Source: ARK VETERINARY SERVICES LLC submitted to NRP
VETERINARY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM - RURAL PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT APPLICATION(SC163)
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1023742
Grant No.
2020-70024-32337
Cumulative Award Amt.
$125,000.00
Proposal No.
2020-03977
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2020
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2023
Grant Year
2020
Program Code
[VSGPR]- Veterinary Services Grant Program Rural Practice Enhancement Grants
Recipient Organization
ARK VETERINARY SERVICES LLC
2695 GENOA DR
SUMTER,SC 291537436
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) Shortage ID SC163 covers the Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Sumter counties in South Carolina and is identified as an Overall Critical Shortage Priority (OCSP). These areas were identified by the State Veterinarian as having over 126,000 food animals without full time veterinary care.The producers in these counties fuel local feed mills, sale barns, farmers markets, chain grocery stores, and hay exchanges/sales.Ark Veterinary Services, LLC (AVS) is a large animal mobile practice serving the above listed and surrounding counties. The practice consists of a single doctor (Dr. Sarah Blackwell), one non-licensed technician, and an office manager. The resources for AVS serving these counties has become strained in a short period of time.The increasing caseload requires AVS to add an associate veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician (LVT) with their supporting supplies, replace aged equipment frequently requiring time consuming repairs, and purchase expensive equipment to fulfill clients/producers' requests including x-rays and bloodwork.Thosenew diagnostic services are already being requested by producers, andthese services(bloodwork and x-rays) will be offered on farm and advertised on the website and social media platforms. Sales of these services will be documentedby the veterinary software.Extension outreach and workshop requests are inhigh demand by producers, and with the additional veterinarian freeing up time, AVS'attendance of these events willincrease. Attendance is taken at all meetings and these rosters will be recorded allowing charting of producers' attendance.The project's ultimate goal is to increase the standard of veterinary care to producers and livestock in the VMLRP SC163 region. This will be accomplished via the methods listed above: addition of new advanced diagnostics/ equipment, addition of credentialed staff,and increased extension, outreach, and workshops attendance. If the goal of this projectis met, producers will increase productivity directly impacting local economics, agriculture, and animal/public health.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
31138991060100%
Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases;

Subject Of Investigation
3899 - Other animals, general;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
The major goals of this project are toimmediately enhance veterinary care above "standard" levels by offering advanced diagnostics, decrease downtime/maintenance on the aged veterinary box, and to improve response times to the increased clientele base via the addition of an associate veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician.The Objectives are as followed:The first objective will be attacking the major requests of AVS' clients and the needs of the business that cannot be postponed.Offering radiographs and bloodworkAdding an associate veterinarianReplacing the22-year-old veterinary boxThe second objective will bereimbursing the then 4 year employed technician, now a licensed veterinary technician, for Penn Foster tuition expenses.The third objective will be focused on increasing support staff.Reimbursing a second licensed veterinary technicianWithin 10 years expand tosecond associate veterinarian and a thirdlicensed veterinary technician
Project Methods
When funds are dispensed, the CBC machine ($16,000.00), serum chemistry machine ($12,000.00), digital x-ray ($42,000.00), and veterinary boxes ($30,000.00) will be purchased. Orders are processed and drop shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The veterinary box inserts will be purchased and installed via the manufacturer. The manufacturer sends technicians to install onsite. Appointments are scheduled with ample notice, and installation only requires 24 hours downtime. Also, the associate veterinarian ($15,000.00, three-month start-up salary support) will be hired when funds are dispensed. The associate veterinarian posting will be through AVMA, veterinary private social media and symposiums/conferences. The associate will have a paid working interview and paid ride-along periodto acclimate to AVS' written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).One technician in 2021and one technician in 2022who successfully complete Penn Foster's online LVT program and applyfor reimbursement will be awarded the repayment based on a two-year signed agreement. The reimbursement is $5,000.00 per technician.The efforts include increased attendance at extension/ outreach event forproducers (via the addition of an associate being able to attend or see appointments/emergencies while the owner attends), mentorship for the associate,and increased education for technicians via the formal LVT program of Penn Foster.The evaluation will be based on tracking the sales of bloodwork and x-rays (software will track this) and the successful completion of Penn Foster and retention of the LVT. Also, workshop/extension attendance will be tracked andrecorded.

