AAHA, Petabyte Team Up on Benchmarking Tool
The American Animal Hospital Association launched a benchmarking platform in partnership with Petabyte Technology. “AAHA Benchmarking features standardized data, live metrics and easy-to-interpret analytics to guide veterinary teams towards better business and medical decisions,” AAHA reported. One version, AAHA Benchmarking Lite, is a free service for AAHA-accredited practices and Petabyte users. Two others, AAHA Benchmarking+ and AAHA Benchmarking+ With Petabyte Analytics, are available to all veterinary practices for a monthly fee. Details are at bit.ly/3RZa9LD.
Register Now for Hill’s Dermatology Summit
The Hill’s Pet Nutrition Global Symposium, a free online event focusing on canine and feline dermatology, will take place Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. Broadcasting live from the Hill’s Small Paws Innovation Center in Topeka, Kansas, the symposium will feature 13 speakers on topics ranging from diagnostic testing for dermatology patients to the dietary management of cutaneous adverse food reactions. Veterinary professionals may register at hillsglobalsymposium.com.
First Franchised Veterinary Clinic Debuts in PetSmart
PetSmart’s new franchise program for prospective veterinary practice owners has its first hospital. The in-store clinic, owned by Dr. Jaime Klimsey Pickett, is in Peoria, Arizona. PetSmart Veterinary Services (PVS) expects to open more franchised hospitals over the next few months in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. “PVS performs the build-out for each of the hospitals and provides some of the cutting-edge veterinary equipment necessary for the operation of the hospital,” PetSmart reported. “In addition, each owner receives administrative support from PVS’ experienced team of dedicated industry experts.”
Heska Acquires LightDeck Diagnostics
Veterinary equipment and service provider Heska Corp. agreed to purchase LightDeck Diagnostics for $38.7 million. LightDeck stated that it will collaborate with Heska “to develop the next generation of rapid, low-cost, point-of-care diagnostics for companion animals.” LightDeck, which Heska described as a pioneer in planar waveguide technology, is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.
Illinois to Expand Veterinary Oncology Program
The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital will build an oncology wing and hire additional oncology faculty members thanks to a $15 million gift from a family whose two dogs received cancer treatment at the hospital. The donors are Shahid Khan; his wife, Ann Margaret Khan; and their children, Tony and Shanna Khan. The university matched the Khans’ donation, putting the wing on pace to open in 2025.
AVG Practice Managers Gather in Florida
American Veterinary Group brought together more than 100 of its practice managers for a three-day conference in Orlando, Florida. The inaugural Practice Manager Summit offered training and educational sessions. Named Practice Managers of the Year were Brooke Dombrowski of Dadeland Animal Hospital in Miami and Chloe Corbin of UrgentVet. American Veterinary Group operates more than 100 veterinary practices across 12 states.