|
Book Club Contest!
 Join the VBA team as we read and discuss motivating and thought-provoking books.
Each week we will post a summary to begin conversation.
At the end of the book, the
most interactive team wins a VBA gift basket.
Sign up is free!
$100 entry fee per team to enter the contest.
To sign up or for more information, contact
|
How to Prevent a Toxic Workplace
Originally Published in
Today's Veterinary Practice
August 2019
Imagine that each morning, when you arrive at work, you are nervous about whether the front desk staff will be arguing about how to divide their tasks that day. Or if each time you walk into the practice you hear the technician laugh after telling yet another story about the incompetence of the team member who has the day off.
If either of these scenarios makes you cringe as a manager, just imagine how other members of your team feel. As a manager, it's up to you to help create a healthy work environment where people feel safe and valued.
Although each person's daily routine varies, veterinary professionals often spend about one-third of each week in the workplace. When it's a healthy, well-balanced environment, it can contribute to an employee's overall quality of life. But when it's not, it can contribute significantly to a person's stress, and have a negative impact on the workplace, its employees, the clients, and more.
|
My Controlled Substances
Were Stolen! Oh no!
Originally Published in Veterinary
Practice News October 2019 By Jan Woods
Veterinary practices are often targets for theft, loss, or diversion of controlled substances. A 2015 article on
drugabuse.com
titled, "Ill Inventory: Drug Theft and Loss in the United States," showed "22.1 percent of drug theft is due to employee pilferage, 6.2 percent armed robbery, 2.2 percent customer theft." (If you're wondering, 8.5 percent comprises night break-ins, while 60.9 percent of drugs are lost in transit due to subscriber or patient errors.) These statistics make it clear that complying with controlled substance regulations is essential to reducing your risk.
As a former practice owner and hospital administrator, I realize it's often difficult to find the time or resources to meet all the required regulations. You've got to manage your practice, see patients, perform surgery, and deal with HR issues all day long. That doesn't leave much time for reading up on state and federal regulations, let alone making sure they're followed. However, the penalties for controlled substance noncompliance in today's environment leave us little choice.
|
|
Spark! The Corporate Consolidation Landscape
Dr. Charlotte Lacroix is on the front lines of the corporate consolidation trend, helping sellers negotiate the ins and outs of handing over their practice. In this video, she discusses the potential impact of this decision on the seller, the staff, and the industry.
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
By VBA extern Anna-Marie Struble
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a hot topic in the world today. What are the health benefits and drawbacks to CBD? Are there negative side effects to daily use? Is the presence of CBD in seemingly every corner store really necessary? One thing most people do not consider while discussing CBD is how it effects one of our most loved family members- our pets.
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the federal controlled substances list. Since then, it seems as though anyone and everyone is marketing hemp and CBD products. Clients can now purchase CBD for their pet from gas stations, movie stores, and perhaps even your competitor's clinic. Are you turning green wanting your slice of the CBD pie, but you're not sure if it's legal? Well, the long and the short of it is... it's not.
The FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, M.D., explained matters back in December 2018:
"... [W]e continue to be concerned at the number of drug claims being made about products not approved by the FDA that claim to contain CBD or other cannabis-derived compounds. Among other things, the FDA requires a cannabis product (hemp-derived or otherwise) that is marketed with a claim of therapeutic benefit, or with any other disease claim, to be approved by the FDA...
...Additionally, it's unlawful under the FD&C Act to introduce food containing added CBD or THC into interstate commerce, or to market CBD or THC products as, or in, dietary supplements, regardless of whether the substances are hemp-derived. This is because both CBD and THC are active ingredients in FDA-approved drugs and were the subject of substantial clinical investigations before they were marketed as foods or dietary supplements. Under the FD&C Act, it's illegal to introduce drug ingredients like these into the food supply, or to market them as dietary supplements. This is a requirement that we apply across the board to food products that contain substances that are active ingredients in any drug... In addition, pathways remain available for the FDA to consider whether there are circumstances in which certain cannabis-derived compounds might be permitted in a food or dietary supplement."
Although the FDA may look to make CBD supplements legal in the future, CBD supplements remain illegal for now and we advise against stocking and selling them. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for a little bit of clarity in this hazy landscape.
|
|
ACVC 2019: Spilling the tea about drug testing in
Originally Published by DVM360
The laws around drug testing in the workplace can be confusing, especially in light of rapidly changing legislation around marijuana use. If you're thinking about implementing a drug testing policy in your veterinary practice, there are several things you'll need to keep in mind.
|
|
VBA HR Webinars
Upcoming Webinar:
|
Webinar #2: HR Changes for 2020
3:00 PM to 4:00 pm ET
Each year, employment laws are changed and we face new challenges with managing our employees. This interactive session will provide attendees with the ability to address some of the new legal updates and hot topics in employee relations and compliance.
|
|
|
|
