United States Department f Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspectin Service Veterinary Services Veterinary Services Strategic Plan FY 2006 t FY 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Page 3 VISION Page 3 MISSION Page 3 CORE VALUES Page 4 VS ORGANIZATION Pages 4 5 STRATEGIC OUTLOOK Page 5 6 CRITICAL ISSUES Page 6 STRATEGY Page 6 STRATEGIC GOALS Page 6 7 PROGRAM INITIATIVES Page 7 MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES Pages 7 8 EXPECTED OUTCOMES Page 8 10 APPENDIX Pages 11 12 2
INTRODUCTION Veterinary Services (VS) cnducts the animal health safeguarding missin as part f the Animal and Plant Health Inspectin Service (APHIS), a unit f the United States Department f Agriculture (USDA). As a 21 st century animal health rganizatin, VS is engaged and vigilant acrss the full spectrum f animal health. Our planning strategy is fcused n imprving ur perfrmance and executin at every level f ur rganizatin. The VS strategic plan prvides directin and planning fcus t ur imprtant wrk as the natin s lead animal health rganizatin. VS wide-ranging respnsibilities include: Crdinating natinal animal health emergency preparedness and management Ensure the safe imprt f animals, animal prducts, and bilgics Diagnsing freign and dmestic animal diseases Mnitring the health and disease status f U.S. livestck and pultry Certifying animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics fr exprt Develping, implementing and enfrcing standards t ensure safe and effective animal vaccines Delivering scientific and ecnmic infrmatin, plicy advice, risk assessment and ther data t address challenges faced by animal prducers and stakehlders Certifying quality assurance methds used in animal prductin Directing natinal prgrams t eradicate selected animal diseases Managing key activities in a natinal netwrk f labratries t perfrm dayt-day testing and prvide emergency respnse capability Partnering with ur state stakehlders, industry custmers, veterinary and agricultural institutins, and extensin services t prtect animal health As an agency that prtects critical U.S. infrastructure, VS is bradly aligned with the Department f Hmeland Security (DHS) bjectives and ther key dmestic security partners. This new security-cnscius envirnment requires increased cperatin at every gvernmental level. VS is a key cperatr in the new security structure thrugh an expanded set f netwrks that include valuable state and emergency management persnnel. In additin t hmeland security, ur leadership, resurce, planning and strategic executin decisins are fcused n prtecting ur natin s animal health and facilitating safe agricultural trade. Fr example, VS has recently respnded t animal health emergencies such as extic Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and vesicular stmatitis. Our surveillance and emergency respnse activities are vital t prtecting ur natin s glbal agricultural trade. VS cntinues t mnitr the status f key diseases with a human health cmpnent such as glbal avian influenza. VS VISION The premier animal health agency. Leading change, driven by science, prepared and respnsive t public needs, with integrity as ur crnerstne. VS MISSION Veterinary Services prtects and imprves the health, prductivity, quality, and marketability f animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics by: mnitring animal health and cnducting surveillance fr animal diseases; preventing, cntrlling and/r eliminating zntic and animal diseases; and partnering with dmestic and glbal stakehlders VS CORE VALUES Veterinary Services has strng cnvictins abut hw business is t be cnducted and hw peple are t be treated bth inside and utside VS. Our 3
key values are imprtant because they represent ur character, ur glbal image, and ur essential traits. They are: Cmpetence Integrity Respect Valuing Peple Diversity Teamwrk Innvatin VS Organizatin The VS infrastructure is natinally distributed. VS headquarters facilities are lcated in Riverdale, Maryland and Washingtn, DC. The headquarters ffices perfrm the rganizatin s prgram and regulatry plicy. The Natinal Center fr Animal Health Prgrams at Riverdale, Maryland prvides prgram guidance, budget planning and animal disease expertise t the extended VS structure. The Center fr Veterinary Bilgics lcated in Ames, Iwa regulates veterinary bilgics t ensure that available prducts are pure, safe, ptent, and effective. The Natinal Veterinary Services Labratries, lcated in Ames, Iwa and Plum Island, New Yrk, prvide diagnstic services which supprt freign animal disease identificatin; cntrl and eradicatin prgrams; and exprtatin and imprtatin f animals and animal prducts. The Centers fr Epidemilgy and Animal Health (CEAH) in Frt Cllins, Clrad sets standards fr the natinal surveillance prgram and administers the Natinal Animal Health Mnitring System. CEAH als develps technlgy applicatins; maintains key databases; and cnducts epidemilgical, ecnmic, and spatial analysis and trade risk assessments. Veterinary Services field ffices are lcated strategically within the states t serve VS custmers. Sme VS field ffices serve multiple states. VS surveillance, exprt certificatin, and disease eradicatin and cntrl activities are implemented at these field lcatins. Reginal ffices lcated in Raleigh, Nrth Carlina and Frt Cllins, Clrad prvide versight f these field ffices. 4
