“The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is the national voice for the veterinary profession dedicated to serving and representing the veterinarians of Canada.” Within this mandate, the CVMA has established 3 priorities: Leadership on National Issues; Animal Welfare Advocacy; A Successful Career, a Balanced Life. In 2013, the CVMA totaled 6789 members.
The CVMA conducted a 3rd-party Communications Audit with the purpose of assisting the CVMA in identifying the communications needs of our different target groups and formulating a strategy and plan for implementation. As part of the communications survey, members and students identified the pertinence of the CVMA’s programs, which led to the confirmation of the current priorities as outlined above. The CVMA Council adopted the recommendations from the Audit identifying the communications focus to be on Policy and Advocacy, Science and Knowledge, and Practice and Economics.
Inspired by the outcomes of the Communications Audit, the CVMA Council decided that, in 2014, the CVMA will place particular emphasis on Antimicrobial Stewardship, a matter that has been a high priority for many years. The CVMA’s position statement on the Responsible and Judicious Use of Antimicrobials is currently being reviewed. Dr. Jim Fairles is participating in the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee of the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council. Dr. Barry Stemshorn is serving on the Canadian Animal Health Product Regulatory Advisory Committee, which will be forming a subcommittee on antimicrobial stewardship. In addition to the CVMA’s Guidelines on the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials in Large Animals, the CVMA is developing guidelines for small animals. An initial tool in the form of an application for smartphones and tablets that provides guidance on appropriate antimicrobial therapy for urinary tract infections was released in early 2014. The 2014 Summit of Veterinary Leaders, scheduled for July 9, 2014, during the CVMA Convention, will be hosted under the title “Antimicrobial Stewardship: a New World Order.”
In November 2013, the Council directed that, given the fast changing environment and the needs of veterinarians, the CVMA should review the future of the CVMA and its business model. Council also appointed task forces on the engagement of recent veterinary graduates and on future trends in the veterinary profession. Reports are scheduled for July 2014.
The CVMA is maintaining representation on about 30 external organizations in order to represent the interests of veterinarians. In addition, the CVMA is regularly consulted by governments and organizations on numerous veterinary matters. In 2013, the CVMA represented Canadian veterinarians on Canada’s delegation to the following 3 events of the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE): the OIE Global Conference on the Responsible and Prudent Use of Antimicrobial Agents for Animals; the 81st General Assembly of the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE); and the Global Conference on Education and the Role of the Veterinary Statutory Body.
The CVMA is a member of the Partners for Healthy Pets and the Pet Nutrition Alliance, both United States-based initiatives. This involvement allows CVMA members access to valuable online tools, particularly in the area of preventive health care. These tools can be accessed through the CVMA members’ website.
Animal Health is part of public health and is a challenge of international scope. Last year, the CVMA partnered with the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe and the nations represented on the International Veterinary Officers Council (including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) in the development of some international position statements on the responsible use of antimicrobials; veterinary education; the role of veterinarians in protecting public health; and animal welfare. Such initiatives unify the voice of veterinarians not only nationally, but internationally.
In 2013, the CVMA continued its work toward further collaboration with other groups, such as the Canadian Veterinary Licensing Bodies and the Canadian Association of Animal Health Technologists and Technicians (CAAHTT).
During the CVMA Convention, a joint Regulatory Body/CVMA Task Force delivered a proposal for collaboration among regulatory bodies and with the CVMA. The underlying objective was to coordinate efforts with the goal of reaching a better outcome in a more efficient way. For example, instead of developing a position statement on cosmetic surgery in every province and by the CVMA, it would be researched and developed collaboratively. Currently, the registrars are refining this proposal.
Veterinary technicians are crucial partners in the veterinary team. The CVMA has been collaborating with CAAHTT for many years, to the point where a non-voting, ex-officio member from CAAHTT serves on the CVMA Council and a CVMA Council member serves in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity on the CAAHTT Board. A joint Task Force has been put into place to identify areas where veterinary technicians and veterinarians can further collaborate. The Task Force will be submitting a proposal on the subject to the CVMA Council and CAAHTT Board in 2014.
On the following pages, you will find detailed reports on the CVMA’s 2013 programs.
AHT/VT Program Accreditation
The mandate of the Animal Health Technologist/Veterinary Technician Program Accreditation Committee (AHTVTPAC) is to identify the minimum standards for educating and training qualified personnel who may join the veterinary health care team and to accredit education and training programs accordingly. The graduates benefit by having their competence recognized and prospects for employment and mobility enhanced.
