Last month, we had the honor of congratulating the 2024 Hospital Design360 Competition winners. We received the most entries ever, which tells us that more clinics are making changes to their hospitals, both large and small, as the landscape of veterinary medicine evolves. And this is a great thing.

Having looked at all the submissions with the judges this year, I recognized several common themes woven throughout: maximizing patient care with less stress, improving workflow efficiency, and enhancing the well-being and culture of the veterinary team. We often talk about people making the culture change, but I also found it interesting how physically changing a practice’s design can improve culture. The design and layout of a veterinary hospital play a crucial role in achieving these goals. From subtle changes like incorporating point-of-care services to more comprehensive renovations, every aspect of the hospital can be optimized to enhance the quality of care for patients and the quality of life for staff.

Enhancing patient care through thoughtful design

The primary goal of any veterinary hospital is to provide patients with the highest standard of care. The design of the facility significantly impacts patient outcomes. For instance, the layout should minimize stress for animals and their owners. Some clinics now have outdoor examination rooms and exam rooms that bypass a waiting area. Separate waiting areas for cats and dogs can reduce anxiety and create a calmer environment. Some clinics have eliminated the reception area by providing kiosks that help customer service representatives execute invoices in the exam rooms. Quiet, well-ventilated exam rooms with natural lighting can help animals feel more at ease during their visits. Pheromones and warm blankets with quiet music make the pets’ visit feel more like a day at the spa.

One of the most impactful changes a veterinary hospital can make is incorporating point-of-care (POC) services. POC diagnostic tools, such as in-house blood analyzers, ultrasound machines, digital cytology, artificial intelligence, and digital radiography, allow immediate test results. We live in a time when clients expect results in a timely manner. This time may mean the difference between life or death or whether to ship for referral or treat in-house. This improves patient outcomes by enabling prompt diagnosis and treatment and enhances client satisfaction by reducing wait times and the need for multiple visits. Through prompt results and client satisfaction, POC services also improve the quality of life for the staff.

Efficiency in a veterinary hospital is crucial for maintaining a high standard of care and reducing staff burnout. A well-designed hospital layout can significantly improve workflow efficiency. For example, placing high-use areas such as exam rooms, treatment areas, and surgical suites in proximity can reduce the time and effort required to move patients and equipment between these spaces.

Incorporating technology, such as electronic medical records and practice management software, can streamline administrative tasks, allowing veterinarians and technicians to focus more on patient care. Automated inventory management systems can ensure that essential supplies are always available, reducing the risk of treatment delays.

Has your team ever been involved in a renovation process? It’s fun to get their buy-in about what colors to select or how a space should be reimagined. Allowing the team to be part of the decision-making process helps improve morale and boost employee retention.

One of the most important aspects of enhancing practice culture is prioritizing employee well-being. Providing a comfortable and inviting break room can significantly improve staff morale. A well-equipped break room with comfortable seating, kitchen facilities, and recreational activities can offer a much-needed respite during busy days. Some practices have massage chairs and areas for employees to decompress during breaks.

Allowing employees to laugh, listen to music, and be their most authentic selves empowers them to contribute to the team. Encouraging regular breaks and providing a space for relaxation can help reduce stress and prevent burnout.

Improving quality of life may also be achieved with efficient space utilization, incorporating technology, separate waiting areas for dogs and cats or no waiting area, natural lighting and ventilation, staff training and development, ergonomic workstations, and even a wine bar or snack station.

Sometimes, even subtle changes can significantly impact the quality of care and the well-being of the veterinary team. For example, introducing noise-reducing materials in the hospital can create a quieter environment, reducing patient and staff stress. Simple organizational tools, such as color-coded labels and storage bins, can improve efficiency and reduce clutter. Consider adding a day in the week for feline-friendly hours. Designing a veterinary hospital that better serves patients, improves workflow efficiency, and enhances practice culture requires thoughtful consideration and planning. Ultimately, investing in the design and layout of a veterinary hospital is an investment in the well-being of both patients and the veterinary team, leading to a more successful and fulfilling practice.

as we continue to provide hospital design perspectives from our colleagues around the country. You will surely find some key takeaways you can easily implement in your hospital.

