This year will bring significant transition in a number of areas for the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association (BCVMA). Not only is the Association adjusting to a new policy-based style of governance, but also its Registrar, Dr. Dominic Leung, retires in late April. Dr. Leung has had a celebrated 12-year career as the provincial registrar; making him one of the longest serving registrars in the country. His contribution to the BCVMA has been significant and his departure leaves many saddened. We wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.
One of the BCVMA's most popular annual events is the Mid-Winter Meeting held at the Silver Star Mountain Resort, in the Okanagan Valley. On January 18 and 19, 2002, Dr. Nick Sharp delivered informative and entertaining lectures on both large and small animal neurology. I would encourage members of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) to attend this meeting; not only is the contiuing education (CE) excellent, the skiing and family activities are second to none. Silver Star Mountain offers some of the finest downhill and cross-country skiing in Canada and can be counted on for excellent conditions early in the season. It is also my pleasure to invite CVMA members to join the BCVMA members at the Association's Fall Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Whistler, from September 12 to 15, 2002. All meetings will take place in the Whistler Conference Centre and the Delta Whistler Resort Hotel will host the room block. Please contact the BCVMA office for a registration package.
At the Mid-Winter Meeting, Mr. Darren Osborne presented the results of the 2001 Economic Survey and provided details about the 2002 Fee Guide that is recommended to members by the BCVMA Economic Survey Committee. Mr. Osborne provided impressive evidence that a modest increase in veterinary fees will improve the economic situation for veterinary practices throughout British Columbia. Interestingly, his study once again underscored that discounting fees and services will likely hurt the bottom line of practices that subscribe to this management style.
Following extensive research in late 2001, Mr. Osborne completed confidential comparative practice analyses for BCVMA members who had submitted the requested economic data. In addition, a second consultant provided members with the results of confidential client satisfaction surveys that were undertaken for the first time in British Columbia.
The BCVMA practice accreditation process is under review. Expert panels were formed for the various areas of veterinary practice. The goal is to draft acceptable and enforceable standards of veterinary practice that will be incorporated into the Association's bylaws, with supporting guidelines for interpretation. The process is ongoing and the panels are optimistic that they will have the recommendations ready for ratification at the AGM this September.
On February 3, the Western Presidents' Meeting was held in Vancouver. At this meeting, VMA presidents from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, their registrars, and their WCVM advisors met to discuss issues of common interest. Dr. Alex Livingston, dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, also participated. Most discussion revolved around the state of health of the WCVM, as interim full accreditation has been extended only until the fall of 2003. Unanimously, the 4 western VMAs recommended that the WCVM develop a comprehensive strategic business plan that would help to secure adequate funding for the College. The BCVMA intends to lobby the provincial government on the College's behalf.
Other issues of concern to the BCVMA include the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine and the over-the-counter dispensing of veterinary pharmaceuticals by nonveterinarians. The Association is currently looking into these issues with the hope that through education and interprovincial cooperation, solutions may be found to address these concerns.
From the accompanying photograph, you can see that I enjoy fly-fishing. This steelhead was one of 12 caught and released on a recent fishing trip to the world famous Kispiox River in northern British Columbia. For those of you who share this passion or just want to participate in the great outdoors, please consider yourself invited to 2 great fishing/ CE opportunities offered in British Columbia this summer: the 6th annual BCVMA fly fishing getaway at Corbett Lake near Merritt, on June 21–22, 2002, and the Kermodei Veterinary Conference, August 2–4, 2002, in Terrace. For more information on these 2 exciting programs, please contact the BCVMA office.
(by John Cruickshank, DVM, President, British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association)
Dr./Dr John Cruickshank