The CVMA maintains a reciprocity agreement with the American Veterinary Medical Association that allows for the mutual recognition of our respective accreditation processes.
In 2013, the AHTVTPAC held its annual meeting in March to discuss policy matters and finalize recommendations for accreditation. Accreditation site visits of 2 programs (Lakeland College, Algonquin College) were conducted in 2013. Lakeland’s accreditation was approved by CVMA Council at its July meeting. The Committee’s recommendation for accreditation of Algonquin College’s program will be submitted to CVMA Council for approval in July of 2014.
The AHT/VT programs of the following educational institutions, 18 in total, are currently accredited by the CVMA:
Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario
Dalhousie University (formerly Nova Scotia Agricultural College), Truro, Nova Scotia
Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia
Georgian College, Orillia, Ontario
Grand Prairie Regional College, Fairview Campus, Fairview, Alberta
Lakeland College, Vermilion, Alberta
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, Alberta
Northern College, Haileyburg, Ontario
Olds College (on-campus and distance learning), Olds, Alberta
Oulton College, Moncton, New Brunswick
Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba
St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario
St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
Saskatchewan Institute of Science and Technology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Seneca College, King City, Ontario
Thompson Rivers University (on-campus and distance learning), Kamloops, British Columbia
University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus (on-campus and distance learning), Ridgetown, Ontario
Vanier College, St-Laurent, Quebec
Animal Welfare
The key initiatives of the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) in 2013 include the following activities:
Position statements
Five position statements were reviewed and revised where appropriate and approved by Council; Cosmetic Alteration; Electroejaculation of Ruminants; Pain Control in Animals; Tail Alteration of Horses; and the Use of Lead Fishing Sinkers and Lead Shot in Canada.
One new position statement, Free-Roaming, Abandoned and Feral Cats, was approved by Council.
There are 3 position statements that are currently under review and are being circulated with stakeholders and experts in the field: Euthanasia; Humane Training Methods for Dogs; and Commercial Dog Breeding (Puppy Mills).
Animal welfare article
One animal welfare article was submitted to The CVJ for publication during 2013 titled “The Animal health and welfare consequences of foie gras production” published in April 2013.
Animal Welfare Program at the 2013 CVMA Convention
The 2013 CVMA Convention in Victoria, British Columbia had an Animal Welfare Program that featured 2 speakers: Dr. Sheilah Robertson spoke on the treatment of acute and long-term pain in cats, and Dr. Jennifer Walker spoke on dairy cow welfare.
Student involvement in the AWC
In the fall of 2013, an AWC meeting was held at the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire (FMV) in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec. The FMV students attended a noon hour presentation by Dr. Marie-Josée Limoges on zoo animal welfare issues.
Kennel Code of Practice
The AWC continued work on reviewing and revising the CVMA Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations. The Committee is re-structuring the Kennel Code to include requirements for kennel operations along with recommended best practices. The revised Code will address both commercial kennel operations and home-breeding operations.
National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC)
The CVMA is represented on the NFACC, a Council whose mandate is to deliver a livestock industry-led, non-regulatory approach to farm animal welfare with an emphasis on code of practice development. In 2013, the NFACC completed work on 5 more codes of practice (Equine, Beef, Sheep, Mink and Fox). As these codes were developed, they were circulated for public comment and the CVMA provided feedback on behalf of the veterinary profession.
Business Management
Suggested Fee Guides & Reports
The CVMA continued to offer its unique benchmarking program in 2013. Valuable tools and services such as the suggested Provincial Fee Guides, compensation and benefits reports for associate veterinarians, non-DVM wage reports, the provincial economic reports and individual practice reports are available to members to help them successfully run their practices. The data used for these reports come from the annual economic surveys that the CVMA conducts and we want to thank the provincial veterinary medical associations for their support, and Idexx Laboratories, Petsecure Pet Health Insurance, Merck Animal Health, and Scotiabank for co-sponsoring this program with the CVMA.
Practice management articles
In 2013 the CVMA published 6 veterinary practice management articles in The Canadian Veterinary Journal (The CVJ):
Associate veterinarian salaries continue to rise
Number of active clients bounces back: Why?
2012 wage report for non-DVMs
Managing expenses with budgeting
Comparing fee guides
Is your examination fee costing you clients?
All of these articles can also be found on the CVMA website under the Business Management Program section.
