Wheatfield Animal Hospital, NY

During this clinical elective at Wheatfield Animal Hospital, the student will function in the role of a primary clinician under supervision. Responsibilities will include seeing appointments, obtaining comprehensive patient histories, performing physical examinations, and developing differential diagnoses.

The student will formulate and recommend appropriate diagnostic plans, including laboratory testing, cytology, radiography, and ultrasound as indicated, and will interpret results to guide treatment decisions. Treatment plans will be developed and implemented based on clinical findings and diagnostic outcomes.

Additional responsibilities will include assisting with and performing medical and surgical procedures such as sample collection (blood, urine, fine needle aspirates), catheter placement, anesthesia monitoring, wound management, and perioperative care. Participation in client communication, case discussions, and medical record documentation will also be integral components of the experience.

This elective will provide exposure to case management and clinical decision-making within a general practice setting.

Wheatfield Animal Hospital (WAH) has 3 full time veterinarians, 3.5 FTE LVTs, a practice manager and 12 support staff. (CSRs and VAs)

Wheatfield has a full in house Idexx Vet Lab Station with Catalyst, ProCyte and Sedivue.

There is digital general and dental radiology, and ultrasound. 

WAH will see dogs and cats and is affiliated with a 24 hour ER/specialty practice which allows for comprehensive in-patient care. WAH also has a practitioner that provides acupuncture services.

Students will shadow the DVM into office calls until they are confident enough to see some appointments alone. After they have performed the physical exam and collected a history and vitals, they will exit the exam room and discuss with their DVM mentor their assessment and plan before going back in to discuss with the client. DVMs will oversee the students during client progress calls and client education.

Students will perform treatments with supervision from the DVM and will scrub in and assist during surgical procedures.

Our DVM mentors will:

• meet with students regularly during the clinical experience to provide verbal feedback regarding observed students’ clinical performance.
• Provide students with supervised hands-on opportunities for clinical education and training
• Provide students with access to the clinical site medical record system
• Demonstrate a commitment to high-quality learning experiences for students

Students typical schedule is Monday through Friday 9 AM - 5 PM but we are open until 8 PM weekdays and on Saturday mornings so we are flexible with this schedule. 

Student expectations:

General Information:

1. On your first day please come in the front entrance and notify a receptionist of your arrival.
2. Your personal appearance reflects on the reputation, integrity, and public image. Appropriate attire consists of scrubs and comfortable closed-toe footwear. When seeing clients, a clean white exam coat can be worn over the scrubs. You may wear a name tag if you have one.
3. Please bring a stethoscope.  All other materials needed will be provided.
4. Hospital computers can be used for looking at records. Internet access is available on these computers to facilitate research.
5. Cell phone and internet use should be reserved for business-related matters while at the practice.  Please keep your cell phone ringer off while at the hospital and refrain from using the phone in the line of sight of clients.
6. Please refrain from posting client/patient information online and from taking photographs and/or videos of the patients, clients or personnel.
7. Please notify the practice manager of all schedule changes and time-off requests.

Expectations and Guidelines:

1. Our goal is not only to provide the best care available for our patients, but also to provide outstanding client service. Under promise and over deliver whenever possible. This is particularly important when dealing with time intervals such as how soon the client can pick up their pet or receive a call with diagnostic test results.
2. Please arrive each day with sufficient time to evaluate hospitalized patients and be present for morning rounds. In general, this means arriving 10-30 minutes before the first appointment. Except in the case of a true emergency, appointments should never be kept waiting.
3. Pets are to be examined, in the exam room with the owner present, unless the owner requests otherwise.
4. Attempt to make a specific diagnosis in each case rather than electing symptomatic treatment only.
5. Clients must be made aware of costs of care, cost of follow up care and the time investment of care.
6. We ensure informed consent on diagnostic/ treatment plans by outlining the benefits and risks associated with each, as well as the risks associated with not pursuing a given diagnostic/ treatment plan. Written consent/declination must be obtained via client signature. Always verify that consent is given by the client listed on the medical record as owner or co-owner.
7. Our obligation is to always offer the best care and to never practice below the peer-accepted minimal standard of care. Lack of money on the client's part will not be a legally acceptable excuse for a lesser recommendation, a new treatment plan can be made if the client declines the best care.  Deviations from standard care must be documented with signed, declined estimates, signed AMA (against medical advice) release, as well as appropriate patient record documentation of conversations.
8. It is the extern/veterinarian’s responsibility to assure appropriate follow-up on cases with the goal of providing optimal care and exceeding client expectations. This follow up can be done with a medical progress exam or a phone call from doctor, extern, or technician.
9. A client’s perception of the quality of care they receive is most influenced by the communication and interaction with us as opposed to patient outcome.   All externs/veterinarians will be allowed time during each workday to call clients.
   • Clients will be called by the extern or veterinarian within 12 hours of receiving abnormal diagnostic test results.
   • Client requests to speak to the extern or veterinarian should always be honored, and all client calls should be returned on the same day.
   • Hospitalized patient communication standards: minimum 2 phone calls per day – AM and PM.  Ensure that clients understand when you will be calling them next, and do your best to exceed their expectations – under promise and over deliver!  Always follow through on your word.
10. Hospitalized patients are transported to Green Acres Veterinary Center at the end of day. The case will be transferred to the attending ER vet at Green Acres until Wheatfield opens. The pet is then returned to Wheatfield and the case transferred back to the primary veterinarian.
11. A plan for the next day’s care should be recorded in the medical record for every hospitalized patient.
12. Client compliance with our patient care recommendations is our responsibility and is tracked regularly for progress. Externs should communicate health care recommendations with confidence and conviction and be sure they are recorded in the medical record. Follow-through is the biggest barrier to high levels of client compliance with patient care recommendations, so it is imperative that externs work with other practice team members to schedule appointments for any recommended services or preventative medicine due or coming due.
13. We define a current veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) as an examination within 12 months. Accordingly, all patients should have an examination by one of the veterinarians at the practice within 12 months in order to refill prescription medications.
14. The authorizing veterinarian should verify that each prescription medication and label is correct by inspecting the drug and label.
15. All patients with anesthetic procedures should have:
    • Pre-anesthetic laboratory testing
    • Individualized anesthetic, analgesic, monitoring, recovery, and emergency plans
    • IV catheter & fluids
    • Effective staff and electronic monitoring with at least three methods of monitoring such as electronic respiratory monitor, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, ECG monitoring, CO2 monitoring; temperature monitor
    • Warming device during procedure and until thermoregulation is achieved in the postoperative period

   19.    We do not allow adoption of client pets.  Referral to the SPCA or local shelter/rescue is strongly encouraged when faced with a medical-financial situation.

Medical Record Expectations:

In order to have a positive ongoing relationship with clients and colleagues outside and within the  company , we require all medical records to be completed by the end of the shift. This includes review of all sections of the medical record to ensure logic, accuracy and completeness.

1. The burden of proof of the events that occur to a patient in our care is on us. Only what has been documented in the medical record is proof of what happened. Record keeping is important – if in doubt, record it in the medical record. This includes every diagnostic and treatment procedure and client communication whether in person, by email or by phone. Opinion and derogatory comments about pets, hospital policies, clients and/or their finances have no place in the medical records.
2. Externs should ensure that every service performed, every treatment and medication has been entered into the SOAP.
3. Once the medical record is complete, change the appointment status in the appointment calendar to the green checkmark.
4. To uphold complete consistent medical records that fulfill all medical and legal expectations, the following templates can be found under the "Template" selection of each section of the medical record:
   • Physical Exam: *Exam - BVG PE picklist - Bold AbNs
   • Assessment:  Assessment - General(Clinical)
   • Plan: Plan - Outline Layout(Clinical)
   • Therapeutics: Search for the procedure name to find canned templates

3421 Niagara Falls Blvd
North Tonawanda , NY 14120
United States