Document Actions
Veterinarian Workforce: Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health
Date:
March 4, 2009
Author:
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Institution:
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Bibliographic Entry:
“VETERINARIAN WORKFORCE: Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health.” February 2009. U.S. Government Accountability Office. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09178.pdf (Accessed March 4, 2009)
Electronic Link:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09178.pdf
Key Words:
veterinarians, veterinarian workforce, zoonotic diseases, USDA, National Association of Federal Veterinarians, animal health
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
Due to the growing national shortage of veterinarians, GAO was asked to determine the extent to which: (1) the federal government has assessed the sufficiency of its veterinarian workforce for routine activities, (2) the federal government has identified the veterinarian workforce needed during a catastrophic event, and (3) federal and state agencies encountered veterinarian workforce challenges during four recent zoonotic outbreaks. GAO found that efforts to identify the veterinarian workforce needed for a catastrophic event are insufficient. Agencies’ plans lack important elements necessary for continuing essential veterinarian functions during a pandemic, such as identifying which functions must be performed on-site and how they will be carried out if absenteeism reaches 40%. Upon further review, it was determined that a Senate hearing would be held to assess the severity of this issue with testimonials delivered by key officials from HHS, USDA, DHS, GAO, and the National Association of Federal Veterinarians. This hearing is entitled “Protecting Animal and Public Health: Homeland Security and the Federal Veterinarian Workforce” and can be accessed via http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=c34dd856-a58a-4ab8-9588-258131fd817a.
Name of Researcher:
Ashanti Z. Corey
Institution:
Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted:
March 10, 2009