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience proposed was South Carolina livestock producers located in the VMLRP SC163 critical shortage area including the following counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Sumter. The proposed efforts to serve this audience included the addition of advanced diagnostics (portable bloodwork machines and x-ray, thus allowing objective science based medical discussions/ decisions to be had with producers), a second veterinarian (1-2 month mentorship with formal and informal training, progress reports, and weekly meetings to ensure the vet was comfortable serving the target audience), credentialed veterinary technicians (the technicians would be educated via Penn Foster's Vet Tech program, a formal degree program increasing their skillset, thus allowing them to provide a broader range of services to the target audience, without direct veterinarian supervision), and extension outreach/workshops for local livestock organizations (where husbandry care, wetlabs, and new products would be presented via oral and visual presentations). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Opportunities for training are offered. This includes offering training for licensure for veterinary technicians through Penn Foster and will be reimbursed once the program is completed. Opportunities for professional development are offered. This includesDr. Blackwell completing professional developmentto offer artificial insemination to clients wanting to increase their chances of pregnancy amongt their herds. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension, education, outreach, workshops, social media,and media What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Objectives are as followed: The first objective will be attacking the major requests of AVS' clients and the needs of the business that cannot be postponed. Offering radiographs and bloodwork:This was accomplished and extra funding was allotted to this for equipment. Radiographs and bloodwork are now offered to all AVS clients. Adding an associate veterinarian: This was accomplished. An associate veterinarian was hired July 19, 2021 and additional funding was allotted to this objective. Replacing the22-year-old veterinary box:This was accomplished. The22-year-old veterinary box that was being utilized was replaced andadditional funding was allotted to this objective. The box was stocked with necesary equipment. (2). The second objective will bereimbursing the then 4 year employed technician, now a licensed veterinary technician, for Penn Foster tuition expenses: Unable to hire the individual. (3).The third objective will be focused on increasing support staff. Reimbursing a second licensed veterinary technician:Unable to hire the individual. Within 10 years expand tosecond associate veterinarian and a thirdlicensed veterinary technician:Unable to hire a third licensed veterinary technician during the grant period. One associate veterinarian full time and one associate veterinarian part time were hired during the grant period.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The target audience proposed is South Carolina livestock producers located in the VMLRP SC163 critical shortage area including the following counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Sumter. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Opportunities for training are offered. This includes offering training for licensure for veterinary technicians through Penn Foster and will be reimbursed once the program is completed. Opportunities for professional development are offered. This includesDr. Blackwell completing professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension, education, outreach, workshops, social media,and media? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Efforts will be continued for the following: (1). Toaddressthe first objectiveof the major requests of AVS' clients and the needs of the business that cannot be postponed; (2) To address the second objective of reimbursingthe then 4 year employed technician, now a licensed veterinary technician, for Penn Foster tuition expenses; (3) To address the third objective of increasing support staff.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Objectives are the following: The first objective will be attacking the major requests of AVS' clients and the needs of the business that cannot be postponed. Offering radiographs and bloodwork:This was accomplished and extra funding was allotted to this for equipment.Radiographs and bloodwork are now offered to all AVS clients. Adding an associate veterinarian:This was accomplished. An associate veterinarian was hired and additional funding was allotted to this objective. Replacing the22-year-old veterinary box:This was accomplished. The22-year-old veterinary box that was beingutilized was replaced andadditional funding was allotted to this objective. The box was stocked with necesary equipment. (2). The second objective will bereimbursing the then 4 year employed technician, now a licensed veterinary technician, for Penn Foster tuition expenses:Pending (3).The third objective will be focused on increasing support staff. Reimbursing a second licensed veterinary technician:Pendinghiring alicensed veterinary technician. Within 10 years expand tosecond associate veterinarian and a thirdlicensed veterinary technician:Pending hiring a third licensed veterinary technician;Hiring of one associate veterinarian full time and one associate veterinarian part time.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

      Outputs
      Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The technicians are still completing their training for licensure through Penn Foster and will be reimbursed once the program is completed. Dr. Blackwell has completed professional development to offer artificial insemination to clients wanting to increase their chances of pregnancy amongst their herds. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As technicians progress through their programs with Penn Foster, we will reimburse funding once completed. It's being offered to all employees who are intersted in futhering their education as a licensed technician.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? The following goalhasbeen accomplished: 1. We now offer radiographs and bloodwork to all AVS clients, we've hired an associate veterinarian who started July 19, 2021, and have replaced the 22-year-old veterinary box that was being utilized.

      Publications