MULT107-0915: Art of Euthanasia and Assessing Quality of Life
The lectures for this course will be presented in a predominantly audio format.
Please come prepared to listen.
Enrollment is closed.
Instructors: Mary Gardner, DVM and Dani McVety, DVM
Course Open: September 15-October 9, 2015
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, September 22 and 29, 2015; 9:30-11:00 pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area:
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Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience
in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first
Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session
is up to 1 hour in length.
For more information, please visit the
CE Practice Area.
*The instructors for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen.
If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend
one of the Practice Sessions.
Level and Prerequisites:
This
intermediate course will be open to to veterinarians,
veterinary technicians and veterinary support staff interested in euthanasia
and the concept of "quality of life."
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary support staff.
This course is approved by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is RACE Provider #22.
Course Description:
Assessing the quality of life of a family pet is a delicate balance between managing
client emotions, the progression of the disease, and the happiness of the pet.
These key issues are not always in harmony and it is the job of the veterinary
professional team to manage and balance each party's interests with the natural
developments of biology. Understanding common trends in both people and their pets
helps better identify their needs, address their concerns, and make a decision
that does the "most good" for all involved.
The euthanasia appointment is unparalleled in emotion and sentiment. There are few
things in veterinary medicine, or life moreover, that require as many outward displays
of empathy, compassion, and commiseration from a doctor. The tone of voice, delivery
of words, bedside manner with both patient and client, and the medical procedure
itself become a delicate dance around death that doctor and staff should carefully
choreograph and continually improve.
This course consists of two (2) 90 minute Real Time Session, supplemental library materials,
interactive message board discussions, and a mandatory end-of-course test.
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required
to earn a certificate of completion for the course.
To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to
Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.
*The lecture portion of this course will be an audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.
Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to
- use the best and most comprehensive tools available for
evaluating quality of life.
- describe the most common complaints clients have with their aging pet
and how to address them.
- evaluate end of life symptoms from a 3-D view.
- demonstrate an understanding of trends in the decision making process
of clients.
- demonstrate an understanding of the various ways in which clients may
interpret their pet's quality of life and how it may affect the client's
decision making process.
- demonstrate an understanding of the various methods for addressing
individual differences.
- demonstrate an understanding of how the hospice program and philosophy
may help clients.
- demonstrate an understanding of the importance of non verbal communication.
- provide specific examples on how to improve your non verbal communication
in the exam room during a euthanasia.
- demonstrate an understanding of the various methods of handling clients
before, during, and after the euthanasia appointment.
- implement specific methods to improve in-hospital euthanasia.
- use specific words and phrases with clients to ease the process.
- demonstrate an understanding of the importance of euthanasia with
regards to client satisfaction and retention.
Course Materials: Course materials will be available
in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook: There is no required textbook for this course.
About the Instructors:
Mary Gardner is a small animal veterinarian, speaker, author and inventor.
After 10 years in the computer industry as a senior product manager, she decided
to pursue her passion and graduated from the University of Florida College of
Veterinary Medicine in 2008. Dr. Gardner began working at a general practice
in South Florida but left shortly after to help co-found Lap of Love International
with Dr. Dani McVety.
Bringing those 10 years of software experience into the veterinary industry,
Dr. Gardner led the development of Lap of Love's proprietary practice management
software (Sunshine), built specifically for veterinary hospice and euthanasia services.
In 2013 she developed The Pet Hospice Journal, an online interactive Quality of
Life Assessment program, which is free to the public. She is vehemently inspired
to learn as much as she can about the aging process, geriatric pet care and helping
families cope with their aging pets.
Now splitting her time between Florida, Oregon and California - she manages the
growing network of Lap of Love veterinarians and is responsible for all internet
and social media marketing as well as developing, constructing and supporting
company-wide enterprise applications. When not working, Dr. Gardner is passionate
about her furry brood of 2 dogs (a Doberman and an Anatolian Sheppard) and 3 cats.
Dr. Gardner writes and speaks for professional and lay audiences on all aspects
of end of life care, including Veterinary Hospice and Euthanasia. She has spoken
at NAVC, WVC, AVMA, IAAHPC, professional sales meetings, veterinary schools and
animal hospitals around the country. Dr. Gardner and Lap of Love have been featured
in numerous local and national news media including DVM News Magazine, Today's
Veterinary Practice, The New York Times and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Dani McVety - In addition to her role as a hospice veterinarian,
Dr. Dani McVety is a speaker, consultant, author, and host for PetCareTV. With a
deep love for the human-animal bond, Dr. McVety found her calling while volunteering
with human hospice before veterinary school. She knew she wanted to bring the
same passion for life and respect for death that hospice upholds into this amazing
profession. Just months after graduation she formed Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
in Tampa, Florida and quickly joined forces with her friend and classmate,
Dr. Mary Gardner. In just 3 years they have built one of the most unique businesses
in the veterinary industry, and now partner with over 60 of the most compassionate
doctors around the country; this remains their greatest source of pride.
Dr. McVety frequently writes and speaks for professional and lay audiences in hopes
of empowering both parties to seek the highest standards of care. Dr. McVety and Lap
of Love have been featured on numerous local, national, and professional media outlets
including ABC, Fox 13, Associated Press, The New York Times, Washington Post,
Entrepreneur Magazine, Huffington Post, and many more. She proudly graduated from
the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and is the youngest recipient
of both the college's Distinguished Young Alumni Award (2013) and the Florida
Veterinary Medical Association's President's Award (2014).
Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session September 22, 2015):
Accessing Quality of Life
Instructor: Mary Gardner, DVM
Content:
- What does 'Quality of Life' mean
- Different methods to evaluate quality of life
- Disease based evaluations
- Discussing complications for specific diseases
- The 4 'budgets' that effect quality of life for both pet and owner
- Common symptoms that change quality of life
- Disagreements between family members and their ideas of 'quality'
- Handling guilt
- Not placing guilt on owners
- Dealing with self-placed guilt by owners
- Common diseases that cause most guilt
- Building the line in the sand for "When is Time"
- Ways to increase quality of life and enjoy the time owners have left
Week 2 (Real Time Session September 29, 2015):
The Art of Euthanasia
Instructor: Dani McVety, DVM
Content:
Why euthanasia in the first place
What constitutes exceptional service
Common practices in clinics
- How they may be interpreted by clients
- Ways to improve these common practices
Verbal communication with clients
- Explaining the process
- Discussing complications
- Soft phrases to use when it gets difficult
Non verbal communication with clients
- Quick tips to soften your approach
- Dealing with difficult situations
Going above and beyond - wowing the client
- Memorial items that mean the world
- The extra touches that bring them back to you
CE Credits: 3
Tuition: Member $63 ($57 early bird special if enrolled by September 1, 2015)
Non-Member $130 ($117 early bird special if enrolled by September 1, 2015)
*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes,
enrollment will close on September 22, 2015 at 5 pm ET (USA)
or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the
Participant Resource Center.
To Enroll:
Enrollment is closed.
- Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to
VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course
must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a
VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
- Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org
and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants;
personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
- Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration.
To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll
for a course on behalf of another individual.
- For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email
CEonVIN@vin.com.
Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
*Note:
"This course is approved for 3 continuing education credits in jurisdictions
which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some
boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or
restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education."
Call VIN CE at 800-846-0028 ext. 797 for further information.
(Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for
information regarding recognition by their board).
Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be
issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course.
If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797
to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you
call the VIN office at 800-846-0028 ext. 797.
*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the
VIN Course Catalog.
Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Coordinator
VIN CE Services:
CEonVIN@vin.com
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452 226154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357
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