UK veterinary clinics see improving cash flow
The most recent COVID-19 impact survey by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons found that, despite lockdown conditions, veterinary practices in the United Kingdom saw improvements in staffing levels and practice cash flow.
The survey was conducted between Feb. 25 and March 4. A majority of respondents, 58%, had roughly the same number of full-time–equivalent staff members as in the first quarter of 2020, while 19% said they had fewer, and 23% reported having more.
During the period of continued lockdown restrictions, the proportion of practices providing business-as-usual services remained low, at 16%, compared with 17% in the December 2020 practice survey. Meanwhile, there had been a decline in practices providing services at a near pre-pandemic level, at 34%, compared with 63% in December, and an increase in practices providing services to a reduced caseload, at 31%, compared with 15% in December.
The survey indicated an improvement in practice cash flow, with 13% of practices saying their cash flow position had worsened since before the pandemic and was causing concern, compared with 22% in December, and 51% saying their cash flow had stayed the same, up from 47%, and 34% saying their cash flow had improved, up from 30%.
The full results of the survey can be downloaded.
Researchers develop bladder stone removal tool
Engineering and agriculture researchers have developed a surgical spoon that could improve bladder stone removal in companion animals.
An announcement from the University of Arkansas states that the spoons could make stone removal safer and more effective.
The research team from the university’s College of Engineering and its Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food, and Life Sciences used simulations, 3D printing, and mechanical testing to develop the spoons, which are in testing at nearby veterinary clinics. The tools are meant to improve on use of tablespoons, teaspoons, and urinary catheters to remove bladder stones down to a few millimeters in size, according to the announcement from Arkansas.
Auburn funds breath test for heartworm disease
A team of Auburn University researchers received $70,000 in university funding to study the reliability of a novel breath test for noninvasive diagnosis of heartworm disease in dogs.
Auburn explained in an April announcement that the test uses a chemical fingerprint found in dogs’ breath to determine whether a dog is infected with heartworms.
Researchers say initial results are encouraging, and the funding will allow them to establish the reliability of the test in dogs of different breeds, consuming various diets, and from different backgrounds.
A final version of the technology could be similar to a Breathalyzer for dogs, avoiding the need for drawing blood and possibly detecting the presence of heartworm disease earlier than current blood-based tests. This noninvasive approach to testing dogs could change the $1 billion heartworm testing market by expanding testing as well as improving both safety and convenience for pets and veterinarians, the university said.
FDA gives more data on animal food and drug activities
A Food and Drug Administration website that gives the public information on agency accomplishments and performance now includes more information on animal drugs and food.
The FDA-TRACK site now provides additional data on agency work regarding food for animals, compounded animal drugs, emerging technologies in veterinary medicine, premarket drug reviews, and postmarket drug safety, effectiveness, and quality, according to an April 6 announcement. FDA officials already provided information on antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine and timelines for animal drug review.
Senior agency leaders see quarterly performance data from across the agency, and those data are posted to FDA-TRACK, agency information states. TRACK is short for transparency, results, accountability, credibility, and knowledge sharing.
"short" - Google News
May 12, 2021 at 07:27PM
https://ift.tt/2QbPMke
In Short - American Veterinary Medical Association
"short" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SLaFAJ
No comments:
Post a Comment