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Tuesday, April 15, 2014
ESPN Make Vet Records on Horses Available to the Public
The chairman of The Jockey Club April 14 called for public release of the veterinary records of all horses entered in this year's Triple Crown races, and also said the industry should partner with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to facilitate medication reform.
Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps, in a lengthy statement, said publishing vet records "can bring greater credibility to the races that define our sport, at a time when millions are watching." Phipps said the Hong Kong Jockey Club does so and is a leading jurisdiction in terms of the amount of money wagered on horse racing.
"I propose that veterinary records of every horse entered in this year's Triple Crown races be made immediately available," Phipps said. "The New York State Gaming Commission does this, but only for a three-day period from the day of the race. I suggest a much longer period: 14 days.
"In fact, that was the principle behind the 2013 recommendation of The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee to create a centralized database of all treatments and procedures administered to horses in training. A majority of states already mandate this kind of reporting, but there is spotty compliance and, with few exceptions, little public disclosure."
Based on discussion April 8 during the Association of Racing Commissioners International conference in Lexington, public disclosure could be complicated. The Jockey Club at the meeting proposed a model rule for electronic record keeping of treatment records of horses, but regulators were uncomfortable with the language as written.
RCI officials said the issue isn't regulators having the information. It's more about state-by-state open public records laws as well as regulations that cover veterinary practice.
"The issue is not retaining records," said Larry Eliason, chairman of the RCI Model Rules Committee and executive secretary for the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. "The question is where they are retained, which brings in the open public records law. They vary from state to state."
The Jockey Club offered to create and maintain the database.
continue to read here
Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps, in a lengthy statement, said publishing vet records "can bring greater credibility to the races that define our sport, at a time when millions are watching." Phipps said the Hong Kong Jockey Club does so and is a leading jurisdiction in terms of the amount of money wagered on horse racing.
"I propose that veterinary records of every horse entered in this year's Triple Crown races be made immediately available," Phipps said. "The New York State Gaming Commission does this, but only for a three-day period from the day of the race. I suggest a much longer period: 14 days.
"In fact, that was the principle behind the 2013 recommendation of The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee to create a centralized database of all treatments and procedures administered to horses in training. A majority of states already mandate this kind of reporting, but there is spotty compliance and, with few exceptions, little public disclosure."
Based on discussion April 8 during the Association of Racing Commissioners International conference in Lexington, public disclosure could be complicated. The Jockey Club at the meeting proposed a model rule for electronic record keeping of treatment records of horses, but regulators were uncomfortable with the language as written.
RCI officials said the issue isn't regulators having the information. It's more about state-by-state open public records laws as well as regulations that cover veterinary practice.
"The issue is not retaining records," said Larry Eliason, chairman of the RCI Model Rules Committee and executive secretary for the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. "The question is where they are retained, which brings in the open public records law. They vary from state to state."
The Jockey Club offered to create and maintain the database.
continue to read here
Statement of Jockey Club Chairman Mills Phipps Regarding release of veterinary records
The following statement was released by Jockey Club Chairman Ogden Mills Phipps on Tuesday:
In the weeks since allegations raised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were reported by The New York Times, there has been no shortage of commentary in traditional or social media, and it seems likely that the dark cloud hovering over our sport will be there for the duration of our Triple Crown season.
One columnist recently suggested that the trainer implicated in the PETA video should stay away from the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks for "the good of the game." I concur wholeheartedly.
Various investigations are still underway, but his presence and participation would indicate that it's just "business as usual" in the Thoroughbred industry.
In fact, it is not -- at least where The Jockey Club is concerned. We are working diligently on several fronts.
In fact, WADA was the model for the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium's (RMTC) lab accreditation standards, one of the main pillars of the National Uniform Medication Program.
In 2009, The Jockey Club, through our Thoroughbred Safety Committee, pledged financial support to RMTC for new national laboratory standards for testing, the implementation of a laboratory accreditation program, and a new independent Equine Quality Assurance Program.
Five years later, just two labs have completed the accreditation process and one lab has been provisionally accredited. As is the case with the uniform medication rules, other labs are reported to be "in process" with their changes.
Clearly, the Thoroughbred industry needs a new plan.
A connection with USADA -- whether through a federal mandate or private association -- would provide solutions to many of our medication regulation issues. The organization would bring independence, integrity and expertise to our sport.
In the meantime, there is something that can be done now. It can bring greater credibility to the races that define our sport, at a time when millions are watching. We would be taking a page from a protocol in place at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which, coincidentally or not, is among the leading jurisdictions in the world in wagering handle.
