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- Author or Editor: Mark Rishniw x
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Explore relief and mobile veterinarians’ views and experiences related to their current job. In addition, examine reasons why these veterinarians opted to pursue careers in relief and mobile practice.
SAMPLE
Veterinary members of the Veterinary Information Network working as relief or mobile veterinarians.
METHODS
An electronic survey distributed via the Veterinary Information Network data collection portal from May 11, 2023, through May 30, 2023.
RESULTS
A total of 444 responses were collected (125 veterinarians in mobile practice and 240 relief veterinarians). Factors most commonly reported to have a strong effect on mobile or relief veterinarians’ decision to leave their previous job included administration, hospital culture, leadership, feeling their voice was heard, and workplace schedule factors. The majority of mobile and relief practitioners reported feeling satisfied with their work-life balance (mobile, 78%; relief, 91%) as well as availability for children (mobile, 84%; relief, 84%) and other family members (mobile, 85%; relief, 87%).
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The majority of mobile and relief practitioners who participated in this survey reported feeling satisfied or very satisfied with managing their work and life, in their ability to be present and available for their children, and having opportunity to support and care for elderly family members and those with medical needs. As the field of veterinary medicine becomes increasingly feminized, schedule flexibility and work-life balance will likely increase in importance, making careers in nonpractice settings more desirable. Traditional brick-and-mortar clinics should note that dissatisfaction with administration and office/hospital culture might drive their employees to pursue other career avenues such as relief or mobile practice.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare and contrast the views of benefits and general work conditions of participants working in corporate hospitals compared to those working in privately owned hospitals.
SAMPLE
Veterinary members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) working as associate veterinarians in corporate- or privately owned hospitals.
METHODS
An electronic survey distributed via the VIN data collection portal.
RESULTS
A total of 896 responses from associate veterinarians working full time were received, of which 286 (31.9%) reported working in private practice and 610 (68.1%) in corporate practice. Fifty-five percent of participants indicated a preference for working in private practice compared to 12% preferring corporate practice. Veterinarians working in corporate practice were more likely to report receiving insurance (health, dental, life, and short-term disability), mental wellness programs (eg, counseling), wellness mobile apps, VIN membership, and continuing education paid by their employer than those working in privately owned practices. However, participants in private practice reported higher satisfaction with feeling known as an individual by upper management, hospital culture, the ability to fire difficult or abusive clients, and mentorship. Those working in corporate practices reported feeling more pressure than those in private practice to generate revenue and see more clients per shift.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
There are positives and negatives of corporate-owned hospitals when compared to privately owned practices. Corporate hospitals may be well positioned to make large organizational-level changes that can improve work culture and, as a result, the well-being and retention of small animal practitioners.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare the differences in the healing of surgically created full-thickness wounds in dogs treated with a novel extracellular matrix (ECM) dressing as compared with a standard wound management protocol and to investigate the effect of antibiotics in these 2 populations.
ANIMALS
15 purpose-bred Beagles, 8 female spayed and 7 males neutered, operated on, and monitored between March 14, 2022, and April 18, 2022.
METHODS
Four 2 X 2-cm full-thickness skin wounds were created on the trunks of each dog. The right-sided wounds were treated with the novel ECM wound dressing, and the left-sided wounds served as the controls. Wound planimetry and qualitative wound scores were obtained at 12 time points. Wound biopsies for histopathologic assessment of wound repair and wound inflammation were obtained at 6 time points.
RESULTS
Wounds treated with ECM had higher percent epithelization at days 7, 9, 12, and 18 postoperatively (P < .001) and better histologic repair scores (P = .024) than wounds treated by the standard protocol. Subjective wound assessment scores of wounds treated with ECM did not differ from those treated by the standard protocol at any time point.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Wounds treated with the novel ECM dressing epithelialized more rapidly than wounds treated by a standard protocol.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical presentation and outcome in dogs diagnosed with Trypanosoma cruzi infection in nonendemic areas and to survey veterinary cardiologists in North America for Chagas disease awareness.
ANIMALS
12 client-owned dogs; 83 respondents from a veterinary cardiology listserv.
PROCEDURES
A retrospective, multicenter medical records review to identify dogs diagnosed with American trypanosomiasis between December 2010 and December 2020. An anonymous online survey was conducted August 9 to 22, 2022.
RESULTS
Diagnosis was made using indirect fluorescent antibody titer (n = 9), quantitative PCR assay (1), or postmortem histopathology (2). Time spent in Texas was < 1 year (n = 7) or 2 to 8 years (5). Time in nonendemic areas prior to diagnosis was < 1 year (n = 10) and > 3 years (2). Eleven had cardiac abnormalities. Of the 12 dogs, 5 had died unexpectedly (range, 1 to 108 days after diagnosis), 4 were still alive at last follow-up (range, 60 to 369 days after diagnosis), 2 were euthanized because of heart disease (1 and 98 days after diagnosis), and 1 was lost to follow-up. Survey results were obtained from 83 cardiologists in North America, of which the self-reported knowledge about Chagas disease was limited in 49% (41/83) and 69% (57/83) expressed interest in learning resources.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results highlight the potential for encountering dogs with T cruzi infection in nonendemic areas and need for raising awareness about Chagas disease in North America.