Business Management continuing education (CE) and consultations at the 2013 Convention
For the Business Management track at the 2013 CVMA Convention in Victoria, British Columbia, Dr. Margie Sherk presented half a day of CE to 93 participants. Her theme was “Feline practice building” and topics covered client compliance in the feline practice and feline friendly practice (Get CATitude).
During the afternoon session Rob Wilson Rogers presented to 84 participants on the subject of “Understanding Client Satisfaction and How to Measure it”:
What clients really expect
How you measure your client experience
How you make every experience count
Also during the 2013 Convention the CVMA offered its members free 60-minute one-on-one business consultations with Darren Osborne.
Business management tools on the CVMA website
Besides the various reports and suggested fee guides the Business Management Program section on the CVMA website also offers a wide range of additional business management resources. Among the services are a series of webinars offered in conjunction with Scotiabank. The following 4 webinars are available:
Understanding Business Structures and Should I Incorporate
Understanding Financial Statements
Choosing the Right Practice Location
Marketing your Practice.
Economic Forum
Representatives from all provincial veterinary medical associations attended the yearly Economic Forum hosted by the CVMA during its 2013 Convention. Participants were given an overview of the complexity of the scheduling and delivery of annual surveys and reports to all members. Darren Osborne, CVMA’s economic consultant, presented national data comparisons and ways for improving the program and its delivery were discussed.
Pet Nutrition Alliance
The Pet Nutrition Alliance (PNA) consists of a number of organizations working together to promote the importance of nutrition in the health of pets. The CVMA is the Canadian partner of PNA, with Dr. Jim Berry as our representative. Ottawa veterinarian Dr. Susan Little also serves on the PNA Tools Development Committee tasked to develop tools and resources to aid veterinarians with discussing the nutritional guidelines with clients. With separate sections to suit the needs of veterinary professionals and pet owners, PNA’s website is a unique pet nutrition resource. Veterinary teams can access information on everything from nutrition assessments and client communication strategies, to feeding guidelines and nutrition calculators, and much more. Pet owners can find tips on reading pet food labels, common nutrition myths, pet food safety and more. To help CVMA members navigate through the abundance of tools available, in 2013, CVMA’s Communications Advisory Group began reviewing the Veterinary Practice Team Nutrition Tools. Their reviews are being released to CVMA members during 2014.
Partners for Healthy Pets
As an associate member of Partners for Healthy Pets, the CVMA is pleased to offer CVMA members access to the Partners for Healthy Pets preventive healthcare toolkit. Partners for Healthy Pets is an alliance of over 100 veterinary associations and animal health companies that are committed to improving the overall health of pets. Partners for Healthy Pets has developed a collection of tools and resources to enhance the overall vitality of pets and veterinary practices, the delivery of preventive healthcare services, and communication with pet owners about the value of routine care. Our membership in this group provides CVMA members with online access to the educational tools and resources available on the Partners for Healthy Pets website. During 2013, CVMA’s Communications Advisory Group reviewed the collection of tools and provided a series of recommendations in The CVJ and in CVMA’s monthly eNewsletter on the tools they found most useful. Topics such as communications, feline-friendly practices, internet marketing, and social media were covered.
Veterinary wellness
Following a national CVMA member survey on veterinary wellness and the presentation of the Summit of Veterinary Leaders under the theme “Member Wellness — The Art of Maintaining Your Sanity” in 2012, the CVMA has continued to engage in this important issue with a focus on education and awareness. CVMA initiatives are intended to be national in scope and to complement and help expand existing programs currently provided by provincial VMAs and veterinary colleges.
In 2013, the CVMA added a new “Veterinarian Health and Wellness” section to its website that contains pertinent resources, information and a national listing of helplines and support services available to veterinarians. The 2013 CVMA Convention provided an entire day on “Integration of mind/body medicine into veterinary practice and daily life.” A first CVJ article on member wellness was written by Dr. Lisa Miller under the title “The wellness bucket,” published in April 2013. A second article, “Burnout and health promotion in veterinary medicine,” appeared in the August 2013 issue written by Brenda Lovell and Raymond Lee. Two of CVMA’s Veterinary Wellness Advisory Group members sit on the International Veterinary Professional Wellness Network with the intent to learn and share best practices.
CVMA Convention/Professional Development
The Professional Development Committee (PDC), tasked with organizing the scientific and social programs for the annual convention, met 6 times in 2013. The 65th Annual Convention themed “Ocean of Knowledge, Mountains of Progress” was held from July 10–13 in Victoria, British Columbia.
