Offsite Electives

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Proximity
Units: Miles
Address, City, Zip-Code, Country, ...
Apple Tree Animal Hospital, NH
Description of Elective Experience:

We are a busy private practice that works with canines and felines. We are located in rural Contoocook, NH. Interns assist veterinarians with: routine exams, vaccinations, sick appointments, blood draws, monitor anesthesia and surgeries. Also assist in laboratory, surgical prep and radiographs. Interns learn from the primary veterinarian, who is also the owner of the hospital. Interns also have the opportunity to assist other veterinarians on surgical days.

Proximity:
Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital, PA
Description of Elective Experience:

Student Program Outline

What is expected: 

  • Professional appearance – unwrinkled scrubs or business casual attire and a hygienic, clean appearance
  • Prepared for scheduled day, punctual
  • Respectful and empathetic towards staff, clinicians, clients from various cultural, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds
  • Adapt to changing environments, schedules, situations
  • Display enthusiasm and dedication to learning
  • Excellent communication skills with various groups of people
  • Participation and respond to questions
  • Display positive teamwork skills – clean area, ask if assistance needed
  • Accept instruction and respond to constructive feedback
  1. Demonstrate:
    • Medical ethics awareness – discussions
    • Assist in emergency/stressful situations – triage, gather supplies, place IVC, supply oxygen, etc
    • Communication with team - treatment plans, coordinate diagnostics
    • Communication with clients – history taking sick appointments
    • Knowledge of vaccine protocols – review vaccines at wellness and puppy/kitten appointments
    • Knowledge of disease pathophysiology – discuss illness, testing, treatments (case report)
    • Knowledge of pharmacology – rationale of implemented treatments, prescriptions 
    • Understanding for case referral – indications, procedure 
    • Basic understanding of business aspect of veterinary medicine
    • Understanding of anesthesia drugs and use – discuss and create anesthesia plan on surgery days
    • Understanding of case “work-up” - identify problems and create differential list
    • Proper instrument handling and use – exams, clinical skills
    • Knowledge of disease control and prevention – discuss when applicable – risk factors
    • Knowledge of zoonotic disease risks – discuss when applicable – prevention, risk factors
    • Knowledge of PPE use, radiation safety
    • Aseptic technique
    • Basic surgical skills and instrument use
    • Understanding of surgical and dentistry procedures - review during appointments and surgery days
    • Knowledge of pain assessment – discuss during appointments and surgery days
    • Understanding of patient anesthesia monitoring – discuss abnormals and how to assess/correct
    • Understanding of emergency stabilization/treatments - ABC’s
  2. Perform:
    • Take history
    • Document case in SOAP format
    • Provide organized, concise, and complete case presentations – present illness cases to clinician prior to entering room after getting history when loading appt.
    • Bloodwork interpretation – rule outs, further testing recommendations, 
    • X-ray interpretation 
    • Acquire diagnostic quality x-ray images with correct positioning
    • Literature search to supplement cases
    • Physical exam
    • Cytology interpretation
      • Ear cytology
      • FNA
    • Blood draw
    • IVC placement
    • Intubation
    • Make anesthesia plan, calculate doses, anticipate pain management – surgery and sedation procedures
    • Create treatment plan for hospitalized patients
    • Treatment administration – PO, IV, SQ, IM
    • Patient triage
  3. Short externships - <5 days - variety of cases depends on appointment schedule, hands-on experience may be more limited, shadowing only for surgery/dental procedures
  4. 3. Description of elective experience - student will work under direct supervision of DVM/VMD

      Appointments:  try to pick 2-3 cases per day 

  • Wellness –
    • review vaccine schedules for puppies/kittens and adults
    • Exam
    • Draw blood
  • Illness - 
    • Obtain history, present to doctor
    • Discuss problems and diagnostic plan
    • Exam
    • Interpret x-rays, BW results
    • Stain, interpret cytology results
    • Discuss treatment plan
    • Perform outpatient treatments – injections, SQF, clip/clean wounds, etc
  • Emergency -
    • Triage patient
    • Exam
    • Obtain history, present to doctor
    • Discuss problems and diagnostic plan
    • Participate in work-up – draw blood, obtain radiographs w/ appropriate positioning, etc
    • Interpret x-rays, BW results, other diagnostics
    • Discuss treatment plan
    • Participate in treatment – IVC, injections, oxygen, SQF
  • Admit patients - 
    • Exam
    • Treatment plans/fill out treatment sheets
    • Perform treatments in conjunction with technicians
  1. Surgery:
    • Assist in admit
    • Exam
    • Draw blood
    • Interpret blood work results
    • Anesthesia plan – drug selection and calculate doses - (after first week)
    • Pain control plan – local blocks, pre-meds, post-op meds
    • Participate in induction/surgery prep
    • Perform client-approved spay or neuter 
    • Write surgery report
    • Fill out home care sheet
    • Assist in other surgical procedures when appropriate
  2. Dentals:
    • Exam
    • Draw blood
    • Interpret blood work results
    • Anesthesia plan
    • Pain control plan
    • Participate in induction
    • Participate in dental x-rays
    • Perform oral exam
    • Administer local blocks
    • Scale/polish 
Proximity:
Timberstone Vet, OH
Description of Elective Experience:

We are a privately owned 3 doctor small animal veterinary clinic. The student would experience a mix of wellness & illness appointments and surgical procedures alongside one of our veterinarians. We are heavily focused on dental care and uphold high standards across the board. In addition to our medical care, we also offer feline and canine boarding, also overseen by the doctors. 