I propose that veterinary records of every horse entered in this year's Triple Crown races be made immediately available. The New York State Gaming Commission does this, but only for a three-day period from the day of the race. I suggest a much longer period: 14 days.
In fact, that was the principle behind the 2013 recommendation of The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee to create a centralized database of all treatments and procedures administered to horses in training. A majority of states already mandate this kind of reporting, but there is spotty compliance and, with few exceptions, little public disclosure.
As I've said previously, enough is enough.
All of us need to look ourselves in the mirror and make sure we are doing all we can not only for the good of the game, but for the welfare of the athletes, the integrity of competition and the survival of the sport.
The disclosure of veterinary records would be a good place to start.
New York Times: Publicizing of Veterinary Files Is Urged for Triple Crown Events
Ogden Mills Phipps Urges Publicizing Medical Records of Triple Crown Horses
By JOE DRAPE
The chairman of the Jockey Club, one of horse racing’s most influential groups, called Monday for the veterinary records of every horse competing in this year’s Triple Crown races to be made public immediately. He said the goal was to ensure that the horses were sound and not under the influence of unnecessary drugs and that the races were run safely and fairly.
The club’s chairman, Ogden Mills Phipps, the owner of last year’s Kentucky Derby victor, Orb, said the Jockey Club had already endorsed federal legislation that would put the United States Anti-Doping Agency in charge of the sport, which has been unable to eradicate a pervasive drug culture.
He said it was vital, however, to take meaningful steps now that demonstrate to the public that the sport takes restoring integrity seriously.
“It can bring greater credibility to the races that define our sport at a time when millions are watching,” Phipps said in a statement, referring to the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.
Phipps also said that the trainer Steve Asmussen, who ranks second in trainers’ career victories, should not participate in the Derby. Asmussen and his top assistant, Scott Blasi, are under investigation by state and federal authorities over accusations that they subjected their horses to cruel treatments, including administering drugs for nontherapeutic purposes and having one of their jockeys use an electronic device to shock horses into running faster.
The inquiries were prompted by a four-month undercover investigation by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and included more than seven hours of hidden camera video. Asmussen’s name was removed from the Racing Hall of Fame ballot on March 21, a day before he fired Blasi, his assistant of 18 years.
“His presence and participation would indicate that it’s just ‘business as usual’ in the thoroughbred industry,” Phipps said in the statement.
CONTINUE TO READ HERE
Blood-horse--Tygart: Parallels Between Olympics, Racing
The chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency said there are parallels between issues facing the U.S. horse industry and the Olympics when it comes to ensuring the integrity of those sports, specifically with regard to oversight on medications.
Travis Tygart was in Lexington April 14 to speak to a group of about 50 horse industry stakeholders brought together for an informational meeting organized by the Water Hay Oats Alliance. WHOA has a mission to stop race-day medication, including the anti-bleeding drug furosemide.
Among those present for Tygart's presentation were a diverse group of equine industry professionals, including farm owners, breeders, owners, stable managers, equine insurance professionals, regulators, and trainers.
In a Congressional bill known as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which would create federal regulation of drug use in horse racing, USADA has been designated as the agency responsible for oversight. USADA, a private, not-for-profit company, is best known for its investigative work on the doping activities of cyclist Lance Armstrong and his teammates.
Tygart said his company agreed when asked by Congress to be included for consideration as the drug oversight body for any federal legislation regulating horse racing.
"We got asked by Congress, at no initiation by us, if we were willing to be named in a piece of federal legislation," said Tygart, whose company receives some federal funding as a result of its role within the Olympics drug oversight role. "We said we are in the business of protecting sport; horse racing doesn't fall under our mission, but we believe all sport should be safe, clean, and held to a standard that is fairly and evenly enforced. So we said, 'Congress, if you are asking us to do this, we will consider it as we move forward.' "
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84389/tygart-parallels-between-olympics-racing#ixzz2yzDRXSsa
Travis Tygart was in Lexington April 14 to speak to a group of about 50 horse industry stakeholders brought together for an informational meeting organized by the Water Hay Oats Alliance. WHOA has a mission to stop race-day medication, including the anti-bleeding drug furosemide.
Among those present for Tygart's presentation were a diverse group of equine industry professionals, including farm owners, breeders, owners, stable managers, equine insurance professionals, regulators, and trainers.
In a Congressional bill known as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which would create federal regulation of drug use in horse racing, USADA has been designated as the agency responsible for oversight. USADA, a private, not-for-profit company, is best known for its investigative work on the doping activities of cyclist Lance Armstrong and his teammates.
