The Order of Veterinary Physicians of Quebec ensures that several initiatives are underway to improve access to veterinary medicine, but warns that it will take years to straighten the bar.
“Without being pessimistic – we already feel the improvement – but I would tell you that all of this will recover over a period of regarding six years”, predicts Dr. Gaston Rioux, president of the professional order.
This is the time it will take before seeing the very first students of the new satellite campus of the veterinary medicine program in Rimouski come out of the school benches, in 2029.
In the meantime, several things can be done, assures Dr. Rioux.
In addition, the Order is trying to obtain regulatory changes to use animal health technicians to their full potential and allow greater integration of veterinary medicine graduates from abroad.
However, some files are not progressing at the expected speed.
- Listen to Mario Dumont’s interview with Dr. Gaston Rioux, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ordre des Médecins Vétérinaires du Québec on QUB radio :
DISCOURAGED DOCTORS
“In February 2022, we filed a draft regulatory amendment at the level of delegated acts with the Office des professions. We have a document that is very well prepared. But we have to admit that a year later, we have not yet had the approval, ”he laments.
On the other hand, Dr. Rioux wants to find solutions to the psychological distress and the exodus of veterinarians, while more than one in two said they were thinking of reorienting their career two years ago.
Research has identified overwork, harassment and difficulties in balancing work and family as the main causes of this distress, which is a “major” concern for the Order.
“We know when we return [au travail]we don’t know when we’re going out. […] I can never be the person who picks up my children from daycare when I work during the day,” illustrates Dr. Angélique Perrier-Edmunds, president of the Association of Veterinary Physicians of Quebec (AMVQ) and herself a veterinarian.
Working committees have been formed to find answers to the shortage of veterinarians and promote their retention. The use of telemedicine is also encouraged by the Order.
“LIKE NURSES”
According to Dr. Perrier-Edmunds, veterinarians have already begun to adjust the ways of doing things in order to optimize work in the clinic.
“As a customer, you will really see that we value our animal health technicians more. It’s like our nurses,” she says.
Customers can also make a big difference by adopting certain behaviors. Too often, she says, people still fail to show up for their appointments.
Showing kindness to veterinary teams, adopting “responsibly” from conscientious breeders, getting insurance and not waiting for a health problem to escalate before making an appointment are all ways to help, she enumerates.
FOR EACH PROBLEM THERE IS A SOLUTION
For some people it is difficult to find the health specialist who will take care of their little protege. But efforts are being made to try to improve the situation.
SUCCEEDING AND IT IS PRESSED FOR OUR FARMS
The labor shortage weighs just as much on the veterinary sector dedicated to production animals on farms and the bio-food sector. At the present time, we fear that the next generation will be insufficient to compensate for retirements.
“In the next few years, there will be double the number of graduates [au programme de médecine vétérinaire] and that wouldn’t be a problem. It would just fill the job market, ”says Dr. Jean-Yves Perreault, president of the Association of Veterinary Practitioners of Quebec.
The situation is fragile, especially in remote areas. “The red flag is up and we’re making sure to work on all fronts at the same time,” he said.
According to him, it is imperative to improve the support offered to veterinarians who work in agricultural environments, in addition to making this profession known to more students to increase the number of graduates.
DIFFICULT TO FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF
Photo Martin Alarie
Dr. Nathalie Bousquet, owner of the Rosemère Veterinary Clinic with a client.
Even 30 minutes from Montreal, where the situation is more under control, the days are long for veterinarians.
“Of course it is more difficult. I would tell you that I have less time with the family. I still have two grown daughters. I happen to leave in the morning […]I don’t see them, then in the evening it can be in bed when I arrive,” confides with a hint of emotion Dr. Nathalie Bousquet, owner of the Rosemère Veterinary Clinic.
In the past two years, nearly 40% of the patients seen were on their first visit, whether for a one-time emergency or because a new companion had joined the family.
Overall, animal welfare is not compromised despite the high demand, believes the veterinarian.
“At times, because we are human, we are not able to make all the appointments we would like,” she mentions, considering herself “pampered” despite everything in relation to the situation in rural areas.
MAKE BETTER USE OF TECHNICIANS
Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin
Dr Sébastien Kfoury, from the Brossard clinic of the Vet et Nous network with a cat who seems to be collaborating well.
The Vet et nous network, which brings together nearly thirty clinics in Quebec, is also affected by the shortage of animal health professionals. Clinic managers are increasing their maneuvers to try to meet all requests, such as the transfer of veterinarians to a clinic whose needs are greater.
“But we don’t have the capacity to take on as many new clients as we would like,” admits Dr. Sébastien Kfoury, of the Brossard clinic. We have regarding thirty open veterinarian positions that are unfilled,” he continues.
Dr. Kfoury points out that part of the solution is to give more space to animal health technicians, especially to carry out effective triage. This helps veterinarians “determine which patients need an urgent examination or which can be resolved more quickly over the phone or on the spot”, he argues.
VETERINARIANS ‘DISCONTINUE WITHOUT A VERY VALUABLE TOOL’
Photo d’archives, Catherine Bouchard
Francis Rousseau, president of the Association of Animal Health Technicians of Quebec (ATSAQ).
Due to a lack of knowledge or sometimes of confidence, veterinarians do not use animal health technicians (TSa) in an optimal way, underlines Francis Rousseau, president of the association of animal health technicians of Quebec (aTSaQ).
“The TSa are trained to do different care, treatments and samples [mais on les] used at the reception, at the controls and to hold animals”, observes Mr. Rousseau. Consequently, veterinarians find themselves doing tasks that they might delegate to TSa, sometimes without knowing it. And ultimately, some TSa leave the profession due to a lack of recognition and fulfillment.
The aTSaQ also participated in a working table to review the regulations on delegated acts in connection with the law on veterinary doctors established in 2007.
“The results were presented to the Office des professions […] and it is currently under discussion”, indicates the president.
