AARV Newsletter - June 2019

JUNE 2019 | NEWS & UPDATES

In this issue ... apply for CRI and Healing Oasis grants, tech tip winner, spotlight on Holland Military Working Dog Hospital, Mississippi practice acts, and more!

President's Message

The Team Approach!

Rehabilitation veterinarians know the benefits of the team approach when it comes to our patients. Veterinary rehabilitation technicians are an integral part of our treatment teams and an important component in our patients' success. The AARV thinks it's important to highlight the role of our technicians, and we are excited to introduce a grant opportunity for our CVT / LVT / RVT / LVMT members. The Healing Oasis is offering a $1,000 case report grant. The winning technician will write a case report and will present the case during the Healing Oasis Convention, held November 1-3, 2019, in Lombard, Illinois. The grant will be applied toward registration, transportation, and lodging during the conference. Submissions will be accepted until August 1, 2019, so please visit our Grant Opportunities page for all the details. We look forward to reading about all the interesting cases from our technicians.

A second opportunity for technicians is our rehabilitation tip contest, which gives technicians the opportunity to send in their best rehabilitation tips. Winning technicians will have their tip featured in the AARV newsletter and posted on AARV social media channels as well as receive a Starbucks gift card, a donation from the AARV to a charity/organization of their choosing, and a FREE YEAR OF AARV TECHNICIAN MEMBERSHIP. We love hearing from our technician members and look forward to seeing all the great ideas! Congratulations to our May winner featured below, and watch for an announcement about our next rehabilitation tip contest!

A last reminder that our July 1, 2019 deadline for submissions for our grant sponsored by Canine Rehabilitation Institute is fast approaching. You don't want to miss this opportunity! This $5,000 grant includes the tuition for their online course Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Research that runs from September 9-November 18, 2019. Please send those submissions to [email protected].

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer and anything the AARV can do to help and support our members, please let us know.

Amber Ihrke, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVSMT (Chiropractic), CVPP

Heading to the AVMA Convention?

by Katie Neforos, CVT, CCRVN, CVPP

Membership Chair

Hello, AARV members ... please join us in Washington D.C. for the AVMA Convention August 2-6, 2019. If you would be willing to spend 8 hours at the booth during the conference, the AARV will pay for your convention registration! Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested. We look forward to seeing everyone in D.C.!

Final Reminder: Apply for the CRI Research Grant
by July 1st!

The AARV is excited to announce that Canine Rehabilitation Institute is sponsoring a grant for research related to the field of veterinary sports medicine/rehabilitation. AARV members who are veterinarians, physical therapists, veterinary and physical therapy interns and residents, or fourth-year veterinary students (those graduating in 2020) are eligible to enter. The grant will include tuition to CRI's Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Research course that will begin on Monday, September 9, 2019, as well as $5,000 for original research.

Abstracts must be submitted by July 1, 2019. Two copies of the abstract should be submitted, one with all requested information and authors' names and one blinded without authors' names, institutions, etc. Please submit completed grant applications to AARV President Dr. Amber Ihrke at [email protected] . Applicants must be able to attend the Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Research course that will start in September 2019 as well as VMX 2021 to present their research.

Abstracts will be voted upon by the AARV board of directors and the winner will be announced by July 15, 2019. Research will be presented by the author during the AARV lecture track at VMX 2021.

Grant submission deadlines:

July 1: Grant submission deadline
July 15: Decision notified to authors
VMX 2021: Presentation of study results

For more information about Grant Submission Format, please see the Grant Opportunities page in the Members Area of the website.

Apply for the New Healing Oasis Rehabilitation Technician Case Study Grant by August 15th!

The Healing Oasis Wellness Center would like to offer a $1,000 grant to a CVT / LVT / RVT / LVMT that is a member of the AARV and APRVT, to be applied towards the registration, transportation, and lodging to the 2019 Healing Oasis Conference. The conference will be held November 1-3, 2019 at the National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard, Illinois. The conference theme is "Integration and Understanding: The Missing Links to Recovery."

Requirements to be considered for the grant:

Be an AARV/APRVT member in good standing or an approved APRVT pre-applicant with AIN number.
To provide a case report with a clinical explanation of why and how (from the functional point of view) the case improved. References must be included. The winner will present the case report during a 20-minute time slot during the conference to the general audience (Friday or Sunday).
Case report must follow the AARV submittal protocol.
Deadline for submitting case report: August 15, 2019.
Case report must be submitted to the following address: [email protected].
Submission will be evaluated by the AARV Board (after submission has been rendered anonymous) and voted on.

Winner of the grant will be listed on the AARV and APRVT website and newsletter during the first week of September 2019.

Case Report submission deadlines:

July 1: Second call for submissions
August 1: Final call for submissions
August 15: Submission deadline
September 1: Decision notified to winner
November 1-3, 2019: Presentation of case report

For more information about the Case Report Submission Format, please see the Grant Opportunities page in the Members Area of the website.

Congratulations to our May Technician Tips Winner!