Tygart said his company agreed when asked by Congress to be included for consideration as the drug oversight body for any federal legislation regulating horse racing.
"We got asked by Congress, at no initiation by us, if we were willing to be named in a piece of federal legislation," said Tygart, whose company receives some federal funding as a result of its role within the Olympics drug oversight role. "We said we are in the business of protecting sport; horse racing doesn't fall under our mission, but we believe all sport should be safe, clean, and held to a standard that is fairly and evenly enforced. So we said, 'Congress, if you are asking us to do this, we will consider it as we move forward.' "
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84389/tygart-parallels-between-olympics-racing#ixzz2yzDRXSsa
AORN Journal is pleased to announce the fifth author Q&A on ORNurseLink!--Understanding compounding Issues
Ask the Author: Understanding Medication Compounding Issues
Posted by Leslie Knudson on Apr 14, 2014 10:48 am
The AORN Journal is pleased to announce the fifth author Q&A on ORNurseLink!
From April 14-18, Rodney W. Hicks, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, author of “Understanding Medication Compounding Issues,” will be available on ORNurseLink to answer your questions or comments regarding guidelines and practices that aim to reduce potential contamination that can occur during the sterile compounding process. Simply click “Reply” to this post to submit a question or comment and he will respond within a 24-hour period.
The potential for contamination of compounded products and the resulting infections are a serious threat to patient safety. Immediate use products are used frequently in the perioperative department, and perioperative nurses should be familiar with compounding guidelines and practices. Take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to learn critical insights related to the four common elements of successful compounding: quality (eg, product identification, purity), the environment (eg, using a segregated compounding area), personnel activities (eg, following expiration dates), and the control process (eg, process monitoring).
We will also be sharing results of the medication compounding survey that was included in last week’s email that announced the author Q&A. Rodney will be revealing and addressing the survey results throughout the week, so please check back to find out how your knowledge of compounding compares to your perioperative colleagues.
Below are the survey questions that will be discussed during the Q&A:
1. Are you familiar with your organization's policies and procedures for compounding?
2. Do you utilize an in-house provider (eg, pharmacy) or an external third party for compounded medications?
3. Have you received training on handling compounded products either from the pharmacy department or the third party?
4. Are you familiar with guidelines for performing hand hygiene between handling each product?
5. Are you aware of disinfection requirements prior to compounding in an area where there is a high touch surface?
AORN members can access the “Understanding Medication Compounding Issues” article online or in the April print issue beginning on page 466.
quoted from here
From April 14-18, Rodney W. Hicks, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, author of “Understanding Medication Compounding Issues,” will be available on ORNurseLink to answer your questions or comments regarding guidelines and practices that aim to reduce potential contamination that can occur during the sterile compounding process. Simply click “Reply” to this post to submit a question or comment and he will respond within a 24-hour period.
The potential for contamination of compounded products and the resulting infections are a serious threat to patient safety. Immediate use products are used frequently in the perioperative department, and perioperative nurses should be familiar with compounding guidelines and practices. Take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to learn critical insights related to the four common elements of successful compounding: quality (eg, product identification, purity), the environment (eg, using a segregated compounding area), personnel activities (eg, following expiration dates), and the control process (eg, process monitoring).
We will also be sharing results of the medication compounding survey that was included in last week’s email that announced the author Q&A. Rodney will be revealing and addressing the survey results throughout the week, so please check back to find out how your knowledge of compounding compares to your perioperative colleagues.
Below are the survey questions that will be discussed during the Q&A:
1. Are you familiar with your organization's policies and procedures for compounding?
2. Do you utilize an in-house provider (eg, pharmacy) or an external third party for compounded medications?
3. Have you received training on handling compounded products either from the pharmacy department or the third party?
4. Are you familiar with guidelines for performing hand hygiene between handling each product?
5. Are you aware of disinfection requirements prior to compounding in an area where there is a high touch surface?
AORN members can access the “Understanding Medication Compounding Issues” article online or in the April print issue beginning on page 466.
quoted from here
Must Read Regarding FDA ban--
FDA bans Baxter plant that makes saline solution
Ban comes as hospitals are struggling with shortages of the essential agent
April 15, 2014 | By Eric Palmer
Read more: FDA bans Baxter plant that makes saline solution - FiercePharma Manufacturing http://www.fiercepharmamanufacturing.com/story/fda-bans-baxter-plant-makes-saline-solution/2014-04-15#ixzz2yyBLPkBQ
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