning about how the homeless pet owners were making sacrifices of food and shelter for their pets’ needs.… [We knew] we had to galvanize a plan to help both the homeless pets and the new amount of street pets that have been abandoned because of challenges with the virus.”

The ElleVan has been working its way through Los Angeles, Salinas, San Francisco and a host of other California cities to assist pets of the homeless, residents of assisted living facilities and others with limited access to veterinary care. Local veterinarians and community-focused sponsors have donated supplies, samples and assistance to the project.

“I am honored to be part of this mission to help pets in need,” California house call practice owner Patrick Mahaney, VMD, CVA, CVJ, who serves as the project’s chief veterinary advisor, said in a 

 about the mission. “As a veterinarian in California, I have seen firsthand animals suffering because their owners do not have the resources or ability to help them. We will make a real difference in the lives of many pets and people with this project.”

The last stop for the ElleVan is scheduled for July 13 in Los Angeles, but the company hopes to continue its mission of helping pets of the homeless in other areas of the country as a long-term relief mission.

“Understanding the impact of COVID-19, we decided to launch the Pets In Need Project now to provide immediate support for those struggling to care for their pets during this challenging time. To build on this effort, we hope to deploy our ‘ElleVans’ to different parts of the country as a long-term relief mission,” Kjaer said in the release.

To view additional photos and videos from the road trip, follow ElleVet Sciences and #ElleVan on social media, or visit 

The two-month mobile relief mission has provided veterinary care for hundreds of pets owned by the  homeless and those who became vulnerable in the wake of COVID-19 in California. 

ElleVet endeavor provides free veterinary care to vulnerable pets

While running errands, Craig McLahan, VMD, regularly passed by a vacant old bank building that caught his eye. He always thought it was a beautiful building that would make for a fun veterinary facility. The empty building was in disrepair, to the point that there were gaping holes in the roof and extensive water damage. But the bones of the building were solid and couldn’t escape his notice. During this time, Dr. McLahan worked as an associate for another practice, and was making mental notes for future practice ownership. 

When a for-sale sign popped up in front of the bank one day, Dr. McLahan pounced. He called the real estate broker persistently; finally, the broker called back to ask what Dr. McLahan wanted the building for. Apparently, the broker got multiple calls a day asking to see the building, but most were not serious or were for uses the city would not approve. Before Dr. McLahan could even see the building, the broker ran his idea past the township to see how the people would receive a veterinary facility, especially in an area not already zoned for veterinary use. 

Dr. McLahan finally toured the building, petitioned neighbors and the city council to get a zoning change, and got the support he needed to make the old bank his future veterinary practice. He closed on the building in December 2017 and fast-tracked his build process to open up a mere six months later. 

Dr. McLahan’s creative use of an existing building earned his hospital, Bridgeport Veterinary Hospital in Bridgeport, Pa., a special mention in the dvm360 2020 Hospital Design Competition.

Dr. McLahan had never owned a practice before but had worked in corporate America for a while before becoming a veterinarian and working for others. He brought his experiences into his new endeavor as a practice owner, focusing on building a stress-free facility for patients, clients and staff. Thankfully the natural features of the bank building worked to that end. 

“I used the features of the building to my advantage,” he says. “One of the main things that has been beneficial is that the original bank vaults are reinforced with concrete, making them really quiet places. One of the vaults we made into a cat ward, and another is our surgery suite.” 

Dr. McLahan also designed the practice to have a smaller reception and waiting area, instead moving clients straight into one of the four exam rooms upon arrival. A smaller waiting room forces the hand, he says, discouraging people from staying in that space. 

"The waiting room situation is very stressful for animals and clients. You mix sick animals with healthy animals, add in anxious animals or those with fear aggression, mix cats with dogs, it’s all a recipe for stress," he notes. "I wanted a design that allows us to put animals directly into exam rooms. We stagger appointment times to minimize waiting.” 

To make sure the facility is quiet for his patients, Dr. McLahan hired an animal hearing research company to survey the site. They verified that the facility does, in fact, filter out sounds that are bothersome to animals. The vault is indeed a quiet, relaxing space for the cats. The dog ward is on the other side of the building, and the boarding kennels are in the basement, giving plenty of space between noisy activities.

Dr. McLahan says his mother always told him he learns things the hard way, and building his first veterinary practice was no exception. He hopes sharing his mistakes will help others avoid them. 

His first tip: Get your initial plans as accurate as possible 

 you start building. “I learned from experience that change orders are very costly!” says Dr. McLahan. “Contractors love change orders because it makes them more money. Of course, they’re very accommodating, because it benefits them. I didn’t realize that initially.” 

His next tip: If you can’t visualize the layout based off your drawings, build a three-dimensional model of your space. “Picturing how things will work based off a drawing is really hard for me,” he says. “A table is just a square on a drawing; a countertop is just another square. To really get in and realize how things will flow, a 3-D model can make it feel more real.” 

All told, the building process went well for Dr. McLahan, despite the change orders. A mere eight months after closing on the building he opened for business, to rave reviews. 

Bridgeport Veterinary Hospital sits at a high-traffic intersection with 30,000 vehicles passing per day, plus lots of foot traffic. That helped get word out about the practice opening. Dr. McLahan held a grand opening on Labor Day weekend. The local fire company brought a ladder truck to put up the flag outside the practice. Vendors and locals came to tour the practice, with a line down the block waiting to get in and see what had become of the old, dilapidated bank building. 

“It’s exhilarating to know this is my business, in a spectacularly beautiful building,” he says. “I’m excited for our future here.”

A building as secure as an old bank, vaults and all, is sure to make for a quiet, stress-free veterinary practice.

Hospital design: Banking on a good plan

Mental health has long been a concern in the veterinary profession. According to 2018 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, veterinarians are at 

much discussed throughout the profession in recent years

. In an effort to prevent worsening mental health among its associates, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital recently launched the Micro Steps to Wellness program.

The corporation’s goal is to provide its more than 5,900 associates with small, monthly steps that aim to help reduce elevated health risks and create healthy lifestyle habits in an effort to prevent depression, burnout and compassion fatigue. According to a BluePearl 

, each micro step is intended to be “habit stacked, meaning each action can be simultaneously practiced throughout the day, month, or year” either at home or in the hospital.

Angela Calderone, vice president of people and organization at BluePearl, said, “Now more than ever, we as an organization have a responsibility to recognize the mental health and wellbeing needs of our associates and provide them easy access to the tools and professionals they need to help cope with the mounting pressures they face each day.”

Speaking to the effectiveness of wellness programs, Lori Harbert, MSW, LCSW, director of health and well-being at BluePearl, which includes more than 90 veterinary practices in 26 U.S. states, said, “This program encourages our associates to take their wellness as well as the wellness of their colleagues seriously. By implementing proven to work, positive behavioral habits in our practices, we hope to open the gateway to healthier living across the veterinary profession.”

June 1 marked the launch of the first micro step, Paws for Wellness, which encouraged associates to take brief breaks to improve their attitude, concentration and happiness, while reducing stress. Additional planned micro steps include guided meditation videos, healthy eating potlucks, participation in National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and an introduction to gratitude journaling.

The corporate veterinary hospital chain recently launched a year-long program that aims to improve mental health and wellbeing among associates. 

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