• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Practitioners run cancer cases with online system

May 1, 2003
Jennifer Fiala

Cancer management program allows DVMs to diagnose, treat and track oncology cases via Internet-based consultations with specialists

Rowlett, Texas- When a 5-year-old Golden Retriever walked into the Animal Hospital of Rowlett with a bad case of hiccups, Dr. Kim Downes sensed something wasn't right. Three days later, the general practitioner had a diagnosis and prepackaged drugs to treat the problem. The disease was lymphoma.

While Downes isn't an oncologist formally trained to treat cancer cases,she has help. The practitioner subscribes to an online cancer managementprogram called Oncura. For $45 a month plus $150 initial consultation fee,she and her colleagues can diagnose, treat and care for cancer patientsinstead of referring the cases to a specialty hospital. The system not onlyworks to keep her patients healthy and clients happy, it provides a boostto her practice's bottom line.

"Our clients really like us doing this in-house because we're wherethey live; they're comfortable here," Downes says. "We were doingsome oncology here before, so ordering drugs through Oncura takes the mixingout of the hospital. Our inventory is way down, we don't waste as much andwe've increased the safety for staff. We no longer have to worry about (OccupationalSafety and Health Administration) requirements."

How it works

Oncura is the brainchild of Dr. Brian Huber, dipl. ABVP, and aids generalpractitioners in developing, implementing and operating successful oncologyservices for their patients, virtually eliminating the need to refer toa specialist.

Once cancer is confirmed with a biopsy report, Oncura oncologists consultwith veterinarians on the complete health of the pet, type of cancer andavailable therapies. To simplify the drawing of blood and administrationof chemotherapy, veterinarians are taught to surgically implant vascularaccess ports into patients. Oncura then provides the exact amount of drugsneeded per case, prepackaged with protective gear, eliminating waste. Consultantsand veterinarians manage cancer cases via e-mail and phone calls.

"We go case-by-case, step-by-step, injection-by-injection with thepracticing veterinarian," Huber says. "The system is extremelydetailed and controlled by our consultants. Once practitioners get on boardwith us, we're there to help these guys walk through their case. It's notjust e-mail. It's true case management."

Beefing up services

Oncology was foreign to Dr. Keith Taylor before he signed on with Oncura.Now the owner of Rockwall County Veterinary Clinic in Rockwall, Texas, sayshe's comfortable with the program, having treated two cases.

"I was totally ignorant about treating cancer, and the program waseasy for me," he says. "That's what makes Oncura so nice. Theyfollow your case. They won't give you any medication without clearing thehurdles. It's a pretty good deal."

Advertisement

Handling the cases at the hospital makes it affordable for the clientand keeps the profits in-house, Taylor adds.

"All the staging occurs here in the clinic, the X-rays, the bloodwork," he says. "But that makes it affordable for the clients,too. Instead of buying a $300 drug and throwing most of it away, Oncuraportions what you need for you. It's great.

"The other thing I appreciate is you can speak to the oncologist.It's constant interaction."

Behind the scenes

Oncura actively works an average 35 to 70 cases a month. Clients includeBanfield Pet Hospitals and National PetCare Centers as well as private practitioners.

Serving as consultants are Dr. Michael Lucroy, dipl. ACVIM, and Dr. StevenSusanic. Oncura medical directors are Dr. Philip Bergman, dipl. ACVIM, andDr. Guy Mauldin, dipl. ACVIM.

Oncura doctors take phone calls, answer e-mails and practitioners caneven attend training sessions at the Oncura facility in Dallas. "Thesystem's available to veterinarians anywhere in the country," Hubersays.

That's good news for the profession, Downes adds.

"Unfortunately there are dogs in areas in this country where therearen't specialists, and they're being denied," she says. "Oncurais the only way that all practitioners can get these drugs along with propercare."

Related Content:

Medical
Performing and calculating a PCV
Performing and calculating a PCV
Brief overview of acid-base interpretation
Brief overview of acid-base interpretation
Dog owners are not getting proactive OA information from their veterinarians
Dog owners are not getting proactive OA information from their veterinarians

Advertisement

Latest News

What's new with the "Dentistry Lane" across the veterinary profession?

Meet the BlackDVM Network

Study finds certain canine breeds should be screened for cancer at young ages

AVMA releases 2 videos informing pet parents on pet dental care

View More Latest News
Advertisement