TVMA News   

TVMA Urges You to Take a Stand against the Mandatory Written Prescription Bill. 

Walmart is now going after veterinary clinics nationally. They have launched an aggressive campaign aimed at their customers, urging them to take action and call on Congress to require mandatory prescription writing by passing H.R. 1406, the Fairness to Pet Owners Act. WalMart just sent out this message in support of the bill which would impose new stipulations on veterinary prescriptions. It would require a veterinarian to 1) write a prescription whether or not he/she will dispense the product; 2) provide a written disclosure notifying clients that they may fill prescriptions at the veterinary clinic or at an off-site pharmacy; and 3) verify a prescription electronically or by other means consistent with applicable State law.   The bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health. Tennessee Representative Marsha Blackburn is a member of the subcommittee. We urge you to contact Rep. Blackburn.

Click here for her contact information. For more details, talking points and a link to contact your legislator, click here. If you have more questions, you may contact Ashley Morgan, Assistant Director for AVMA Governmental Division at amorgan@avma.org  or 202-289-3210

National Veterinary Technician Week

October 9-12

TVMA encourages you to show your appreciation to your veterinary technician. 

A Message From Dr. Mary Ergen, Membership Chair 

It is time to become a new or renewed member of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association. The Executive Board knows these are tough economic times for all Americans including veterinarians. Dues this year will remain the same as they have for the last 2 years. Since we all weigh the pros and cons of where we spend our hard earned money, I wanted to tell you some of what the TVMA has done for you during the last year. Currently we have 1060 members for whom we serve as a unified voice to promote veterinary medicine. Read more from Dr. Ergen. For a copy of the annual report for 2011, click here. 

2012 Music City Veterinary Conference - March 9-11. Some of the speakers and topics are listed below:

 Rebecca Kirby, DVM - Emergency and Critical Care 

 Dave Van Metre, DVM - Food Animal Medicine
 Greg Ogilvie, DVM - Oncology
 Gary Norsworthy, DVM - Feline Medicine
 Johnathon (Bert) Dodd, DVM - Dentistry
 Dave Hustead, DVM - Vaccine Protocol
 Todd Huspeni, DVM - Parasitology
 Sherman Canapp, DVM - Orthopedic Surgery
 Sharon Center, DVM - Liver Diseases
 Nancy Loes, DVM - Nutritional Supplements
 Teresa DeFrancesco, DVM - Cardiology

 Wendy Myers, President of Comm Solutions for Veterinarians
 Ben Nabors, DVM - Equine
 Heath King, DVM - Equine
 Cathleen Mochal King, DVM - Equine

 Jennifer Allen DVM - Technician
 Kelly Baltzell MA - Social Media & Marketing
 Greg Brown MS - Suture Science & Selection
 Cheryl Cross DVM - Alternative Medicine
 Michael Dryden DVM
 Kurt Grimm DVM - Pain Management
 Rebecca Kirby DVM - Emergency & Critical Care 

Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study Part II Now Available

The first part of the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study identified six causes for the decline in veterinary visits as well as the types of actions practices could take to reverse this trend. Part II of the study builds on this work by taking a detailed look at the activities practices are engaging in to build patient traffic and the key drivers of increased visits. The downward trend in visits is clearly reversible and a great deal of valuable information is available from both parts of the study to help practices make the critical changes necessary. The study was performed by Bayer Animal Health, Brakke Consulting and the NCVEI. For a copy of the presentation of Part I at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando on January 18, 2011, click here.

Update on Equine Herpes Virus 

No new cases of EHV-1 have been diagnosed at the UT Equine Hospital or at Dixie Stampede (index premise), and no other horses at the index premise have exhibited signs of EHV-1. The condition of all five EHV-1 positive horses at the index premise appears to be stable and they remain isolated from the rest of the herd. The state quarantine at the UT Equine Hospital has expired but the hospital will remain under an additional seven-day self-imposed quarantine. Appointments at the UT Equine Hospital have been relocated to an off-site facility. In some instances, our ambulatory field service can provide medical care on-site for local owners. If you have questions, call (865) 974-8387. The EHV-1 Forum for horse owners was webcast last week, and the recording is now available online. 

State Veterinarian's Office News

State News 

The State Veterinarian's office is proud to announce that Tennessee accredited veterinarians can now submit large animal Certificates of Veterinary Inspection on-line. Veterinarians interested in this service should contact Tina Rogers at 615-837-5120 to sign up for their user name and password.

Also the State Veterinarian would like to commend Kord Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on their accreditation from American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). This accreditation indicates that Kord operates with the highest level of diagnostic expertise. Tennessee veterinarians are fortunate to be able to utilize this diagnostic laboratory which offers quality service to veterinarians at an affordable rate. Please take a second to look at the price lists of their veterinary services. If you have questions, please call the State Veterinarian's office at 615-837-5120 or e-mail them at animal.health@tn.gov. 

Appointee brings broad experience as physician and public health practitioner to state government. Nashville, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Dr. John Dreyzehner will join the administration to lead the Tennessee Department of Health. He will replace Susan Cooper, who after fulfilling her commitment to assist with the transition and the first legislative session has decided to pursue other opportunities. Read More...

• October - Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
• Oct 9-12 - National Veterinary Technician Week
• Oct 17-23 - UTCVM Equine Rehab Certificate Program
• 2011 - World Veterinary Year - 250th Year Anniversary of Veterinary Medicine
• March 9-11, 2012 - Music City Veterinary Conference