Veterinary chains Mission, Southern plan merger

[hlthe2b]

2. These conglomerates are also pushing states to create paraprofessional positions with minimal

"advanced" training (a master's degree over even an unrelated non-science bachelor's degree--compared to 8-12 years for veterinarians with specific training in surgery, advanced diagnostics, pharmacology, and the entire gamut of 21st-century advances available to both human and veterinary medicine). These will be who staff these mega clinics with the minimal one veterinarian laughably but "technically supervising" offsite over multiple clinics. And while licensed veterinarians are liable and carry medical liability insurance, if you think your maltreatment of precious animals can be subject to the same liability, I've got news for you. It will be these megacorporations you would have to sue, not these relatively poorly paid and uninsured, undertrained paraprofessionals. This is on the Colorado ballot as I speak and pet owners are being bamboozled into thinking it will lower costs and expand access with the same level of care they have gotten from their licensed veterinarian and referral clinics with specialists, including CSU veterinary school. And it will backfire against steps (already underway) to try to increase fully trained veterinarians to ease shortages in this and other states. The public is being misled to think that this will be substantially different than certified veterinary technicians--already able to do more basic procedures, but under the direct supervision of veterinarians onsite or that they will somehow be the veterinary equivalent of PAs (physician assistants).

Pet owners better get involved. As with most businesses taken over by these corporate conglomerates, it is the public that suffers. Does anyone think the human equivalent-- corporate-owned "doc in a box" clinics-- that basically serve as a wasted time delay before sending their human patients to the ER for anything more serious than a cold (given most can't even do x-rays, basic lab procedures, or the most basic of orthopedic care)-- have been useful? That is outside the greedy corporate raiding-investor class--who don't give a damn...