Veterinary Today Podcast: Legislation, Education, New ISVMA Member Categories

Tune in and learn about key issues that affect the veterinary profession in Illinois and, in turn, you and your practice!

Dr. Sandra Faeh, President, AVMA, discusses how a bill passed in Colorado in November 2024 now allows the existence of a mid-level veterinary practitioner in clinics and hospitals in that state. It is a position that the AVMA, ISVMA and other veterinary-related organizations had opposed prior to a vote in Colorado. At this time, the creation of such a position is not being pursued in Illinois.

This episode also reviews member approval of two new ISVMA membership categories, one of which allowing veterinary practice managers to now join the association. The second membership category, practice membership, goes live mid-2025.

Hear how the ISVMA is on sound financial footing, a review of key legislation the profession in Illinois faced in 2024, as well as proposals that are continuing into 2025. A review of educational opportunities and member benefits rounds out this episode.

Audio in this episode was recorded live at the ISVMA's 142nd Annual Convention's membership meeting presentation, held in November 2024.

Transcript

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Steve, hello and welcome to the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association's veterinary today podcast. Veterinary today presents Currents and developing trends in the veterinary profession so that veterinary professionals can better serve clients and their pets and maintain livestock and manage their practice, all with the goal of establishing a more informed, knowledgeable and engaged clinic staff. I'm Joey McLaughlin, your podcast moderator, and our host is Dr Joan Carlson, Chief Medical Officer at Loving Care Animal Clinic in Palatine, and past president of the ISV ms board of directors. Dr Carlson, hello, hello, Joey. We've got a different kind of podcast this time around, one that we will review looking back at our 2024 annual convention. Will be highlighting the ISVMAs past year's accomplishments, as well as an update from the AV may president and my friend Dr Sandra Faeh, all right, I love it. Let's jump right into it. Okay, yes. And let's first start with that audio clip from Dr Fauci in November, voters in Colorado approved language to allow the creation of a new mid level veterinary position situated between a veterinarian and a CVT, which could diagnose, prognose, recommend treatment plans and conduct surgery with a licensed veterinarian supervision. AC may join the AVMA and other veterinary and animal related associations to national opposition of this measure. Here's Dr Fauci describing the outcome of the Colorado election in November, and the AV May's take on the election results. AV may feels that a mid level practitioner position would really lower the standards of veterinary services and risk animal safety, public health and client trust. There is no clear need for a proposed mid level practitioner, no pragmatic accreditation, no national test or exam and no licensure for this position. The creation of such a position would allow inadequately trained individuals to practice veterinary medicine, including performing surgery. We feel this is very dangerous. Unfortunately, on November 5, Colorado voters approved a ballot proposition that will create what they call a veterinary professional associate, the AVMA, the Colorado VMA, and hundreds of veterinary organizations, veterinarians, clinics and pet owners, advocated for pet owners to oppose this dangerous proposition with the narrow approval margin of 52.36 covers administrative costs and general expenses. So it's your ISP a boards and staff's fiscal responsibility to ensure that membership dollars go far in promoting and protecting our profession in Illinois, and we're effectively accomplishing this mission. It's always comforting know that any organization's finances in which you are affiliated are being managed properly. And that is a sound standing right? Joey, Yeah, always. Dr Carlson, indeed. Dr Johnson then reviewed important legislation affecting the veterinary profession that was addressed during the year. Here, she recaps several of the major bills and measures that affect us in our clinics and hospitals every day in 2022 your board of directors met to develop the ISV A's current strategic plan. It was defined into five different pillars of action that supports the Association's mission of advancing the well being of veterinary medical professionals while protecting animals public health and the environment. So let's review those five tracks, to advocate serving as the preeminent voice of the veterinary profession, to engage, facilitating opportunities for networking, involvement and services to advance careers, providing educational opportunities and resources to ensure career success, to inform improving awareness and public image with an offensive approach to animal care issues and the veterinary profession, and lastly, to lead an infrastructure goal to support and advance the other four goals that deliver value to the members. So first, let's talk about advocacy and reviewing an interesting year in Springfield and on the federal level. You are all very aware that monitoring legislation is a constant in any year for your board, your ISV may staff and the government relations team, your isvma, worked very hard to successfully pass legislation in November of 2023 to exempt veterinarians from the mandated electronic prescribing of controlled substances, which went into effect January 1 of this year, there was a dangerous animals bill, or House Bill, 4446, that amended the state's criminal code to expand the list of animals considered to be dangerous. It did not pass in the General Assembly. Xylazine is still top of the mind in both Springfield and in Washington, DC, we continue to monitor efforts on the federal level. Since it did not pass in the Illinois General Assembly, operationally, a measure included in the state's budget and revenue package, approved by legislators and signed by Governor JB Pritzker prohibits credit card processing fees. On sales tax and gratuities. This is commonly referred to as the swipe twice measure. The law is effective July 1 of 2026, however, there may be opportunities to amend this law in future sessions. That is a big range of topics. Dr Carlson, yes. Joey, absolutely. Like any profession, there are many topics that come up in legislation that can really act how we conduct our profession and how we run our businesses. The veterinary profession is not exempt from that regard. Next, Dr Johnson addressed the many ways that I svma provides its members with top training to bolster and gain valuable