Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

This week our hosts discuss how should veterinary professionals work with other pet care providers? Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor contemplate the roles and responsibilities veterinarians and veterinary technicians have when referring to pet care individuals such as trainers, groomers, pet sitters, and boarding facilities. What should the veterinary profession do about unlicensed, non-credentialed, uneducated individuals offering advice on animal care? How can we determine which non-veterinary providers are safe for our patients and clients? How can we foster collaboration between veterinary professionals and everyone else? As Dr. Ward states, “This is an incredibly important topic that touches us all.” Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This is a special edition of the Veterinary Viewfinder. If you haven’t listened to episode 035, 2017 AVMA Conference podcast, please check it out to provide context for these unedited attendee interviews. Co-host Dr. Cyndie Courtney interviews several attendees of the 2017 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Courtney explores what attendees like or dislike about the AVMA an organized veterinary medicine, what their personal involvement is, and how to encourage veterinarians to become engaged in their profession. These three group discussions with experienced and new veterinarians and veterinary medical school students provide interesting insights into the topics on the minds of our colleagues. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week co-hosts veterinarian Dr. Cyndie Courtney and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor talk with Dr. Ernie Ward from the 2017 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN. The trio talk about new AVMA President Dr. Michael Topper, stagnant conference attendance, the new AVMA telemedicine guidelines and potential consequences of their lack of clarity, and controversies around opioid reporting legislation and medical marijuana usage in veterinary practice. The group also shares some cogent comments from a veterinary technician. Dr. Ward asks what can the AVMA do to remain relevant and encourage participation by young veterinarians and what role should veterinary technicians have in the future? Finally, the hosts offer their best advice for the AVMA and the future of the veterinary profession in a lively, wide-ranging discussion. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week we talk about cancer in pets with veterinary oncologist Dr. Sue Ettinger. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward & Beckie Mossor, RVT are rejoined with Dr. Cyndie Courtney after her maternity leave. This podcast focuses on how the veterinary team should approach cancer, the best ways to share a cancer diagnosis with pet owners, why Dr. Ward believes being non-judgmental is key to successful outcomes and emotional well-being of our staff, the role of veterinary technicians in helping cancer patients, and many more important topics concerning cancer. Join the conversation on Facebook/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Does your front staff fight your back? Do your technicians battle your receptionists? Does everyone combat the boss or manager? According to host veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward, workplace warfare affects nearly every veterinary practice around the world. Team disharmony negatively impacts patient care and productivity. This week Dr. Ward and co-host veterinary technician/nurse are joined by practice consultant and Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Debbie Boone to discuss how you can overcome workplace tension and stress. A wide-ranging conversation covering common causes of conflict, how your attitude contributes or lessens tension, and simple steps anyone can take to better enjoy their work. Find out why Dr. Ward says, "You do not cure cancer by watching it grow." Join the conversation at Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

This week host veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor have a deep conversation on euthanasia, veterinary hospice, compassion fatigue and more with Dr. Dani McVety. Dr. McVety is co-founder of Lap of Love, an in-home veterinary euthanasia and hospice care service. We discuss why Dr. McVety chose to pursue a career in veterinary euthanasia and hospice, best practices for in-home euthanasia, and how any veterinary team member can help provide a more comfortable euthanasia experience for pet owners. This is a wide-ranging conversation concerning what Dr. Ward calls, "Our most important procedure." Join the conversation on Facebook and @VetViewfinder

This week host veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are talking disaster response opportunities for veterinary teams with ASPCA official Gina Manke. Learn how Gina got started with the ASPCA, what the top deployments are for ASPCA teams and volunteers, and how you can help in this week's podcast. Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder & Twitter @VetViewfinder.

RABIES! Over 60,000 people die each year from this deadly zoonotic disease. On veterinarian, Dr. Luke Gamble from the U.K., is on a mission to eradicate rabies and save human and animal lives. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor talk with Dr. Gamble about his group, Mission Rabies, and how veterinarians and veterinary nurses can help. Veterinary technician Jessie Foley discusses her recent participation in a Mission Rabies campaign in Malawi. If you’d like to learn more about the incredible work Mission Rabies is accomplishing, check out these sites: www.MissionRabies.com www.CliniciansBrief.com/Mission-Rabies

Stress, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue. These 3 topics top the list of veterinary workplace trauma and drama. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor talk with Rebecca Rose, CVT about the causes of stress, identifying problems in coworkers, and strategies to help reduce workplace tension. If you’re feeling stressed, work in a team with tension, or simply want to be happier and healthier, this podcast is for you! Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder & Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward & Beckie Mossor, RVT are joined by practice owner & hospital administrator, Laura Ward to discuss giving back to your community. We discuss how to plan and pull off an Open House, creating an awesome Pet Health Fair, and why the Wards believe giving back to your community is good for team building and practice building. If you're looking for ideas to jumpstart your clinic's civic participation, this episode is chock full of ideas and inspiration. Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder & Twitter @VetViewfinder.

The title "veterinary technician" is moving out! This week Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor are joined by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Executive Director, Julie Legred, CVT, while Dr. Cyndie continues to enjoy (?) maternity leave. Julie discusses the recent official announcement of the name change from "veterinary technician" to "veterinary nurse," how the credentialing and transition will occur, and a new support staff training program from NAVTA. The trio have a wide-ranging conversation on finding happiness and meaning in the profession, what's the best advice for new colleagues, and how Julie finds balance with a husband, four sons, managing a HUGE swine business in Minnesota, and changing the world. Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

Steve Dale from WGN Radio and Steve Dale Pet World (SteveDalePetWorld.com) joins hosts Dr. Ernie Ward, Dr. Cyndie Courtney, and Beckie Mossor, RVT to discuss what pet owners are asking him on his popular radio show, social media and blog. We tackle pet behavior, food questions (including what people are saying about raw and BARF diets), vaccinations, and cost of veterinary care. Join the discussion on Facebook.com/VeterinaryViewfinder and Twitter.com/VetViewfinder.

We are joined on this special early Mother's Day episode by our mothers! Patsy Ward, Yvonne Johnson, and Sue DeLuca join host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with Beckie Mossor, RVT dish on our childhoods, offer their best advice on raising a veterinary professional, and give Dr. Cyndie their best early childhood tips. Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This week Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, visit the 2017 North Carolina Veterinary Technician Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina to talk with veterinary technicians about the profession. Co-host Dr. Cyndie Courtney joins the conversation about practice challenges vet techs face, the biggest surprises they found after graduation, what large animal and equine veterinary nurses would like their small animal colleagues to know, and what advice they’d give to their younger selves. Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.

How can you find your dream veterinary job? What are employers looking for in job applicants? How can practice owners and managers find the best team members? Practice manager Heather Prendergast joins Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with Beckie Mossor, RVT to reveal secrets to finding, getting, and keeping the best jobs! Resumes, interviews, trends, and social media searches are just a few of the topics covered this week. Join the conversation on Facebook/Veterinary Viewfinder and Twitter @VetViewfinder.