STRATEGIC OUTLOOK Veterinary Services enters the 2006-2011 planning perid with a myriad f distinct challenges and pprtunities. The animal health envirnment changed significantly during the last planning perid. The pst 9-11 envirnment resulted in new security directin and gvernmental realignments t imprve dmestic security. The Department f Hmeland Security (DHS) has becme the epicenter f the natin s dmestic security and emergency planning infrastructure New dmestic security players and increased funding have already led t better natinal preparedness. In spite f many changes, distinct challenges and uncertainties cnfrnt rganizatins that are first respnders. VS must cntinue its cmmitment t planning fr this changed wrld by imprving cmmunicatins, surveillance, emergency planning and respnse, and day-t-day executin. T respnd t grwing threats and the requirement fr increased vigilance, VS is implementing infrastructure and prcedural imprvements. Dramatic imprvements have already been made t the natinal labratry netwrk. Critical labratry infrastructure has been imprved thrugh new facilities at Ames and thrugh partner investments at the Natinal Animal Health Labratry Netwrk (NAHLN). In additin, the emergency natinal stckpile f critical veterinary medicinal prducts is prceeding accrding t plan and available funding. Key recmmendatins f the Animal Health Safeguarding Review are being implemented as funding becmes available. 5
Finally, VS cntinues t emphasize human capital management thrugh enhanced recruiting, training pprtunities, and imprved leadership. Our dynamic wrkfrce has increased as a result f budget initiatives; hwever, the grwth has nt been cmmensurate with the increased expectatins acrss a brad range f prgrams. The grwth in the VS wrkfrce has brught with it a cncmitant increased wrkspace requirement that must be addressed by the management team. Meeting ur regulatry and animal health prtectin respnsibilities will be a cntinuing challenge during this planning perid. Veterinary Services leadership is cmmitted t anticipating and respnding t animal health and trade issues, and mitigating risk thrugh wise regulatry actins and prudent investment f peple and ther resurces. This cmmitment will be challenged by flat r declining budgets at a time f grwing needs. In the absence f increased resurces, VS will need t pursue smart technlgy investments, make better use f available data, and identify lwer pririty activities that can be realigned against new and grwing missin requirements. Our strategy reflects ur management respnse t grwing animal health challenges. CRITICAL ISSUES Our management team believes that the items listed belw are critical planning issues fr VS. Our near-t-mid-range planning revlves arund these key issues. Glbalizatin and trade issues add a plitical dimensin t ur business that must be cnsidered when develping plicy ptins and making key decisins A crisis envirnment is becming mre prevalent, with emphasis n speed and multi-tasking; the digital revlutin and the always-n-wrld present unique challenges Persnnel recruitment, veterinary infrastructure and wrkspace needs must be addressed The human health impact f animal diseases is increasingly impacting VS disease management and pririties Preparedness t respnd t disease utbreaks is increasingly imprtant in the glbal envirnment The grwing influence f agribusiness is impacting and will cntinue t impact ur decisin making and day-t-day executin Technlgy changes will cntribute t ur business in significant ways STRATEGY We will strengthen ur business practices t ensure that we becme a premier animal health agency. We will build an rganizatin that balances missin pririties including: animal disease eradicatin and cntrl prgrams, emergency management, preparedness, regulatry activities, and surveillance. KEY OBJECTIVES OF OUR STRATEGY Imprve ur business practices: Institute strategic thinking as an agency pririty Invest in technlgies that imprve prductivity and perfrmance Perfrm regular prgram reviews f key activities Functin as an rganizatin that prmtes success Perfrm effective business planning in key areas Emphasize perfrmance-based accuntability Plan fr leadership successin and recruiting Prmte better resurce utilizatin Ensure effective partnerships Establish sund standards fr key prcesses 6
