Mississippi Veterinarian WINTER 2011 MVMA WINTER MEETING - a FOCUSED APPROACH February 23-26, 2012
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Mississippi Veterinarian WINTER 2011 MVMA WINTER MEETING - A FOCUSED APPROACH February 23-26, 2012 Meeting Agenda and Registration Forms The Value of Veterinary Technicians A Letter from your President, Dr. Scott Segrest In Memoriam Promote your Profession—Little Steps…. Legislative News from Around the Country Which Penguin Are You? DR. SCOTT T. SEGREST PRESIDENT 370 HIGHWAY 51 RIDGELAND, MS 39157 Your MVMA 2011—2012 Officers 601-856-3589 [email protected] DR. LANCE JEFCOAT The MVMA Executive Board consists of a group of volunteers. They all have families and ca- PRESIDENT-ELECT 1206 WEST 6TH ST. reers, just as you do. Amidst their busy lives, this group of individuals has embraced the opportu- LAUREL, MS 39440 nity to serve a profession that they love and aim to protect. The veterinary profession is con- 601-428-0442 stantly changing. Legislation pertaining to medical professionals and small business owners are in [email protected] the forefront more and more these days. If you become aware of a problem or have issues pertain- DR. LANNY W. PACE ing to the veterinary profession, please do not hesitate to contact you district representative. VICE-PRESIDENT P. O. BOX 97813 The MVMA is one association representing many veterinary professionals from many walks of PEARL, MS 39288-7813 life. Together, we represent Veterinary Medicine in the state of Mississippi. There are many op- 601-420-4700 [email protected] portunities, both large and small, to serve. If you would like to become more involved and give back to the veterinary profession, please contact the MVMA office or one of the MVMA Officers. DR. TIM FLEMING SECRETARY/TREASURER "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." 8330 HIGHWAY 51 NORTH SOUTHAVEN, MS 38671 - Helen Keller 662-342-4899 [email protected] Northern District DR. LYNN A. COX PAST-PRESIDENT Representative: NORTHERN DISTRICT Dr. Bill Miller 7895 HUNTERS CREEK DR OLIVE BRANCH, MS 38654 662-895-4004 [email protected] DR. BILL MILLER EXECUTIVE BOARD NORTHERN DISTRICT 1067 OLD WEST POINT RD. STARKVILLE, MS 39759 662-312-2597 Central District [email protected] Representative: DR. STACI L. RHODES Dr. Staci Rhodes EXECUTIVE BOARD CENTRAL DISTRICT 3435 SHILOH ROAD P.O. BOX 130 PELAHATCHIE, MS 39145 601-940-5236 [email protected] Southern District Representative: DR. LAURENCE GALLE’ Dr. Laurence Galle EXECUTIVE BOARD SOUTHERN DISTRICT 2953 BIENVILLE BLVD, #162 OCEAN SPRINGS, MS 39564 228-872-2755 [email protected] DR. TODD ARCHER Representative at EXECUTIVE BOARD Large: DIRECTOR AT LARGE Dr. Todd Archer 240 WISE CENTER DRIVE P. O. BOX 6100 MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS 39762 662-325-1226 [email protected] DR. FRANK B. BRANCH AVMA DELEGATE 2846 HIGHWAY 61 BOYLE, MS 38730 662-843-4854 [email protected] DR. JIM BRETT AVMA ALTERNATE DELEGATE P. O. BOX 130 STARKVILLE, MS 39760 662-325-5863 [email protected] A NOTE FROM YOUR MVMA PRESIDENT Dr. Scott Segrest Change. It’s a word that elicits many responses. Some address these in time and hopefully reach equitable solutions for all positive and some negative. By nature we like things the way they the unfinished items. Many forces dictate change be considered. are and have been in the past. The old adage “if it ain’t broke don’t Economics, personnel, equipment improvements, technique im- fix it” really is accurate in how we approach new ideas or actions. provements, even natural forces can all cause and even demand a It is seldom that we accept or certainly embrace change. I must new approach to an old problem. With that said change must be confess when a new update is available for my computer or soft- undertaken with much thought and insight. The Board recognizes ware program I cringe at the thought of learning a new system. I that not all decisions are received by all members as positive and firmly believe the software companies must make changes to in- good. Please know that much thought and research goes into all sure the consumer will continue to spend money. Planned obsoles- matters brought before the Board for action. The Board also wel- cence I think is the name for such actions. The past several years comes input from the members on all issues. I have received e- have certainly been full of change in our profession and organiza- mails and phone calls on many of the matters mentioned above. tion. Some have been positive and some have been negative. I welcome them both. In order for our association to continue to improve and Our profession has morphed over the years. The economy move forward it needs the input from everyone. Constructive com- has been at the fore front of much of this change. Veterinary ments and even criticism are both good if it ultimately leads to a schools are