Articles

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer at dvm360, notes some common themes in successful hospital design 

Revamp, recharge, rejoice: transforming veterinary hospitals for excellence

In pets, a nutritious diet can make all the difference, and good nutrition can lead to long, healthy, happy lives. For patients dealing with health conditions like diabetes, old age, and obesity, proper nutrition is crucial. With recent developments in veterinary nutrition, the significance of special diets for patients living with these conditions cannot be overstated. Learn more in the articles below:

: Diabetes is common in both cats and dogs, frequently presenting with other comorbidities. Kathryn Junkins Sarpong, DVM, DABVP (canine/feline) discusses the specific nutritional needs of diabetic felines and canines, and how to account for potential comorbidities.

All eyes on nutritional needs of geriatric pets

: With the advancements of veterinary care and diet formulation, domestic cats and dogs are living significantly longer lives. Now, researchers around the world are working to get a better understanding of the nutritional needs of these geriatric patients. Amanda Bean, BS, PharmD candidate, explains what researchers have learned.

Study shows special diet can help dogs lose weight and support joint health

: Obesity is a rising threat to pets—more than 50% of dogs in the United States are overweight and/or obese—and it can lead to a slew of other health issues. At the 2024 AVMA Convention, Kristen M Carnagey, PhD, senior nutrition scientist at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, presented a poster session covering a study that tested the efficacy of dog food specifically formulated to support weight loss.

Don’t miss these 3 articles covering the importance of special diets for diabetic, geriatric, and overweight pets

3 must-reads on nutrition

With National Preparedness Month just a few days away, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has shared disaster preparedness advice to help keep companion animals safe during emergencies. The advice compilation comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an “above-normal” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season driven by near-record warm ocean temperatures and other factors.

"Thorough, effective disaster and emergency preparedness plans are essential among pet owners, especially as animal welfare organizations and shelters across the country continue to face capacity and resource challenges, making it even more difficult for them to support at-risk animals and pet owners impacted when disaster strikes," Susan Anderson, director of disaster response for the ASPCA National Field Response Team, said in a news release.

To help keep patients safe during hurricane season and any other disaster situation, share with clients ASPCA recommendations as follows

Never leaving pets behind or tethered to poles or trees, which prevents them from escaping high waters and getting to safe areas

Arranging a safe haven for pets such as boarding kennels, emergency shelters, pet-friendly hotels, or a friend or family member's home

Sharing emergency plans with a trusted family member, friend, or neighbor

Preparing emergency supplies and portable pet emergency kits with pet ID tags, food, clean water, medications, a pet carrier, food and water bowls, and other necessities; supplies should be enough for at least 7 to 10 days

Securing copies of pets’ medical records, as well as a photo of the pet and owner together in case of separation

Ensuring all pets are wearing identification tags with up-to-date contact information

Checking microchip registration information to ensure that contact information is accurate

 to help guide people in creating and carrying out a plan, and ensuring they do not miss any essential supplies for their pet. Additionally, ASPCA’s Pet Preparedness Tips document, also in the form of a checklist, is available in Spanish as well.

According to Anderson, more than 80% of pet owners live in a community that experiences disaster events. With this in mind, she emphasized the importance of being these companion animals’ first line of defense.

According to a news report by NOAA, there is an 85% chance that this year’s hurricane season will be higher than normal.

 Specifically, the NOAA predicts between 17 to 25 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of these, 8 to 13 storms are forecasted to develop into hurricanes, including 4 to 7 that are expected to become major hurricanes of categories 3, 4, or 5 with winds of 111 mph or more.

"Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today," said Erik A Hooks, FEMA deputy administrator, in the NOAA report.

 "Already, we are seeing storms move across the country that can bring additional hazards like tornadoes, flooding and hail. Taking a proactive approach to our increasingly challenging climate landscape today can make a difference in how people can recover tomorrow."

ASPCA disaster response experts urge pet owners to include pets in preparedness plans amid highly active hurricane season predictions. News release. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. August 27, 2024. Accessed August 29, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aspca-disaster-response-experts-urge-pet-owners-to-include-pets-in-preparedness-plans-amid-highly-active-hurricane-season-predictions-302231036.html

NOAA predicts above-normal 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. News release. May 23, 2024. Accessed August 29, 2024. 

https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-predicts-above-normal-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season

Share this advice from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to help clients navigate emergency situations with their pets

Disaster preparedness tips for patient safety during hurricane season

An engorged brown dog tick feeds on a host.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel have discovered endosymbiotic bacteria to be essential in the reproductive processes of ticks. The study, led by Yuval Gottlieb, a professor at the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at Hebrew University, found that L-proline is produced by Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLE), suggesting CLE to be essential during states of high metabolic demand, like oogenesis and embryotic development.

 These findings not only demonstrate the overall importance of nutritional symbionts on their hosts but could contribute to better control over tick populations and, in turn, tick-borne diseases.

“Here, we show that B vitamins and L-proline, both of which contribute to tick reproductive fitness, are produced by CLE,” the authors of the study wrote on its significance.

 “These findings demonstrate the importance of symbiont-derived metabolites for the host’s persistence and shed light on the complex bacteria-host metabolic interaction, which can be channeled to manipulate and control tick populations.”

Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods, so their diet is naturally deficient in essential B vitamins. As a result, ticks rely on endosymbiotic bacteria as a dietary supplement. The study specifically looked at the brown dog tick, 

, its Coxiella-like symbiotic bacteria, and whether additional metabolites, like L-proline, were involved in this nutritional symbiosis.

The group tested the effects of antibiotic treatment on molting duration and suppression of CLE titers in emerged adults by performing antibiotic and saline treatments on engorged nymphs. They found the saline-injected nymphs molted significantly earlier than those injected with antibiotics, and tests revealed significant suppression of CLE titers in antibiotic-treated ticks, compared to the control group.

Further tests found that the titer of L-proline was higher in saline-treated ticks, which supported the idea that CLE synthesizes L-proline. They compared the titers of L-proline and its precursor, L-ornithine, in organs with and without CLE. Free L-proline titer was more prevalent in the CLE-hosting organs of saline-treated ticks than in antibiotic-treated ticks. Titers of L-ornithine were significantly lower in the same organs of saline-treated ticks, implying that L-ornithine is converted to L-proline in those organs.

Next, the group allowed adult female ticks to mate and feed on rabbit hosts for 3 weeks. Despite similar feeding times among all treatment groups, CLE-suppressed ticks consistently weighed significantly less than control ticks. Ticks rescued post-feeding and treated with B vitamin and B vitamin + L-proline recorded egg mass weight and hatching rates most similar to the control group. These findings suggest that CLE is essential for tick fecundity and demonstrate the importance of B vitamins and L-proline, especially during embryonic development.

“This study underscores the importance of nutritional symbionts in the health and reproduction of ticks,” Gottlieb said in a news release.

 “Our findings can open new possibilities for developing strategies to control tick populations and mitigate tick-borne diseases.”

Tick-borne diseases are a major issue, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximating that 50,000 people visit emergency rooms each year due to tick bites, a number that has more than doubled since 2004.

 Tick bites can lead to illnesses including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis, through transmission of harmful pathogens. The effects of these diseases can range from joint pain to death, if not properly treated.

Bacteria Inside Ticks Might Offer New Approach to Disease Prevention, According to New Hebrew University Study. News release. A. Lavin Communications. August 14, 2024. Accessed August 14, 2024. 

https://apigateway.agilitypr.com/distributions/history/d3b44e4f-f0aa-4298-be7c-4e88e44f6fc4?recipientId=b17db3b3-7218-4a70-b990-9eca5c2c50ce

Cibichakravarthy B, Shaked N, Kapri E, Gottlieb Y. Endosymbiont-derived metabolites are essential for tick host reproductive fitness. 

Marx G, Spillane M, Beck A, Stein Z, Powell A, Hinkley A. Emergency Department Visits for Tick Bites ­­­— United States, January 2017–December 2019. 

A Hebrew University Study found a vulnerability in bacteria essential to certain parasite reproduction

Study uncovers new method of controlling tick populations

Every year, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) and its partners offer veterinary scholarship programs for students and a grant program for veterinary researchers. The application period for these scholarships will begin on September 1, 2024. In addition to AVMF’s 

 this year, veterinary students can also apply to the following scholarships between September 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024

Zoetis Foundation AVMF Veterinary Technician Student Scholarship

: The Zoetis Foundation and AVMF will offer a $2,000 scholarship to a full-time veterinary technician student enrolled in an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology – veterinary nursing or animal health technology program in the United States and Puerto Rico.

: This scholarship is for military veterans studying veterinary medicine. Scholarships worth $9,000 will be distributed to 5 US Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and Space Force veterans who are in their first 3 years of veterinary school.

: This scholarship will award $5,000 to a 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-year veterinary student with ties to New Jersey, including birth, residency, and education in the state.

Rex Anderson VLC Travel Award Endowment Fund

: This scholarship offers a $2,000 travel award for a veterinary student or recent graduate connected to the state of Montana to attend the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC), scheduled for January 9, 2025 to January 11, 2025.

Durvet Animal Health Future Food Animal Veterinarian Scholarship

: $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to 2 2nd- or 3rd-year veterinary students planning to enter food animal practice upon graduation. Those interested in mixed animal medicine in rural areas are also eligible.

Auxiliary to the AVMA Legacy Endowed Scholarship

: In collaboration with the Auxiliary to the AVMA, the AVMF will award $1,000 scholarships to 2nd- or 3rd-year veterinary students at an AVMA–accredited veterinary school in the US or in Atlantic Veterinary College in Canada; St. George’s University and Ross University in the Caribbean; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Royal Veterinary College, and the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom.

Beginning on November 1, 2024, until November 30, 2024, 2nd- and 3rd-year veterinary students from accredited veterinary schools in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean, can also apply to the Merck Animal Health Scholarship. This scholarship will grant $10,000 to 26 of these students.

"We make an impact on veterinary students by empowering them to achieve their goals in veterinary medicine and by recognizing and rewarding individuals who have made extraordinary accomplishments in their education. Our goal is to build a relationship with veterinary students that lasts a lifetime," wrote the AVMF on their website.

Veterinary clinicians and scientists interested in veterinary pharmacology or pharmacokinetics

The Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation (VPRF) and the AVMF are funding research grants for those with an interest in veterinary pharmacology or pharmacokinetics. The Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation Grant will promote research into new or existing medications for treating diseases and conditions in companion and food animals. It will also fund projects focused on ensuring the safety of food products derived from treated livestock.

Veterinary pharmacology proposals will be granted up to $30,000 and veterinary pharmacokinetic proposals will receive up to $15,000 in funds. The AVMF also encourages collaboration with pharmacology researchers or students who are American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics or AVMA members. The deadline to submit proposals is September 15, 2024. The decision date is January 15, 2025.

"Veterinary student scholarships and grants are awarded on varying criteria that includes academic excellence, leadership and financial need. Final decisions on all awards are based on recommendations from the AVMF’s Grants and Awards Sub-committee on Student Scholarships," wrote the AVMF.

Scholarship opportunities for students, grants for researchers available through AVMF. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. August 26, 2024. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://www.avma.org/news/scholarship-opportunities-students-grants-researchers-available-through-avmf?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Scholarships. American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://www.avmf.org/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation offers several funding opportunities, including a veterinary technician student scholarship and grants for pharmacology and pharmacokinetics

Application period opening for veterinary scholarships and grants

Good morning and happy Friday dvm360 readers! We hope that you all had an amazing week and are ready for a nice and relaxing weekend. For those of you feeling the FOMO from Fetch Kansas City, we will be running back in less than 2 months at Fetch Coastal. Join the dvm360 team, our amazing faculty, and fellow veterinary professionals for 3 days of learning, networking, and fun! Be sure to 

 here today to secure you spot amongst the best of the best!

Here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

After the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported on 6 feline cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1), it published a 

 for veterinary professionals assessing these cases of HPAI infections in feline patients.

 at the Veterinary Innovation Summit, John Honchariw, founder and chief executive officer, Companion, shared with dvm360 what computer vision is and how it can improve veterinary care in the future.

 of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, sat down with special guest Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, to discuss the recent advancements in treating feline infectious peritonitis within the United States.

, was found by the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) abandoned in Utqiagvik, Alaska, and was extremely weak, dehydrated, and had small superficial wounds across her body. ASLC has only admitted 11 walruses to its Wildlife Response Program since its founding, making this rescue rare.

As we continue sharing conference coverage from Fetch Kansas City, check out this recent 

 on how veterinary clinics can utilize artificial intelligence to market their services to their community in a way that is not time consuming or as stressful.

, to share tips for veterinary professionals to give to clients to help grieve the loss of their beloved pet.