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IVMA Spring Practice Management Seminar

This year’s Spring Practice Management Seminar, Leading your Veterinary Team to Success, will feature Dr. Lawrence Firkins, a former professor, and Executive Associate Dean at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Firkins will focus on building leadership skills for veterinary professionals as well as finding significance in your daily work in veterinary medicine. 

Leading your Veterinary Team to Success

Thursday, April 20, 2023

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Ankeny Courtyard by Marriott

Registration Fees: $175

I-Vet PAC Sustaining Members receive FREE registration (non-transferable).

Registration includes lunch and 6 hours of CE Credit.

Get more information and register.

Sponsored by IDEXX.

Free Respiratory Protection 101 Webinar Available

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is offering a free webinar, “Developing an Effective Respiratory Protection Program” on May 10.

A robust respiratory protection program is needed for all situations that can expose people to infections in the workplace. From small animal veterinary hospitals to a foreign animal disease response, everyone involved needs to know now to properly use a fit tested respirator. 

Having a robust program not only protects you and your staff, it is also a key step in a strong biosecurity protocol. 

This webinar will provide an overview of the necessary elements of a comprehensive respiratory protection program and will include identification and evaluation of respiratory hazards in the healthcare setting, respirator selection, and common questions regarding medical clearance, fit testing, and recordkeeping.

The "Developing an Effective Respiratory Protection Program” webinar will take place on May 10, 2023, at 12:00 PM CT.

While the webinar was developed for human healthcare providers the concepts taught are the same that would be used in veterinary medicine and it has been approved for 1 hour of scientific continuing education units through the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Register in advance for this FREE webinar.

Join the PMP Advisory Council

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy is seeking a veterinarian to add to their current Iowa Prescription

Monitoring Program (PMP) Advisory Council Committee. The Advisory Council was established

in 2006 to provide oversight of the PMP, including its mission and operations. Ideally, this person would be an active user of the Prescription Monitoring Program.

More info and how to apply can be found here.

Take Advantage of FREE VMAE Webinars

The Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) offers FREE quarterly live and on-demand webinars in it's Build a Healthier Veterinary Practice series.

The next webinar will take place on May 11^th at 6:30-7:00 pm

"Recruiting and Retention: the Twin Challenges of the Veterinary Profession".

Recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterinarians is more difficult now than at any time in the profession. But why is that the case? And what can be done about it? Join Stacy Pursell, founder and CEO of The VET Recruiter, for this insightful and information-packed session during which she will address and analyze the challenges facing the profession.

Get more information and register here.

Get access to previous webinars.

AVMA Backs Federal Effort to Address IIlicit Xylazine

A newly proposed law backed by the AVMA would help combat the emerging threat posed by illicit xylazine while protecting veterinary access to this important animal sedative.

The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act was introduced into Congress last week, culminating weeks of work by the AVMA and other important stakeholders. The bill’s provisions would equip law enforcement with additional tools to stop xylazine trafficking while maintaining veterinarians’ ability to legitimately use xylazine. 

If it becomes law, the legislation will make the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possession of illicit xylazine subject to Schedule III penalties under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Illicit use of xylazine includes any use, or intended use, in people and would address any diversion of xylazine from veterinary sources. At the same time, the legitimate veterinary uses would remain under their current prescription status.

Read more at AVMA.org

New Compounding Rules

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that in April it will begin phasing in inspectional activities in relation to Guidance for Industry #256, Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances. 

To understand how GFI #256 may impact your own prescribing and dispensing practices, check out the extensive resources at avma.org/GFI256. These include details of how the guidance affects veterinarians, FAQs, a new one-page summary of key points, and a free webinar led by FDA veterinarian Dr. Amber McCoig.  

Read more at avma.org.

Spring Clean up at Living History Farms

Living History Farms, the interactive outdoor agriculture museum in Urbandale, will be opening on May 1. In preparation for the opening, IVMA members will spend a few hours cleaning up the Heck Veterinary Infirmary at the 1875 Town of Walnut Hill.

Want to help? Volunteers will spend 2-3 hours sprucing up the interior and exterior of the historic veterinary clinic on Friday, April 21, beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch will be provided, and each volunteer will receive a free admission pass to come back and tour the farm this summer. To register, call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564 or email at ivma@iowavma.org.

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Invite Your Community To ISU's Animal Learning Day

The IVMA will again be participating in Animal Learning Day in Ames on April 15. The event takes place 9:00 am -1:00 pm at the Hansen Learning Center at Iowa State University and is sponsored by the Iowa State Block and Bridle Club.

This free, fun event provides the public with the opportunity to learn about animals in agriculture through hands-on activities with real animals, interactive displays and educational exhibits.

We'd love to have your community join us at Animal Learning Day! Will you help us promote the clinic to your clients? Please print the Animal Learning Day flyer and display it at your clinic.

Would you like to help at Animal Learning Day?

A few volunteers are needed to staff the IVMA table, assist with a photo booth, hand out give-a-ways and answer questions from the public. If you can help, please contact the IVMA office at ivma@iowavma.org or 800-369-9564.

Thank you! We hope to see you on April 15 at Animal Learning Day!