Maria Maddox, LVT, CCRP, AMCP,
VTS (Physical Rehabilitation)
Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians - Charter Member; Membership Committee Chair

Maria offered her homemade cavaletti rails for at-home exercises at a low cost. Use baskets or laundry baskets - they have "pre-drilled" holes offering a large variety of different heights, are lightweight, stackable, and can be used to carry supplies around. PVC pipes or wooden broomsticks make the rails themselves. She recommends painting them or making stripes on them with bright duct tape to enhance visibility.

Our Technician Liaison Sandy Gregory, M Ed, RVT, CCRA, would like to thank Maria for her tip and all the technicians who entered ideas in May. Stay tuned for additional Tech Tip requests on the AARV social media channels and newsletter!

SPOTLIGHT PRACTICE

Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital

Located at JBSA-Lackland in Texas, the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital provides veterinary specialty referral services and consultation to federally-owned working dogs worldwide, as well as routine care for military working dogs in training or utilized as training aids for dog handlers. The Holland Military Working Dog Hospital has incorporated physical rehabilitation for Military Working Dogs for over a decade, making it the only U.S. Army Veterinary facility of its kind.

The rehabilitation program was pioneered by Ms. Kelley Meyer, LVT, CCRP, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), and operated under the oversight of the hospital's chief surgeon. Ms. Meyer identified and filled a critical role for rehabilitation therapy and post-operative care in Military Working Dogs (MWDs) with musculoskeletal injury and surgery. Due to increasing recognition of the need for sports medicine and rehabilitation expertise for Military Working Dogs, Ms. Meyer was joined by Dr. Andrea Henderson, DVM, MS, DACVSMR, in 2014, taking on the inaugural role of Chief of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Since that time, the program has expanded its focus to increase the implementation of conditioning programs for injury prevention and performance improvement in MWDs. In 2018, the service was moved into a newly-renovated $1-million-dollar facility and Ms. Michelle Behl, CVT, was brought to the rehab team.

Continue reading about Holland Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Focus on State Practice Acts: Mississippi

by Theresa Pancotto, DVM, MS, MS, DACVIM(N), CCRP

Legislative Liaison

Now that all of the AARV links to practice acts are updated, I'm going through each state at random and providing an interpretation of the acts to better guide individuals in managing physical rehabilitation as it pertains to their practice and state.

Interpretation

"Physical Therapy/Physical Therapist" are protected terms in the state of Mississippi covered by the Mississippi Physical Therapy Practice Law. Within the law, there are no provisions addressing animal "physical therapy."

In Mississippi, the practice of physical medicine on animals is covered by the Veterinary Practice act and is required to be performed by a licensed veterinarian. Additional certification/training is not required.

Therefore recommendations to veterinarians who wish to practice physical medicine in the state of Mississippi include using terminology such as "physical rehabilitation" or "physical medicine." Although a licensed physical therapist practicing physical therapy on a non-human species is not explicitly prohibited or covered, performing therapies consistent with physical medicine on an animal may be interpreted as practicing veterinary medicine without a license based on provisions set forth by the veterinary practice act.

Veterinary Practice Act 2017

Definitions: 73-39-53

Complementary, alternative and integrative therapies: [...] These therapies include, but are not limited to, veterinary acupuncture, acutherapy and acupressure; veterinary homeopathy; veterinary manual or manipulative therapy (therapies based on techniques practiced in osteopathy, chiropractic medicine or physical medicine and therapy); veterinary nutraceutical therapy; and veterinary phytotherapy

Practice: To diagnose, treat, correct, change, alleviate or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury or other physical, dental or mental conditions by any method or mode, including:

[...]
The using of complementary, alternative and integrative therapies; or
[...]

Physical Therapy Practice Law 2018

Definitions: 73-23-33

Physical Therapist: a person licensed in this state to practice physical therapy as defined in this chapter, and whose license is in good standing, or a person who holds the privilege to practice

Have questions or know of updates to practice acts? Please contact me at [email protected].

Have You Searched Our Articles of Interest Database?

AARV now has a searchable Articles of Interest Database, available to AARV members in the Members Area of its website.

The database includes Articles of Interest from January 2018 through April 2019 and contains approximately 230 articles. We will keep adding more articles to the database each month. We also will continue to include links to our past Articles of Interest from 2010 to the present in PDF format. All Articles of Interest have been selected by AARV founder Dr. Julia Tomlinson because of their relevance to the field of veterinary rehabilitation.

To search the database, log in to the Members Area of the website and go to the Articles of Interest Database page. Enter a keyword, author's name, or other search term to begin your search. A list of matching article abstracts will be displayed. A link to the full version of the journal article will be provided if available.

AARV is continuing to add journal articles to the database each month to develop its usefulness as a research tool. Our thanks to Dr. Julia Tomlinson for selecting relevant journal articles each month and AARV Secretary Dr. Andrea Henderson for preparing the articles for the database.

Check the AARV Calendar for Upcoming Events

Want to learn which courses are coming up at Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), Healing Oasis, and CuraCore? Check the AARV Calendar of Events on our website, which contains upcoming rehabilitation classes and other continuing education events. You can also visit the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Healing Oasis, and CuraCore websites directly to learn more about their courses.