Collaborating with the CVMA-SBCV Chapter and the Canadian Association of Animal Health Technologists and Technicians (CAAHTT), the Convention attracted over 900 participants, mostly from across Canada, but also from international destinations.
The CVMA Convention provides a venue wherein veterinarians and other members of the veterinary team can meet, share knowledge and participate in continuing education. As well, the Convention provides a forum for numerous formal and informal meetings and alumni receptions.
On Wednesday, July 10, the CVMA 2013 Summit of Veterinary Leaders featured 8 outstanding speakers and 6 international guests to speak on the topic of “The Two-Edged Sword: Animal Welfare in Veterinary Practice.” A wet lab on feline dental extractions and subgingival crown amputations and a radiology master class had maximum attendance. The Business Management Program, “A Successful Career, A Balanced Life” focused on 2 topics — feline practice building, and how to better understand and measure client satisfaction. The CVMA Emerging Leaders Program, “Leadership: The Key to Living into Possibility!” also attracted a record number of 50 participants. The CVMA Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon was also held at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
As Canada’s only national multi-species event, the Convention offered 36 potential continuing education (CE) hours in the following tracks: Companion Animal Equine; Bovine; Animal Welfare; Acupuncture; and Integration of Mind/Body Medicine with more than 36 speakers from the United States and Canada. Evaluation results showed attendees were very interested in the dentistry, ophthalmology, respiratory diseases and mind/body medicine sessions. Two interactive breakfasts focusing on therapy lasers and wellness plans were also held.
The 2013 CVMA Convention was the first veterinary convention in Canada to launch a mobile convention application (app). The app was uploaded on predominantly smart phones (74.8%), and desktops (13.2%). The app had 23 541 page views by 499 unique visitors. Over 75 exhibitors showcased products and services in the Exhibit Hall. During refreshment breaks, Drs. Susan Little and Berney Pukay conducted pet nutritional assessments demonstrating how easy it is to incorporate the 1-2-3 step assessment into an already busy appointment. A video showing the demonstration is being produced and will be posted on the CVMA website.
CVMA’s lounge offered a dedicated space for delegates to “Recharge and Reconnect.” CVMA staff, committee members and Council were available to speak about CVMA’s services while delegates could relax, enjoy a snack, and recharge their electronic devices.
The Merial-sponsored Fun Run is a long-standing tradition of the Convention and the Victoria harbor front offered a picturesque route for the 55 participants. For the first year, a yoga session was offered.
Over 150 guests attended the “Tropical Nights” social evening, which featured wine tasting from the local Muse winery, a buffet dinner and dancing to the Commodores Big Band. A lineup throughout the evening kept caricaturist Mark Siermaczesk working hard.
The 2015 Convention will be held in Calgary, Alberta — Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Fairmont Palliser. Please note that in order to be more accessible for the entire veterinary team, the convention days are shifting to include not only Saturday, but also Sunday. Save the dates and see you in Calgary!
CVMA-Society of BC Veterinarians Chapter
2013 was a year of change for the CVMA-SBCV Chapter. Executive director Ilona Rule, who headed the Chapter since inception, retired from her position. The position was filled by West Coast Veterinarian editor Corey Van’t Haaff. The administrative office moved from Victoria to Port Coquitlam.
The Board undertook some strategic planning with a focus on communications, and developed a written plan outlining revised objectives and core values. CVMA-SBCV Chapter Objectives and Priorities are as follows:
1. Provision of Services to Members
CVMA-SBCV Chapter advocates for the best interests of its members and maintains effective and regular communication with them. The Chapter keeps members up-to-date by providing continuing education courses and opportunities, and looks for new and meaningful ways to connect members with the public.
2. Promotion of the Veterinary Profession
CVMA-SBCV Chapter promotes the integrity and honor of the profession to the public through public education and information. The Chapter develops effective working relationships with all stakeholders.
3. Promotion of Human and Animal Welfare
CVMA-SBCV Chapter promotes animal welfare issues including public safety and food safety issues. The Chapter shares CVMA animal welfare position statements and research with veterinarians and the public, and promotes, encourages and nurtures the development of the human-animal bond.
Core Values are integrity, excellence, transparency, and helpfulness.
Communications initiatives
Members were canvassed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on how (and how often) they wish to hear from the Chapter and the Board was pleased to learn that the membership wanted more communication, more often. A monthly e-newsletter will begin in 2014 in response to this member need. Members were also surveyed about the fall Conference as we had heard comments about both date and location of the Conference. In response to the survey, the date, venue and topics were chosen to reflect member preferences.
