Recipient Organization
CHEYENNE RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL
202 10TH AVE
PROVO,SD 57735
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The South Dakota and Wyoming regions face a shortage of veterinary services, particularly for large animals. This shortage is worsened by impending retirements and limited replacements due to lower income and nationwide shortages. Existing practices like Cheyenne River Animal Hospital are strained yet under pressure to expand services to meet increasing demand. By introducing consulting services, dedicating resources to producer education, and fostering the development of future veterinary professionals, the clinic aims to effectively mitigate this shortage. Cheyenne River Animal Hospital is strategically positioned to address the shortage. With extensive experience and a broad service radius, the clinic serves a significant number of clients in cattle-centric regions. Despite impending staff reductions, the clinic is committed to proactive approaches to maintain service levels. The clinic aims to enhance large animal veterinary services to support underserved areas by streamlining operations and expanding services through equipment upgrades, consulting services, staff allocation, producer education, and student outreach. Emphasizing efficiency and proactive approaches, the clinic aims to serve more producers with limited resources. Metrics such as client growth, equipment utilization, and educational outreach will be tracked. Quarterly and annual evaluations will inform strategy adjustments. Communication strategies, including newsletters, educationalvideos, and community engagement, will highlight successes and promote services. Through a comprehensive approach focusing on efficiency, proactive care, and community engagement, Cheyenne River Animal Hospital seeks to address the shortage of large animal veterinary services in underserved areas. By leveraging resources and prioritizing client needs, the clinic aims to sustainably enhance herd health and support local agriculture.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overarching aim of this project is to enhance the large animal veterinary services offered and promote local herd sustainability in shortage area JSDWY241 and beyond. This will be achieved through the following major goals: upgrading infrastructure and equipment to increase efficiency; employing and training a part-time large animal veterinary assistant to relieve veterinary burden; enhancing client consulting services; enhancing producer education and collaboration; and developing the next generation of veterinary professionals. The objectives that will be undertaken to achieve these goals are as follows: increase large animal clientele by 2% annually and 6% total over the course of the project; increase preventative medicine per client by 5% while seeing a decrease in reactive treatments per client by 2%; provide ten clients per year with a complimentary introductory consulting session; provide bi-annual producer meetings for a total of six meetings over the course of the project; produce at least two additional educational videos annually to add to the on-demand library; inspire at least one student to pursue a career in veterinary medicine through interaction with the community at career fairs and other events; and host two meetings a year with local youth organizations (4-H andFFA).
Project Methods
Efforts:The purchase of new equipment will enhance large animal veterinary services by improving efficiency and safety for producers and clinic staff. Acquiring a new ultrasound and breeding soundness exam electroejaculator will ensure reliable herd work. A mobile x-ray unit will enhance field diagnostics when transporting animals to the clinic isn't viable. A portable corral system promotes beef quality assurance handling practices, boosting efficiency and safety. A durable Panasonic Toughbook will allow for off-site data collection, providing insights into operations and herd management. A chute scale and pneumatic dosing gun will increase dosing accuracy, reducing medication errors and costs. Updating the clinic's equipment for identification application, including an RFID reader and pneumatic tagger, will streamline the process, saving time for both staff and producers.Enhancing consulting services will empower producers to improve profits and animal health by focusing on vaccine protocols, nutritional support, diagnostics, and herd health programs. Overcoming producers' reliance on outdated methods requires incentivizing the use of modern veterinary care. Grant-funded veterinary professional salaries will enable free consulting services for ten producers, helping them realize the benefits of preventive veterinary services. This shift from reactive to proactive management will reduce emergencies and disease outbreaks, allowing veterinarians to serve more producers.Employing a part-time large animal veterinary assistant will improve clinic efficiency, allowing veterinarians to focus on consultations, producer education, and outreach. Routine tasks like vaccination and sample collection will be delegated to the assistant, expanding the clinic's capacity to serve more producers.Enhancing producer education is crucial for improving herd health and mitigating the veterinary shortage. Education will be provided through biannual in-person meetings and on-demand virtual videos. Topics will range from vaccination protocols to mineral supplementation. In-person meetings will foster interactive discussions and collaboration between veterinarians and producers in a relaxed environment. The clinic will also develop a library of instructional videos for those unable to attend in person.Developing the next generation of veterinary professionals is essential. The clinic will expand its outreach through collaboration with 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). Biannual events on veterinary science will be hosted for local chapters, promoting veterinary medicine and providing opportunities for student involvement through part-time employment, apprenticeships, or shadowing.Evaluation:Tracking metrics will allow the clinic to monitor the success of its goals and objectives. AviMark Practice Management Software will track client transactions, patient/herd treatments, and billable work. This software will also monitor the utilization and impact of new equipment, such as the mobile radiograph machine and ultrasound. Quarterly evaluations will ensure optimal efficiency and effectiveness.Producer and student involvement in education will be tracked through Excel spreadsheets. Consulting hours, time, and resources spent on producer education and community agriculture involvement will be documented. The success of consulting services will be measured by the number of consultations performed per quarter and the ratio of preventive products sold to reactive medications used by clients annually.Communication strategies are crucial for conveying the results and impacts of new practices and promoting services. Annual newsletters will be distributed to clients and posted on the clinic's website, highlighting the outcomes and benefits of initiatives. Services will be advertised through newsletters, the clinic website, and social media. Regional producer meetings will be leveraged to connect with potential clients and stakeholders. Word-of-mouth endorsements from current clients will be encouraged by providing exceptional service and results. A comprehensive communication strategy, incorporating traditional and digital channels, will foster trust and confidence among clients and community members.Tracking metrics will be managed through AviMark Practice Management Software. Quarterly evaluations of new equipment usage and educational activities will be conducted. Consulting hours, resources spent, and preventive products sold compared to reactive medications will be monitored. Sign-in sheets for producer meetings and agreement forms from all producers and student workshops will be collected for thorough documentation.