knowledge through its educational office CE. The ISVMA's CBT committee for the second year developed an enhanced VT and E study series from February through April, an introductory course for CBTs to prep for the veterinary technician national exam. We again collaborated with dynamic vendors to create six two hour sessions covering nine VT and E domains over three weeks, these courses were extremely popular, and the program went national, with students signing up from across the country. Regarding CVT educational offerings, your isvma also ramped up educational offerings during National Veterinary Technician week or CVT week, just last month, offering three free CBT related courses. We also provided half priced Illinois mandated sexual harassment prevention training for the CVTs, and offered free registration for DVMs to enroll in our CVT utilization video presentation course and get CE for it too. The committee is also working on expanding CVT title protection in Illinois our 2024 power of 10 graduating class had an active day at the State Capitol in April. They canvassed the Capitol promoting healthy pet month and shared the veterinary profession's view on legislative issues. An important milestone in the history of isvma. Is power of 10 occurred this year, our first ever 2023 2024 CVT class graduated in April, so congratulations to both the CVT and the DVM classes for this year, the ISVMA's Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee reached out to high school level students who come from underrepresented backgrounds in our profession in the Chicagoland area and held their second veterinary exploration day at last year's annual convention. The event brings in young people and their parents or guardians from many socio economic backgrounds and introduces them to the world of veterinary medicine. If you happen to notice, you probably saw some of those kids this morning, the DEI group repeated this success again today with its third consecutive annual Illinois Veterinary exploration day at this convention. Isn't it great to see so many young, curious minds wanting to know more about our profession. When it comes to education, your board of directors wants you to consider the variety of topics for continuing education, our annual convention provides you with more than 100 hours of CE training this weekend at great rates, while we continually offer the state mandated courses online for you to be compliant with your required training. Your isvma provides you a variety of course topics for you to earn your CE and discounted rates, or even sometimes for free, consider the CE you are now receiving here at convention, all in one place, all at one time, as well as our virtual convention options offered to you online later this month. The efforts by your education committee are ongoing and non stop throughout the year. Thank you for keeping us aware of the latest information research, techniques and trends we need to practice as veterinary professionals. We'll be back to the veterinary today podcast right after this, your isvma is always looking for and working towards new benefits that best fit the everyday needs of its members. Corp Care offers its Member Assistance and employee assistance programs to help address both professional and personal concerns, challenges we face every day, like anxiety, depression, work, life, balance, financial and legal concerns can sometimes be weighty and can affect how we handle stress in the clinic and at home. We know this is a high risk profession, and we need to look out for ourselves as much as we look out for those beloved pets and animals, Corp care is an experienced professional organization working in specialized mental well being for veterinary professionals. Corp Care offers three hours of complimentary mental health counseling to every ISVMA member, including students when you enroll. Services for DVMs and hospital staff are available through both of these program plans. For veterinarians, the Member Assistance Program is here to help you navigate life's challenges. For confidential, caring and professional assistance, 24/7, call 877-318-1717, the employee assistance program. Program is here to help your hospital staff face their challenges as well for confidential, caring and professional help every day of the week. Call 877-843-6036, and now back to veterinary today. You know Joey having a mentor to help as a guide in any career, is a wonderful opportunity that a seasoned veterinarian can provide for student or young graduate and from whom they could greatly benefit. The ISV may offers this opportunity for both mentor and mentee. Here's how Dr Johnson explained it, and encouraged both to get involved with the IASB Ma's mentorship program. I'm pleased to report that mentorship opportunities from member to member, most usually, in the case, from seasoned practitioner to new veterinarians, has seen an increased participation in 2024 the benefits of membership are clear. Relationships play a powerful role in your career development. Mentorship increases professional growth, providing an internal support mechanism between mentor and mentee. It also creates an internal knowledge base, improves professional goals, provides accountability and self reflection, offers encouragement, boosts confidence, identifies strengths and weaknesses, offers networking opportunities, and the positive lift goes on and on. The ISV amaze, ability to match up mentor with mentee is one of the main goals of our Student Engagement Committee. It's clear they have been highly active this past year putting together the right people so that both knowledge, experience and mentoring take place for both parties, the Student Engagement Committee also coordinates student engagement at the U of I when we host events on the campus for DVM students and for alumni. In the spirit of heritage, camaraderie and association, alumni members may refer to it as roots we have and will always strengthen our relationship with the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, with student engagement activities, I can't think of a better opportunity to learn and grow from those who have the experience, the real life knowledge, to share with someone new to the to the profession. Dr Carlson, exactly. Joey, why wouldn't you want to take advantage of such an opportunity to learn from somebody such as myself? You know, I am marking 32 years this year in May, as being a veterinarian. And I must say, I have been through many challenges and many obstacles, and I'm still superseding them and working and functioning. I do have an extern scheduled for December, and I'm looking forward to seeing her. The student engage committee takes great effort to match a veterinary mentor with a young person