increasing enrollments, patient visits have decreased, better idea or action. Please familiarize yourself with your Board account receivables are up, inventory costs remain high, on line members and know your district representative. Open dialogue is a pharmacies, high equipment costs, and mandated government regu- good thing for everyone. lations are just a few of the issues facing each and every veterinar- ian. Wow, sounds awful doesn’t it? Nothing could be further from Finally, I receive the same journals that most of you do. I the truth. Please don’t look at these issues as all bad. These issues don’t read them cover to cover but do try and hit the high spots. can make each of us reexamine how we conduct our business. I Many of these articles, especially the economic centered periodi- admit that in the past I had a tendency to ignore some items and cals, are constantly giving advice and ideas. In some cases what just let it be. Business was good so it really didn’t matter much on they suggested last year is outdated this year. One says raise the bottom line. These times have made me scrutinize my business prices, another says price match and still others suggest lower on all levels and in many cases has resulted in a much better way prices. There is change all around us and many times it does noth- of serving my clients and my patients. I dare say none of us prac- ing more than confuse and confound us on just what direction to tices the way we did even 5 years ago. New equipment, new tech- take. I certainly don’t have the exact answers on these matters. niques, new medicines all make us better if we allow them to do But I am sure of one thing. We have an incredible profession and so. If we have lost one source of revenue then create another. association to take care of and pass along to those coming behind Learning new skills, examining operating costs, reviewing proce- us. If we focus on this idea and make wise decisions the rest will dures are necessary in these times and ultimately profitable for our take care of itself. business. These “negatives” can be a source of new found skills and revenue sources if we look hard. Our profession is like all Happy holidays and may the Good Lord bless you and things. Over time it changes. We simply need to look for the posi- yours. tive in these changes and take advantage of these opportunities. Your MVMA has been busy trying to keep up with these Sincerely, changes as well. Over the years we have added a salaried Execu- tive Director, moved our office to Alabama, hired a legislative lob- byist, created a web site, started a voucher program with MSSPAN, created an annual budget for our finances, added to our MSU-CVM scholarship and endowment funds, mediated various issues for our members, given MSU cowbells to incoming veteri- nary students and have integrated with the technicians in order to Scott T. Segrest, DVM reenergize their association. We have tried some programs that didn’t succeed. Our attempt to garner a personalized car tag did not pass muster and the success of the voucher program is yet to be determined. We still have ongoing issues and we will attempt to Little Steps….. MVMA Goes Straight to Consumers to Educate on the Importance of Proper Veterinary Care By: Jamie Stennis, MVMA Executive Director I attended a conference last fall hosted by ASVMAE (The cost facilities. We are in American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives). I fact utilizing the facilities love going to these conferences because I have the opportunity to to reach a potential client meet other state VMA directors who struggle with some of the same base that, in some cases, issues we face here in Mississippi. It is always interesting to me that has not been familiar the Texas VMA, which has 3500 members and 13 staff members, can with veterinary services. be facing some of the same dilemmas that our smaller association Our hope is that the pet and staff of one is facing. At this particular meeting, we reviewed owner will utilize the data obtained by Edelman Marketing. When asked, “What do your coupon and thereby es- members expect from their association?” an overwhelming 70% of tablish a long-term care ASMVAE respondents said that their members expected them to program with their local promote the veterinary profession. veterinarian. The MVMA executive board One of the other aspects of the presentation highlighted the admits, it’s a small step, top 6 challenges facing veterinary associations. One of the chal- but our hope is that dur- lenges was the following: “In tough economic times, we need to be ing this tough economy, able to convince animal owners that they still need to take their pets it will drive some clients to a veterinarian.” According to the October 19, 2011 issue of Ani- to our private practitio- mal Health SmartBrief published by the AVMA, veterinary visits ners.