Do you have an event to add to the AARV calendar? All calendar posts are now free for AARV members. Please send your calendar event to [email protected] and be sure to include the name of the event, speaker, topic, date, time, location and URL. Rehabilitation related events/classes only, please.

Achieved Anything Lately?

We want to feature YOU, AARV member!

Your new accreditation, training course completion, announcement, board exam, etc. could be featured on our Instagram and Facebook pages if you let us know!

Contact our Social Media Consultant Caitlin King with your milestones. You provide photos and details. We make the bragging rights to the AARV community happen!

Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn!

Let's network! Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn by clicking on this link or the LinkedIn logo at right.

TECHNICIAN CORNER

Be Good to Yourself!

by Sandy Gregory, M Ed, RVT, CCRA
AARV Technician Liaison

Working in animal physical rehabilitation can be very taxing on us. Each day brings new challenges with the demands on our body. Don't forget to take care of yourself and possibly avoid injuries. Here are some reminders:

Be aware of your posture - fatigue makes it an effort to sit up straight, so we slouch. Forces on our neck from working at the computer or on our phones can create forces from 10-60 pounds on our neck.
Avoid repetitive motions - we all feel the need to do gait patterning for that neurologic dog for minutes on end. Take frequent breaks when doing repetitive motions. At the end of the day, when you saved your back, it is worth it. Your patient won't mind either.
Stretch - take a minute or 2 before that next patient walks through the door and do your favorite stretch. Look at all the props we have around us that we can take advantage of.
Use good body mechanics - be conscious of how you lift and move. Bend your knees and hips, push through your feet and maintain normal spinal curvatures.
Reward yourself - find something to be grateful for. Don't dwell on negativity. Take that 15-minute walk, do a little meditation, enjoy that special treat or just hang out with your pet or kids.
Eat right - take those breaks - drink water
Avoid overexertion - at 27.5%, overexertion is the most disabling workplace injury.
Get enough sleep - add just an extra 30 minutes a night of sleep and it can be invigorating.

Learn More About APRVT

The technicians on the Organizing Committee of the APRVT would love to speak at your clinic or local conference! Contact us at [email protected] to find someone in your area!

Please visit the APRVT website and social media sites to learn more about us and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter!

Facebook - Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians-APRVT
Instagram - APRVT_vetrehabtechs
Twitter - APRVT @vetrehabtechs

Do you have an article in mind for the Technician Corner? Contact Sandy Gregory, M. Ed, RVT, CCRA, AARV Technician Liaison, at [email protected] to submit an article (suggested length of 200-300 words) or suggest a topic.

CLASSIFIED AD

Veterinary Technician or Assistant - Physical Rehab, Daly City, California

Nor Cal Veterinary, in Daly City, CA, is hiring a CCRVN, CCRA, or CVMRT (could be in training). This position will work closely with Dr. Erika Gebhard, DVM, CVA, CCRT, to implement rehab treatments in a fast-paced environment. This opportunity allows you to work independently with patients and their owners for appointments and provide support between appointments as needed. We have Class 3b LASER, underwater treadmill, E-stim, acupuncture, electro acupuncture and a variety of therapy tools. We also have a beautiful new facility filled with natural light (even the treatment room). Interested candidates please email Aly Mitton at [email protected].

CLASSIFIED AD

Credentialed Technician With CCRP or CCRA Certification, Stamford, Connecticut

Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) is seeking a credentialed technician with CCRP or CCRA certification (or desire to work towards their certification) to work with our board-certified SMR specialist. The Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Service offers each rehabilitation patient an individualized treatment plan which may include: post-surgical assessment, neurologic assessment, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, massage, thermotherapy, cryotherapy (Game Ready), neurofunctional acupuncture, weight control and programs for core strengthening and stability. CUVS offers an outstanding compensation package and an amazing culture! Individuals with a passion for their work should contact Alexandra Ocampo at [email protected].

CLASSIFIED AD

Rehabilitation Veterinarian, Vancouver, Washington

Cascade Park Animal Hospital in Vancouver, WA is seeking a rehabilitation veterinarian for our practice. The practice has a well-established referral base with equipment including two underwater treadmills and many types of equipment for dry land therapy in a large dedicated space. Also, dedicated rehab technicians with extensive experience. The doctor needs to be certified in rehabilitation and able to consult with referral sources to create and oversee a specific rehab program for each pet. Doctor will also need to reach out to referral sources to inform them of the available services we can provide. Please send CV to [email protected].

CLASSIFIED AD

Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation ACVSMR Residency, Burnsville, Minnesota

Twin Cities Animal Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine is offering an ACVSMR residency position in 2020. Located in the Twin Cities metro (ranked in the top 10 places to live in the US), this program aims for excellent clinical and technical competency. Research is also strongly supported. Our clinic sees over 45% sporting dogs. The resident will have training in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, interventional procedures, (e.g. preparation/administration of PRP), and orthoses and prostheses (including modifying devices). Resident compensation includes health insurance, dues, and licensing fee. Registration and expenses are covered for continuing education. For more information, please email [email protected] or visit www.virmp.org.

Interested in submitting a classified ad or becoming a sponsor?
See the Submit an Advertisement or Sponsorship page on our website.

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