Election of directors
The election is held to coincide with the AGM (120 days prior to AGM is the notice/nomination period). This is the Board of Directors elected at the AGM on November 17, 2013 (expiry dates in brackets):
| President | Dr. Marco Veenis (Nov. 2014) |
| Vice-President | Dr. Sarah Armstrong (Nov. 2016) |
| Treasurer | Dr. Rob Ashburner (Nov. 2014) |
| Directors | Dr. Ko Arman (Nov. 2016) |
| Dr. Paul Kennedy (director at large representing Northern British Columbia) | |
| Dr. Al Longair (Nov. 2015) | |
| Dr. Rick Stanley (Nov. 2015) |
Committee development
The following committees are currently active, thanks to valued volunteers:
Continuing Education Committee, Equine Seminar Committee, Economic Survey Committee (accepting new members), Government Relations Committee, Magazine Editorial Committee, and Membership Committee.
Programs
West Coast Veterinarian (WCV) is published quarterly by the CVMA-SBCV Chapter (March, June, September and December) and contains Chapter news and updates, classified ads, articles on interesting aspects of veterinary medicine, specialist and student columns, veterinarian profiles, information on continuing education opportunities and practice management/legal information. The WCV is delivered directly to members, distributed province-wide to veterinary clinics and posted on the Chapter website in electronic format. The magazine has received positive feedback from both readers and advertisers and has a limited subscription and industry mailing list, in addition to members.
The 2013 Fall Conference, AGM, and Trade Show was held in Surrey on November 17, 2013. CVMA president Dr. Jim Berry and WCVM dean Doug Freeman gave speeches. Continuing education featured Internal Medicine — Practical Advice for Everyday Practice with Dr. Casey Gaunt, WCVM assistant professor, Critical Care, Small Animal Clinical Sciences; and Oncology — A Collection of Briefs on Cancers Typically Seen by Small Animal Practitioners with Dr. Valerie MacDonald, WCVM associate professor, Medical Oncology, Small Animal Clinical Sciences. We were able to partner with WCVM on some costs and as a result, we waived the fee for members. By doing this, we also gained 4 new members.
The 41st Annual Delta Equine Seminar was held October 22 and 23, 2012. Speakers were Dr. Jack Snyder speaking about equine lameness, and Dr. Sue McDonnell talking about equine problem behaviors. The conference attracts equine veterinarians from beyond British Columbia’s borders, and produces adequate revenue to permit a donation to equine research at WCVM.
Public representation and advocacy
Our Board has speakers available to respond to media requests. Our Board attended the 2013 CVMA Convention in Victoria including the President’s Meeting and as a matter of policy, the Chapter president attends all Western VMA AGMs.
Dr. Sarah Armstrong represented the veterinary profession at the Pacific Urban Animal Strategies Summit held in Vancouver. Leaders in the companion animal industry gathered at the Summit to discuss current issues.
Both Drs. Armstrong and Ashburner attended the White Coat Ceremony at WCVM and enhanced the Chapter’s profile by partnering with College of Veterinarians of British Columbia on the stethoscope gifts and initiating new metal name tags branded with the CVMA-SBCV Chapter logo for each British Columbia student.
We maintain a Facebook page and are trying to increase our postings on our website.
Canadian Veterinary Reserve (CVR)
The CVR was founded by the CVMA in 2006. The mandate of the CVR is to provide veterinary all-hazard (including foreign animal disease [FAD] and civil emergencies) surge capacity resources to first responders in case of emergencies involving animals and, in so doing, to address animal health and welfare issues.
The CVR is comprised of 474 members, 245 of whom have been trained. In 2013, the CVR conducted a call-up exercise. The request for deployment was sent to 411 members with a total of 225 responses received. Of the 202 who replied within 48 hours, 50% indicated that they were ready to deploy.
One individual reservist was invited to participate in a Poultry FAD Workshop June 13, 2013 held at the Feather Board Command Centre in Guelph. A report can be found at (13 06 13 — PoultryForeignAnimalDiseaseWorkshopSummaryReport.pdf ).
The CVMA would like to thank the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for its ongoing financial contribution to the maintenance of the foreign animal disease emergency prepared-ness of the CVR.
Communications & Public Relations
Media relations
The CVMA continues to represent Canadian veterinarians and position the profession positively in the public eye by continually providing credible, expert information to the media and public. With almost 400 mentions of the CVMA tracked in the news and over 70 media inquiries noted in our media log, the CVMA is increasingly establishing itself as a reliable source for Canadian journalists. The CVMA carefully monitors and identifies issues that affect veterinarians and comments publicly when appropriate. During 2013, the CVMA managed several national media issues, including the CBC Marketplace “Barking Mad” television program, overnight hospitalization of pets, cross-border shopping for veterinary services, and reports of pet illnesses and deaths that may be connected to consumption of jerky treats.
Communications audit
The CVMA worked with Delta Media to complete a comprehensive communications audit, which involved a series of telephone interviews, online surveys, a best practices analysis with leaders from 3 national, health-based professional associations, and an assessment of CVMA’s communications products. Given the recommendations made by Delta Media, in 2014, CVMA’s website will be further refined, the volume of information shared via our social media channels will increase, and our eNewsletter will be redesigned.
Social media
An increased presence on social media platforms is giving the CVMA a public forum to engage with a variety of audiences. Engagement on our Facebook page has notably increased; our Facebook fan base more than doubled during 2013. The CVMA’s presence on Twitter also grew significantly during 2013, with a 60% increase in the number of followers.
Animal Health Week
“Their Health Is In Your Hands” was the slogan of our 2013 Animal Health Week campaign, which provided veterinarians with an opportunity to inform clients about the benefits of preventive health exams for pets and other animals. A new online ordering system was launched through the CVMA website in an effort to make ordering more convenient for veterinary clinics. Four industry partners (Program Plus Sponsor: IDEXX Laboratories and Program Sponsors: Petsecure Pet Health Insurance, iFinance [Petcard] and Scotiabank) provided support for Animal Health Week this year.
Member communications
Through mass e-mail and fax bulletins, social media updates, articles in provincial publications, CVMA’s website and monthly eNewsletter, CVMA program updates, accomplishments and general veterinary news were regularly communicated to help CVMA members stay informed.
Corporate Partnership Program (CPP)
The CVMA Corporate Partnership Program (CPP) is a comprehensive sponsorship program that was implemented 6 years ago (in 2007) in order to better recognize a company’s overall financial contribution to the Association. The CPP takes into account the various programs and events that are corporately sponsored, and allows companies that support the CVMA in various aspects to get better recognition for their overall contributions. The 3 levels of sponsorship in 2013 were Platinum (> $80 000), Gold ($48 000–$79 999) and Silver ($27 000–$47 999).
The CVMA would like to extend recognition to the following sponsors for their overall contribution to the Association for 2013:
| Gold: | IDEXX Laboratories |
| Merck Animal Health | |
| Scotiabank | |
| Silver: | Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada |
| Petsecure Pet Health Insurance | |
| Royal Canin |
CVMA Group Insurance Program
The exclusive CVMA Group Insurance Program helps Canadian veterinarians and veterinary clinics save money while providing the right level of coverage. The Program is designed for veterinarians and is overseen by the CVMA for the better protection and service of our members.
Professional Liability and Commercial ‘Protected Self-Insurance’ Program
Professional liability and commercial insurance coverage is offered to members through the Commercial “Protected Self-Insurance” Program (PSIP). In 2013, the number of policies issued increased by 12% and the Program grew to insure a total of 1383 practices. Overall, renewals for 2013 had a retention rate of 97%, which is quite exceptional. The majority of policies that were not renewed were independent contractors who no longer required the coverage. The Protected Self-Insurance model continues to provide a significant competitive advantage that open market brokers simply cannot match.
A new specialized coverage, Legal Expense Insurance, is now included in all policies. Participants receive a standard limit of $100 000, which provides coverage for several key legal expense exposures faced by veterinary practices. Another benefit of this new coverage is that policyholders are also provided with unlimited access to telephone legal advice that can be utilized without making a claim.
Employee Group Benefits Program
The TotalGUARD/CVMA Employee Benefits Program offers members the opportunity to provide themselves and their employees with a flexible choice of employee benefits including health and dental coverage, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability insurance. Insured clinics not only benefit from the rate stability generated by spreading claims over the entire TotalGUARD/CVMA pool, they also gain valuable competitive advantage to help them attract and retain star employees. The TotalGUARD/CVMA Program also offers optional wellness benefits such as professional referral services and counseling for insured members and their eligible family members, and business assistance and coaching for the employer’s organization. This product line experienced further growth in 2013 with new policies issued having increased 7%.
Other insurance solutions available under the CVMA Insurance Program include:
Affinity Program (Individual Life, Child Dependent Life, AD&D, LTD, Business Overhead Expense Insurance).
Veterinary Student & Graduate Program (Individual Life, AD&D, LTD).
Personal Automobile & Home Insurance
In 2013, CVMA introduced new group savings on auto and home insurance to its members. The Personal Insurance Company, CVMA’s new partner, now provides members exclusive group rates and benefits on home and auto insurance as part of the CVMA Group Insurance Program.
Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions provides the specialized CVMA Group Insurance Program and risk management services for CVMA members across Canada. (In Québec, the provider operates under HED, courtier en assurance, inc.) The Personal Insurance Company provides auto and home insurance products exclusively through professional associations. It is owned by The Desjardins General Insurance Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Desjardins Group.
Journals 2013
The CVJ and CJVR are the only national, general or multi-species, peer-reviewed veterinary journals in Canada. The number of manuscripts submitted to The CVJ in 2013 was 322, well up from the 264 in 2012; the number submitted to CJVR in 2013 was 109, slightly down from 114 in 2012. Efforts continued to be made in 2013 to reduce the backlog of CVJ manuscripts and as of March 2014 it took approximately 11 months from submission to publication and 8.5 months from acceptance to publication, a reduction from the time before we began our efforts but a slight increase over the last few months. The backlog has also increased slightly for CJVR and a strategy is going before CVMA Council for approval to deal with the problem.
The reason for the increase in time to publication for CVJ manuscripts was a decrease in published pages for the year, 1176 for 2013 compared to 1328 in 2012. The lower page total was the result of 22% lower advertising revenue in 2013 compared to 2012. New tactics have been discussed and developed to increase revenue. It is hoped a rebound in advertising will also occur in the later part of 2014.
Discussion of online only publishing for The CVJ has been put on hold due to the findings of the Delta Communication Audit conducted by the CVMA, which found that the print journal was still of value to many.
Readers and CVMA members are reminded that all issues, except the most recent 6 months, of both The CVJ and CJVR are available to the public on the PubMed Central archive (www.pubmedcentral.com); a link is also available through the CVMA website (www.canadianveterinarians.net). CVMA members can view the most recent 6 months of the journals on the member-only section of the CVMA website.
Membership One Voice = Thousands Strong
In 2013, the CVMA continued to provide national and international leadership on veterinary and animal health issues, and to represent the collective interests of the veterinary profession. CVMA engaged in activities on your behalf to influence legislative and policy issues that may threaten the scope of practice of veterinarians in Canada and the health of humans and animals. For example:
Veterinary input in the development of national farm animal welfare codes of practice
Research and formulation of veterinary and animal welfare position statements
Public policy advocacy to influence federal legislation changes to close regulatory gaps
Representation in global discussions in matters of food safety, drugs supply, labor mobility, education standards and global trade
Media and public relations addressing national veterinary issues and the treatment and welfare of animals.
Our 6789 veterinarians and student members across the country benefitted from the wide array of programs, services and resources to which they are entitled through their CVMA membership. Not only did the CVMA use its national volume purchase power to help put money back in members’ wallets, it also delivered a wealth of practice tools, guidelines, best practices, pertinent resources and timely information to support the delivery of high quality veterinary care and respond to the professional and personal needs of members:
Scientific knowledge and information, including The Canadian Veterinary Journal, the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, an enriching scientific continuing education program at the CVMA Convention, timely advisories, and related news and information.
Business management services, including provincial suggested fee guides, associate and non-DVM compensation and benefits reports, practice consultations, and practice management resources.
Specialized group insurance program, including risk management services, member-exclusive rates for commercial, professional liability, group health, and personal automobile and home insurance.
Practice tools and resources, including anaesthetic and pain management protocols, antimicrobial use guidelines, compounding guidelines, and online practice resources
Support services for you and your practice, including business banking program, merchant payment processing service, telephone ‘hold’ service, public awareness campaign material, client education material, web resources on animal health issues for your clients, veterinary legal advice column, and employment guidelines.
National Issues
The National Issues Committee (NIC) undertook initiatives in 2013 that included the following items:
Position statements
The NIC is developing 2 new positions: Telemedicine and Importation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, and is currently reviewing 3 position statements that are being circulated with stakeholders and experts in the field: Antimicrobial Use in Animals; Microchip Implants; and Surgical Procedures.
Antimicrobial Stewardship and Prudent Use Guidelines
The CVMA is developing antimicrobial prudent use guidelines for companion animals as a smartphone/tablet app platform called “Antimicrobial SmartVet.” The first component of the app is a decision tool that guides veterinarians on antimicrobial selection for treating urinary tract infections in dogs and cats.
Regulatory issues
The CVMA is represented and consulted on regulatory issues such as maximum residue limits, the drug approval system, and extra-label drug use. The CVMA has provided feedback to Health Canada on the proposed regulatory changes to the Food and Drugs Act that relate to the “own use importation” (OUI) of veterinary products provision and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The CVMA has collaborated with aquatic veterinarians concerning federal regulatory issues that could impact the practice of aquatic veterinary medicine.
Veterinary therapeutics and biologics
The CVMA collaborated with the Canadian Animal Health Institute to develop and distribute a poster to heighten awareness around the issues of compounding veterinary drugs and the “Decision Cascade.”
Food safety and public health
The CVMA is taking every opportunity to make representations to the federal government regarding the important role of veterinarians in public health and ensuring the safety of Canada’s food supply and is representing the profession in the following areas:
Canadian Coalition for Public Health in the 21st Century
Pork Quality Assurance Program
The CVMA had discussions with the United States Food and Drug Administration regarding the ongoing issues related to jerky treat toxicity in companion animals and provided members with public awareness materials to use in their clinics.
Ecosystem health
The CVMA launched the “Green Veterinary Practice” that provides guidance to veterinarians on how to make their practices more eco-friendly and includes a self-audit tool that can be used to evaluate their success.
Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA)
The Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) represent over 1600 student veterinarians from the 5 Canadian veterinary colleges. Over $80 000 was contributed from the CVMA’s operating budget to support student initiatives through the SCVMA program and to foster the relationship between CVMA and student veterinarians.
The 2013 SCVMA Symposium was held January 10–12 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and was hosted by the students of the Atlantic Veterinary College. Once again, this student-led event was a great success with over 200 students in attendance. The annual SCVMA Symposium is a great leadership experience for the student organizers; however, its organization requires a significant time and resource commitment from student volunteers. In November, Council approved a proposal to bolster the operational support provided to organizers and establish a framework to mitigate risks.
The SCVMA Committee held 2 in-person meetings, one in January and one in July. Two follow-up teleconferences also took place. The meetings allowed the Committee to discuss issues and tasks faced throughout the year, and to exchange ideas and information with CVMA Council. The SCVMA president also attended 3 Council meetings and brought to the Council table recommendations from the SCVMA Committee.
The SCVMA conducted its annual survey of new graduates to gather information that may be useful to future veterinary graduates and of interest to the profession. Results from the 2013 New Graduate Survey were published in the April 2014 issue of The CVJ.
Ontario Veterinary College Class of 2017.
A variety of CVMA resources were produced for SCVMA members, including the annual VetRap student newsletter that showcases articles from each of the 5 colleges, as well as 2 e-newsletters dedicated to students. Throughout the year, the SCVMA section of the website and the SCVMA Facebook group provide updated information.
CVMA-branded lab coats and name badges were provided to first-year students during the Welcome Ceremony at each college. The CVMA Awards and the Teacher of the Year Awards were also presented at each college.
Again this year, the CVMA “One Voice Presentation” was hosted at each school in the fall to help introduce students to the CVMA and to discuss a current animal welfare or national veterinary issue. A CVMA Council member and the SCVMA representative delivered the presentation and facilitated the discussions.
CVMA’s group insurance partner, Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions, hosted an Insurance Lunch’n Learn presentation at each college. It is an opportunity to provide students with an overview of insurance risks that they may face in their careers and to explain the various insurance products and coverages available.
Student Liaison Advisory Group
Members of the CVMA Student Liaison Advisory Group represent the CVMA at each of the 5 Canadian veterinary colleges and strengthen the link between the CVMA and its student veterinarian members. The advisory group, which is comprised of one faculty member from each college, provides guidance to SCVMA representatives at their respective colleges. Members also participate in annual CVMA initiatives at the veterinary colleges including the One Voice presentation, lab coat ceremony, and the SCVMA Symposium.
SCVMA president, AVC, Bruno Ouimet and Jessica Rock (AVC, Class of 2015) with award-winner, Dr. Peter Foley.
Students who attended Dr. Étienne Coté’s lecture at the 2013 symposium were provided an opportunity to practice their newly acquired auscultating skills on his cardiology patients from clinical practice.