who has similar interests. So there's a great working relationship. From the beginning, it's likely that the relationship will continue for both individuals entire life and career. Dr Johnson also lets members know that ISVMA membership benefits continue on providing a myriad of services that help veterinarians, CVTs practice managers and the hospital teams receive what they need to make their personal and professional lives better in many ways. As veterinary professionals, we all know there is an ongoing need to offer essential services that address both professional and personal concerns. These challenges like anxiety, depression, work, life, balance, financial and legal concerns can sometimes be weighty and can affect how we handle stress in the clinic and at home, your isvma continues its relationship with Corp care, a professional organization experienced working in specialized mental well being for our veterinary professionals, by enrolling Corp Care offers three hours of complimentary mental health counseling to Every ISVMA a member, including students. These services are available for DVMs and for your hospital staff through two program plans. We know this is a very high risk profession, and we need to look out for ourselves just as much as we look out for those beloved pets. In efforts to provide more well rounded services for your business, we continue to provide sponsored, sponsored services that can help your hospital run smoothly and efficiently, like card connect, credit care processing services joining such providers like court care, medics, waste, Guardian vets, all great services that help you and your staff with benefits of membership. Wow, those are some great benefits of membership. Dr Carlson, they sure are. Joey, I'm very proud of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. Lastly, Dr Johnson ensured members that the IAS VMA is out there sharing vital, important information with them through communication channels like today, the veterinary podcast, and by informing our clients and the general public about who we are and what we do. We are, after all, the supreme veterinary resource in the the state of Illinois. We are out there informing, improving our public image and to be known as the animal care experts in our communities. We continue our marketing through events such as healthy pet month, educating legislators and the public on the. Importance of veterinary care for their animals. I hope you can take the time to read our weekly e source electronic newsletter filled with isvma related information you need to know about, or our quarterly Epitome magazine that is now offered to you online. And I am particularly proud to say that our veterinary today podcast series is becoming popular with our listening audience now, completing our second year of podcasting, your ISVMA will always lead ensuring our association has the support to be effective in our communities and with our members. An Association's strength is in numbers with members, and as I mentioned earlier, when talking about joining others in supporting or opposing our legislation, we're always looking for allies as valuable resources to better our cause. Without your membership support and involvement, we could not be as strong as we are. We need your continued support in 2025 and beyond. Because of your volunteer commitment to the ISVMA, we will continue to provide what our clients and public expect of us, as members of the premier Veterinary Medical Association in Illinois. Please visit with me, any board member, regional representative or isvma staff member, to find out more about how you can make a difference by becoming involved with the isvma with another year of accomplishments, member benefits and activities. We close out 2024 as another positive year for veterinary professionals across the state and for members living and practicing outside of Illinois, my career has been energized and have been truly humbled by serving as your ISVMA President, I thank you all for this opportunity to lead and serve what a great recap and a great year. Dr Carlson Sure was. Joey. Also important to note was a special membership vote at the same meeting with members unanimously approving the creation of two membership categories. Let's allow Dr Johnson to explain your isvm, a board of directors earlier this year approved two new proposed membership categories to be introduced into the association's constitution. The isvma is governing document. The two new categories are veterinary practice manager and practice membership. Allow me to review with you these two proposals. The proposed language and rationale for each category is on your table first, the veterinary practice manager shall be open to individuals who are not licensed DVMs or CVTs and are actively engaged in managing the operations of a veterinary practice or clinic. This includes, but not limited to administrative duties, human resource management, financial management and client relations. Veterinary practice manager members would enjoy the same rights and privileges as professional members, except that they will not be eligible to hold office or vote however, veterinary practice manager members may be eligible to serve on committees as non voting members. Practice membership members would be open to all individuals employed in a veterinary practice or hospital, all DVMs within the practice or hospital are required to become members to qualify the practice or hospital staff for this membership category, CVTs and all employees are eligible for practice membership. This category also allows full voting rights for both DVMs and CVTs practice managers and veterinary practice staff will not have voting rights, although there may be, they may be eligible to serve on committees as non voting members. So according to the IEC mace constitution, by live vote, members had to approve the adoption of these two membership categories. The vote was taken. Both new membership types will be implemented this year. That's that's exciting. Dr Carlson, the opportunity for more veterinary professionals to be part of this great association is growing. That's right. Joey, there is power in numbers, which means more can be achieved with new members and more can be offered for the betterment of more people working in this profession. There are always good things to come with worship in the isvma Definitely. Thank you for this informative recap, Dr Carlson, and I'm glad you could share all of this essential information with us. And many thanks to our listeners for tuning in to this episode. Join us again and check out our previous podcast episodes available on the veterinary today, podcast home page, or wherever you download your favorite podcasts. I'm Joey McLaughlin. You.