Proximity:
Country Veterinary Clinic, MI
Description of Elective Experience:

Externs need and want hands-on experience from a doctor’s perspective.  We will make efforts to provide opportunities to students to perform the following: 

Observe/assist doctors in providing care to hospitalized patients

Observe and participate in office calls with staff doctors

Observe special procedures - i.e., ultrasound

Scrub in as second assistant in surgeries on a case by case basis.  Students may not be left unsupervised, must have licensed DVM present in surgical/anesthetized cases

Attend daily hospitalized patient rounds

Assist hospital team with exceptional patient and customer care

Assist with patient management 

Observe and participate in client communication

Attend all hospital seminars and rounds

Learn pain management guidelines and discuss analgesia protocols

Perform venipunctures, place catheters, and assist with anesthetic induction with appropriate oversight

Create a diagnostic plan, treatment plan and financial plan for patients of interest

Follow-through with cases from start to finish

Examine drop-off patients and develop treatment plans 

Proximity:
Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, IN
Description of Elective Experience:

The Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (Heeke ADDL) is a small, branch laboratory of the Indiana ADDL, which is the state-funded veterinary diagnostic laboratory for Indiana. The Heeke ADDL is located in rural southwestern Indiana, an important center of poultry production for the state. The laboratory employs two diagnostic veterinary pathologists, four technicians, and one office support staff member. Staff perform necropsies, microbiology, serology, and parasitology on a range of veterinary species. Necropsy load is mostly livestock and poultry species, with the three most commonly-examined species being turkeys, cattle, and small ruminants. The student will participate in necropsy each afternoon, and various other activities during the morning that may include histopathology review, report writing, and observation of ancillary testing.

Proximity:
PAWS Veterinary Urgent Care, OH
Description of Elective Experience:

We are an urgent care who is dedicated to providing affordable and efficient care. We practice medicine based on clients financial abilities and range from full workups to supportive therapy. We are hoping to show students that good medicine can be practiced despite the clients budget. 

Proximity:
Warner Ave Animal Hospital, CA
Description of Elective Experience:

This elective immerses the student in a dynamic small animal private practice in a suburban demographic. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of cases including, but not limited to: 

  • Preventative care medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Imaging Diagnostics (Radiology, Ultrasound, etc.)
  • Dentistry
  • Ophthalmology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiology
  • Soft-tissue Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Pathology
  • Some Exotic Medicine (Rabbits, etc.)

     

Proximity:
Bohrer Vet Services, OH
Description of Elective Experience:

We are a large animal ambulatory clinic that services southern Ohio.  The student will enjoy lots of hands on practical experience working with a variety of livestock.

Proximity:
Powell Veterinary Clinic, OH
Description of Elective Experience:

At Powell Veterinary Clinic, we build meaningful relationships with our clients to take only the best care of their fur babies! Students will learn how our Veterinarians practice high-quality medicine with the freedom of personalized touch and individuality. We are an outstanding, non-corporate Veterinary Clinic here to inspire students through a life-changing career. Our Veterinarians practice excellent medicine with unparalleled mentoring within an uplifting team environment.

The student will work alongside the Veterinarians in routine, medical , wellness and consultation appointments. We run appointments and surgery almost every day, therefore, the student willgain experience in routine small-animal surgeries as well. The student will be expected to per‐form the duties similar to the those of a Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Technician and ClientCare Specialist. In addition to hands-on skills, the student will be challenged to connect with clients and communicate with pet owners in a way that they understand.

Powell Veterinary Clinic is a small animal clinic located in Powell, Ohio. Powell is located in the Olentangy Valley between the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers. We are a quick twenty-five-minute drive to downtown Columbus, Ohio. Whether it is shopping for a one-of-a-kind gift in our historic downtown or exploring the Olentangy Indian Caverns, there is something for everyone to see and do! It is just the right area for the student to relax and decompress after a productive work day.

Proximity:
Pet Community Center, TN
Description of Elective Experience:

At Pet Community Center, we believe every pet deserves access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care, and we work hard to make that possible for all pets in our community. Pet Community Center is a non-profit veterinary clinic and is dedicated to strengthening the human-animal bond through accessible veterinary care and support services. Pet Community Center provides low-cost, high-quality care and offers spay/neuter surgery, in-clinic wellness services, and community outreach services. We are considered a HQHVSN (high-quality, high-volume, spay/neuter) Clinic as a member of the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance and partner closely with Nashville’s Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC). PCC also participates in the Pet’s for Life Program founded by the Humane Society of the United States, and we operate an independent Community Cat (Trap, Neuter Return) Program. 

The student will experience our wellness clinic which consists of physical exams, vaccinations, heartworm testing, FeLV/FIV testing, microchips, and dispensing parasite preventatives. The student will also observe surgery rechecks, heartworm treatment with melarsomine, and occasional sick visits (we do not see public animals for sick/injured visits, however we will assess Pets For Life pets and community cats for illness/injury).

The student will also experience our surgery clinic while at PCC. This will include preoperative examinations of all surgery patients, premedication/induction/intubation of surgery patients, IV catheter placement, and mentorship on HQHVSN surgery techniques. The student will be allowed to perform surgery under the supervision of the Medical Director. The student will become familiar with our TNR/community cat program as they are a large portion of our surgery patients.

We strive to educate our students on the importance of HQHVSN programs. We hope they leave with an understanding that our work decreases animal overpopulation, improves the quality of life of both our patients and their families, and increases access to care for underserved populations.

Proximity: