Many farming communities, faced with population declines, unemployment, and shrinking budgets, also face a shortage of veterinarians. "Nationwide, there are 500 counties that have at least 5,000 farm animals but no veterinarians in the area to treat them," the American Veterinary Medical Association reports.
"I suspect that part of what makes a community attractive for a new person to move to the rural setting is how progressive that established practitioner is in his/her present business operation. But I see a major challenge for a solo practitioner to move to an underserved area, open up a business and have a profit center without a three- to five-year time line at best. In some areas, you will starve no matter how well intended you might be in being a service provider," Mike Whitehair of Abilene Animal Hospital, Abilene, Kan., and AVMA delegate for the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association told Geni Wren of Bovine Veterinarian Magazine. (Read more)
In response to the rural veterinarian shortage, U.S. Senators Tim Johnson, D-S.D. and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho have proposed a bipartisan bill that may reduce the shortage in rural areas by making the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Act tax-exempt. "By eliminating the tax burden on the Veteriranry Medicine Loan Repayment Program, we will be sending more veterinarians into areas around the country that lack professionals possessing critical expertise in animal care, food safety and public health," said Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the AVMA. (Read more)
"I suspect that part of what makes a community attractive for a new person to move to the rural setting is how progressive that established practitioner is in his/her present business operation. But I see a major challenge for a solo practitioner to move to an underserved area, open up a business and have a profit center without a three- to five-year time line at best. In some areas, you will starve no matter how well intended you might be in being a service provider," Mike Whitehair of Abilene Animal Hospital, Abilene, Kan., and AVMA delegate for the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association told Geni Wren of Bovine Veterinarian Magazine. (Read more)
In response to the rural veterinarian shortage, U.S. Senators Tim Johnson, D-S.D. and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho have proposed a bipartisan bill that may reduce the shortage in rural areas by making the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Act tax-exempt. "By eliminating the tax burden on the Veteriranry Medicine Loan Repayment Program, we will be sending more veterinarians into areas around the country that lack professionals possessing critical expertise in animal care, food safety and public health," said Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the AVMA. (Read more)
No comments:
Post a Comment