Veterinary student debt assistance program underway
Legislation that established the Ohio Veterinary Student Debt Assistance Program is now officially operational, as of April 15. Revenue for the program comes from any surplus funds remaining in the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board’s budget at the end of each state budget biennium.
While the legislation was enacted last year, enabling rules and a release of state funds were necessary before the program could actually begin. The application portal is open (scroll down to the “Charitable Services Student Loan” section). All aspects of the veterinary student debt assistance program will be managed by the OVMLB.
Grants to veterinarians from the veterinary student debt assistance program will be awarded via random lottery among eligible applicants in a common pre-determined amount between $5,000 and $10,000. A total of $273,742 has been placed in the veterinary student loan assistance grant fund for this cycle.
To be eligible, a veterinarian must have:
- performed at least 12 hours of charitable veterinary services
- educational loans incurred while enrolled in a college of veterinary medicine
- been engaged in the practice or instruction of veterinary medicine for more than six months prior to application.
For a copy of the law (both the statute and enabling rules), please click below.
Reminder: OVMA launches employee wellbeing assistance plan
More and more, employers are realizing that personal problems don’t necessarily stay personal. They inevitably bleed into work and affect job performance, morale, productivity, and more.
That’s why employee assistance programs (EAPs) are growing in popularity—and why OVMA recently partnered with CorpCare to provide its members with the support they need in all aspects of life.
OVMA, in conjunction with CorpCare, is pleased to offer veterinary practices with a comprehensive and very affordable employee assistance plan (EAP) that covers veterinarians and their employees.
Practices can choose from two plans starting at $300 per clinic location per year. Employees and their dependents have access to a network of local and telehealth counselors, as well a wide variety of financial, legal, family, personal, and other services at discounted rates.
For more information
OVMA delved into the program’s offerings on a recent episode of Fully Vetted; click below to listen to the episode. Ready to enroll? Log in to the Members Only Center to download the program flyer and enrollment instructions.
Last call: Sign up now for Legislative Day!
Time is running out to join your colleagues at the Statehouse to make the voice of veterinary medicine heard!
Legislative Day is scheduled for May 18. The event is free for members and includes lunch and briefings on current issues.
To allow OVMA staff enough time to schedule your appointments, please RSVP as soon as possible but no later than Wednesday, May 11.
Can’t participate in person? You can still make sure your voice is heard by supporting V-PAC. Even a small amount can have an impact!
Free webinar series explores practice growth
Hosted by Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE), the Veterinary Practice Growth webinar series provides timely advice from experts about what creates a healthy veterinary practice.
Available free of charge to OVMA members and their staff, these online courses cover a variety of practice management-focused topics, including cyber security, client loyalty, and more.
Upcoming webinars
7 Key Ingredients for Maximizing Client Loyalty
- Date: Thursday, May 19
- Time: 2:30 p.m.
- Speaker: Stacee Santi, DVM
Understanding a client’s “love language” is an essential part of building (and keeping) a profitable, sustainable, efficient practice centered around the veterinary-client relationship. Identifying, retaining and engaging customers, especially high and mid-value, is critical to maximizing the veterinary team’s daily impact on the lives of animals. In this session, attendees will learn the seven levers that strengthen the bond with their clients.
Six Steps to Starting or Maintaining a Hospital Safety Program
- Date: Thursday, June 16
- Time: 2:30 p.m.
- Speaker: Phil Siebert, CVT
Before a veterinary practice can implement any policy or rule, there must be a framework in place to identify the hazard or rule; the official plan or policy must be developed and written; the staff must be instructed using the most appropriate method; and an enforcement means must be defined. This session will discuss the six steps to starting or maintaining a hospital safety and OSHA compliance program for most veterinary practices.
If you cannot attend a session live, recordings are made available within a few days. Click below to view the collection of previous sessions.
FDA issues final guidance document on veterinary compounding from bulk drug substances
Essentially completing a process initiated in 2015, the federal Food and Drug Administration issued a final guidance document (GFI #256) on the compounding of animal drugs from bulk substances.
There is nothing in the guidance document that appears to affect current Ohio Board of Pharmacy rules on compounding for veterinary use.
Background
Technically, the compounding of a new animal drug from bulk substances constitutes a new animal drug subject to FDA approval. However, the FDA has continued to reaffirm that it does not intend to any take enforcement action, provided that:
- The compounding is done by or under direct supervision by a veterinarian or pharmacist within the parameters of USP 795 or 797.
- When dispensed by a pharmacist, it is at the prescribing direction of a veterinarian.
- The compounded drug is not simply a copy of a marketed FDA approved, conditionally approved, or indexed animal drug.
- The drug is being dispensed within the context of a valid VCPR.
- Any adverse events are reported.
- The product is appropriately labeled.
- Compounding for office stock is from a list of FDA-approved drugs*.
*The FDA is continuing to develop this list with veterinary input over the next several months.
For more information
For a comprehensive breakdown of the guidance document and its parameters, please reference the AVMA’s compounding from bulk drug substances resource page.
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