STRATEGIC GOALS 1. Prtect the United States frm the ccurrence f adverse animal health events 2. Mnitr and cnduct surveillance f the health and prductivity f ur natin s animal health ppulatins and mnitr the health-related attributes f animal prducts and veterinary bilgics 3. Enhance the health status f ur natin s animal ppulatins by anticipating and respnding t new r emerging threats and managing, cntrlling, r eradicating thse already identified 4. Enhance the marketability f ur natin s animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics 5. Create a highly effective animal health rganizatin PROGRAM INITIATIVES Veterinary Services will review annual prgress and develp new prgram and management initiatives t implement ur strategy and fulfill ur missin requirements in a high-quality way. Current VS prgram initiatives are: Imprve and streamline the regulatry prcess Resurce the Natinal Surveillance Unit and cmplete natinal surveillance bjectives Cmplete the eradicatin f Brucellsis and Tuberculsis Imprve LPAI/HPAI surveillance Establish the Natinal Veterinary Stckpile Cntinue develpment f the NAHLN Cmplete NVSL Accreditatin Supprt new technlgies that imprve prductivity Increase the number f Veterinary Bilgics available fr use in the cntrl and diagnsis f new and emerging animal diseases Imprve Veterinary Services Infrmatin Technlgy MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES Our management initiatives reflect the key management actins VS will emphasize t imprve VS-peratins and make VS a mre attractive and rewarding place t wrk. Our current management initiatives are: Imprve the budget prcess Establish a successin plan Institute business planning Build VS IT infrastructure Enhance recruitment Make strategic planning relevant Revitalize the infrastructure prject Implement Animal Health Safeguarding Review Actin Plans Expand prgram reviews f key activities IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES Veterinary Services leadership will cnduct peridic strategy sessins t ensure that the new strategy is deeply embedded int ur daily, weekly, and mnthly rutine. These activities will be guided by the VS Planning Office. Strategic actin milestnes will be develped fr annual prgram and management initiatives and any ut-f-cycle new starts f strategic imprtance. These milestnes will be regularly reviewed at ur management and planning meetings t ensure that the management team 7
prvides the leadership, resurces, cmmunicatin, and emplyee develpment t reach ur gals. EXPECTED OUTCOMES The VS strategy t imprve business practices will enhance executin and ur ability t implement key initiatives and bjectives. VS will develp new utcme-based measures that will measure ur effectiveness acrss a range f prgrams. Our strategy emphasizes imprvement f internal peratins as a key way t imprve effectiveness in this envirnment. Our external measures will als be refined t ensure that they measure effectiveness f a brad range f disease prgrams and animal disease exclusin and respnse activities. Additinally, we will benchmark ur standards against gals f the President s Management Agenda t ensure that ur effectiveness supprts the Executive Branch gals. Examples f indicatrs are: Prgress in meeting ur strategic gals; Imprved perfrmance in each f ur business activities; Better mtivated emplyees and imprved quality at every level; Prgram managers wrking diligently t develp and acquire better financial data and prvide better analysis; Inserting key technlgies that prvide autmated infrmatin and slutins acrss ur key prgrams; Leadership agreement that VS has the right peple in the right place t achieve tp-ntch results; President s Management Agenda plans are met; and Effective security arrangements t ensure the safety f all VS emplyees. Gals and Objectives Veterinary Services gals are aligned with APHIS gals and with the needs f VS stakehlders. Achievement f these gals requires brad interactin f all VS prgram, staff, and scientific units and extensive partnering with ther Federal and State agencies, private industry, and academia. Gal 1: Prtect the United States frm the ccurrence f adverse animal health events. (Adverse animal health events can result frm the real r perceived impacts f diseases, pests, vectrs, txins, r natural disasters n public health, prductivity, r trade) Gal 2: Mnitr and cnduct surveillance f the health and prductivity f ur natin s animal health ppulatins and mnitr the health-related attributes f animal prducts and veterinary bilgics Gal 3: Enhance the health status f ur natin s animal ppulatins by anticipating and respnding t new r emerging threats and managing, cntrlling, r eradicating thse already identified. Gal 4: Expand the dmestic and internatinal marketability f ur natin s animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics Gal 5: Create a highly effective animal health rganizatin. Gal 1: Prtect the United States frm the ccurrence f adverse animal health events. Safeguarding the health f America s animals has always been central t VS missin. VS will cntinue t exercise vigilance in prtecting ur natin s animals frm disease. T enhance ur safeguarding capabilities, VS will cntinue t fster partnerships within APHIS and USDA and with ther federal agencies, states and industry. Objective 1.1: Prevent incursins f adverse animal health events by mnitring and managing the imprtatin f animals, animal prducts and veterinary bilgics; Objective 1.2: Cllabrate internatinally t maintain awareness f internatinal animal health events and imprve glbal animal health; Objective 1.3: Imprve readiness t rapidly respnd t disease incursins; Objective 1.4: Prevent the intrductin and establishment f nn-indigenus invasive species capable f harming U.S. animal ppulatins Gal 2: Mnitr and cnduct surveillance f the health and prductivity f ur natin s animal ppulatins and mnitr the health- 8
related attributes f animal prducts and veterinary bilgics Infrmatin regarding the health status, prductivity, and health-related attributes f U.S. animal ppulatins, animal prducts, and bilgics is at a premium. Public cncerns abut diseases that affect bth animals and peple nly reinfrce the need fr accurate, timely, and thrugh infrmatin. T expand the effectiveness f its mnitring activities, VS will cntinue t enhance relatinships with states, industry, public health agencies, and ther gvernmental and private grups. VS mnitring netwrk will be brad and inclusive. VS will seek ut and emply cutting-edge technlgy t blster its mnitring effrts. Objective 2.1: Rapidly detect freign and emerging animal diseases including thse with public health/fd safety implicatins; Objective 2.2: Track and reprt levels f certain endemic animal diseases including thse with public health/ fd safety implicatins; Objective 2.3: Cnduct facility inspectins t ensure cmpliance with animal health regulatins and prgram standards; Objective 2.4: Increase and imprve capabilities t identify and trace animals and animal prducts natinwide t supprt disease investigatins and ther needs; Objective 2.5: Imprve pharmacvigilance (pst-licensing mnitring) fr veterinary bilgics; Objective 2.6: Imprve labratry diagnstic services, prducts, and training t supprt animal disease surveillance. Gal 3: Enhance the health status f ur natin s animal ppulatins by anticipating and respnding t new r emerging threats and managing, cntrlling, r eradicating thse already identified. Veterinary Services will cntinue t wrk t guarantee that America s animals are the healthiest in the wrld. T reach this gal, VS will nt nly cntinue t effectively manage its existing animal health prgrams, but will build its capacity fr respnding t new threats. VS will enhance its emergency respnse capabilities by develping innvative and adaptive strategies, infrastructure, and partnerships. Objective 3.1: Respnd effectively t adverse animal health events and cntinue t imprve the natinal animal health emergency respnse capabilities; Objective 3.2: Ensure the natinwide availability f adequate labratry capacity t supprt surveillance, animal disease investigatins and cntrl and eradicatin prgrams; Objective 3.3: Ensure the availability f quality veterinary bilgical prducts fr diagnsis, preventin, and treatment f animal diseases; Objective 3.4: Reduce the incidence and spread f serius animal diseases including thse with public health/fd safety implicatins; Objective 3.5: Eradicate animal diseases that pse a threat t the natinal ecnmy; Objective 3.6: Develp an effective mechanism fr evaluating the significance f emerging threats and determining the apprpriate respnse; Objective 3.7: Enhance industry understanding f the assciated risk and the mnitring and cntrl f disease reservirs and vectrs. Gal 4: Expand the dmestic and internatinal marketability f ur natin s animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics. Veterinary Services shares with the greater APHIS cmmunity an expanding cmmercial prtectin rle. This rle requires VS t respnd t ther cuntry prpsals fr animal imprt requirements and help negtiate science-based animal imprt requirements, ensuring access t internatinal markets fr America s animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgic exprts are prtected. VS uses cutting-edge science, high technlgy, and practive cmmunicatin t maintain market accessibility. Objective 4.1: Imprve market access and prmte timely and efficient certificatin fr exprts f U.S. animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics; Objective 4.2: Certify animal prductin facilities as using prcesses designed t enhance the quality and safety f their animal- 9
derived fd prducts; Objective 4.3: Prvide disease-status certificatin fr animals entering dmestic r internatinal trade; Objective 4.4: Imprve diagnstic testing assciated with the marketing f animals and animal prducts. Objective 4.5: Enhance the integrity f the exprt certificatin prcess thrugh training f AVICs, Exprt Dcument Examiners and thrugh imprved training f accredited veterinarians. Objective 4.6: Prvide accurate, timely infrmatin relative t changes in cuntry imprt requirements in a cnvenient frmat t VS Area Offices. Gal 5: Create a highly effective animal health rganizatin. creating this type f rganizatin are: eliminating internal fragmentatin, creating a culture which fsters a greater degree f emplyee appreciatin, excelling in cmmunicatin, and valuing flexibility. Objective 5.1 Recruit, develp, and retain a cmpetent, cmmitted and diverse wrkfrce that prvides high quality service; Objective 5.2 Imprve internal and external cmmunicatins t increase awareness, enhance cperatin and crdinatin, and imprve prductivity; Objective 5.3 Utilize infrmatin technlgy effectively t imprve every aspect f VS peratins; Objective 5.4 Implement administrative and management appraches which maximize flexibility while retaining accuntability. Only with a strng, effective rganizatin can VS hpe t achieve its ther gals. Keys t VS 10
Gal 1: Prtect the United States frm the ccurrence f adverse animal health events. (Resulting frm the real r perceived impacts f diseases, pests, vectrs, txins, r natural disasters n public health, prductivity, r trade). 1.1 Prevent incursins f adverse animal health events by mnitring and managing the imprtatin f animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics 1.2 Cllabrate internatinally t maintain awareness f internatinal animal health events and imprve glbal animal health. 1.3 Imprve readiness t rapidly respnd t disease incursins. 1.4 Prevent the intrductin and establishment f nnindigenus invasive species capable f harming U.S. animal ppulatins. Veterinary Services Strategic Plan Appendix Table 1: Matrix f VS Gals and Objectives Gal 2: Mnitr and cnduct surveillance f the health and prductivity f ur natin s animal ppulatins and mnitr the health-related attributes f animal prducts and veterinary bilgics. 2.1 Rapidly detect freign and emerging animal diseases including thse with public health/fd safety implicatins. 2.2 Track and reprt levels f certain endemic animal diseases including thse with public health/fd safety implicatins. 2.3 Cnduct facility inspectins t ensure cmpliance with animal health regulatins and prgram standards. 2.4 Increase and imprve capabilities t identify and trace animals and animal prducts natinwide t supprt disease investigatins and ther needs. 2.5 Imprve pharmacvigilance (pst-licensing mnitring) fr veterinary bilgics. 2.6 Imprve labratry diagnstic services, prducts and training t supprt animal disease surveillance. Gal 3: Enhance the health status f ur Natin s animal ppulatins by anticipating and respnding t new r emerging threats and managing, cntrlling, r eradicating thse already identified. 3.1 Respnd effectively t adverse animal health events and cntinue t imprve the natinal animal health emergency respnse capabilities. 3.2 Ensure the natinwide availability f adequate labratry capacity t supprt surveillance, animal disease investigatins and cntrl and eradicatin prgrams. 3.3 Ensure the availability f quality veterinary bilgical prducts fr diagnsis, preventin, and treatment f animal diseases. 3.4 Reduce the incidence and spread f serius animal diseases including thse with public health/fd safety implicatins. 3.5 Eradicate animal diseases that pse a threat t the natinal ecnmy. 3.6 Develp an effective mechanism fr evaluating the significance f emerging threats and determining the apprpriate respnse. 3.7 Enhance industry understanding f the assciated risk and the mnitring and cntrl f disease reservirs and vectrs. Gal 4: Expand the dmestic and internatinal marketability f ur Natin s animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics. 4.1 Imprve market access and prmte timely and efficient certificatin fr exprts f U.S. animals, animal prducts, and veterinary bilgics. 4.2 Certify animal prductin facilities as using prcesses designed t enhance the quality and safety f their animal-derived fd prducts. 4.3 Prvide disease-status certificatin fr animals entering dmestic r internatinal trade. 4.4 Imprve diagnstic testing assciated with the marketing f animals and animal prducts. 4.5 Enhance the integrity f the exprt certificatin prcess thrugh training f AVICs and Exprt Dcument Examiners, and thrugh imprved training f accredited veterinarians. 4.6 Prvide accurate, timely infrmatin in a cnvenient frmat t the VS Area Offices relative t changes in cuntry imprt requirements. Gal 5: Create a highly effective animal health rganizatin 5.1 Recruit, develp, and retain a cmpetent, cmmitted, and diverse wrkfrce that prvides high quality service. 5.2 Imprve internal and external cmmunicatins t increase awareness, enhance cperatin and crdinatin, and imprve prductivity. 5.3 Utilize infrmatin technlgy effectively t imprve every aspect f VS peratins. 5.4 Implement administrative and management appraches which maximize flexibility while retaining accuntability. 11
Veterinary Services Strategic Plan Appendix Acrnyms AI APHIS AVIC CEAH CVB DHS FAD FMD HPAI LPAI NCAHP NAHLN NAHMS NSS NVSL OIE USDA VMO VS Avian Influenza Animal and Plant Health Inspectin Service Area Veterinarian in Charge Centers fr Epidemilgy and Animal Health Center fr Veterinary Bilgics Department f Hmeland Security Freign Animal Disease Ft-and-muth disease Highly Pathgenic Avian Influenza Lw Pathgenic Avian Influenza Natinal Center fr Animal Health Prgrams Natinal Animal Health Labratry Netwrk Natinal Animal Health Mnitring System Natinal Surveillance System Natinal Veterinary Services Labratries Office Internatinal des Epizties United States Department f Agriculture Veterinary Medical Officer Veterinary Services 12