NCVEI reorganizes bylaws; readies release of major economics study

Schaumburg, Ill. — The National Commission of Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) recently reorganized and is moving forward with a detailed collaborative study in conjunction with Brakke Consulting and Bayer Animal Health to examine declines in veterinary visits.

Since the recent pullout of funding by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), NCVEI's Executive Director Dr. Karen Felsted reports that the group is revising its bylaws and revamping the number of seats on its board of directors.

According to Dr. Michael Andrews, current chair of NCVEI's board, "(The move) was necessitated by the withdrawal of AAHA funding. The original constitution of the commission said if one of the member's withdrew, the commission would dissolve."

Well, the commission is not going to dissolve, and Felsted and Andrews report that this reorganization will make NCVEI stronger as it works to further its understanding of one of the most serious issues facing veterinary medicine—economics.

The reorganization calls for revisions to the commission's bylaws and shrinks its board from 12 members to nine members. The seats created in the charter for AAHA will be removed as well. Andrews, who represented AAHA this year on the commission, has been asked to continue his work with NCVEI as a member at-large. The commission's board will be made up of appointments from the American Veterinary Medical Association (three seats), Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (three seats) and three at-large members.

"We have the ability to bring in some people we may not have been able to before," Andrews says. "We're committed to moving forward ... to get a sense of a very focused agenda for the future."

To do it, NCVEI plans to broaden its financial support base. It has traditionally been supported by a handful of companies. "With consolidations and the economic downturn that model has been difficult to maintain," Andrews adds.

"I'm very confident that we're on the right path, and it's a challenging time to get financial support, but it is what it is. We're just going to have to do the best we can and prove to everyone in the profession that what we're doing makes a difference," Andrews says.

Even so, NCVEI is sinking its teeth into economic factors that are impacting the delivery of veterinary care. In fact, as reported in DVM Newsmagazine, the commission is working collaboratively with Brakke Consulting and Bayer Animal Health to study reasons behind the drop in client visits. Felsted hopes these data will be ready in January.