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Courses open for VSPNer registration

TECH161-0712: Radiology-A Clear Overview

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Tara Wochesen, BS, RVT

COURSE OPEN: July 20-August 29, 2012

REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Sundays, July 29, August 5, 12, and 19, 2012; 8:00pm-9:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
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

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course includes a comprehensive overview of radiographic principles including technique evaluation, film quality, common artifacts, problem solving, and small animal restraint. Veterinary team participation is highly recommended.
VSPN CE Course. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinary technicians only.

Course Description:
Radiology is not simply black and white! A clear overview of the basic fundamentals of radiology including digital radiography and basic positioning of small animals will be the focus of this course. The course is geared toward participants including experienced or newly graduated veterinary technicians or experienced veterinary assistants. Small animal general practice or emergency medicine staff will find this course offers a comprehensive overview of radiographic principles including technique evaluation, film quality, common artifacts and problem solving. Proper patient restraint and positioning is a necessity when it comes to producing diagnostic, quality radiographs; therefore, a large part of the course content will focus on these.

This course consists of four (4) ninety (90) minute Real Time Sessions, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, a mandatory end-of-course test, and may include online multiple choice quizzes (after each Real Time Session). Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to be considered for a course certificate of completion.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Texbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.
Recommended Textbooks:

About the Instructor: Tara Wochesen has years of experience working in diagnostic imaging at a large teaching institution. She is responsible for teaching veterinary students, performing radiographs of both large and small animals, working with digital imaging, CT and nuclear medicine.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session July 29): X-ray Production, Films, Screens, and Processing
Content: Understanding x-ray production and tube anatomy is essential in order to problem solve, and produce the best possible radiograph. We will briefly review these principles, as well as study kVp, mA-s, density and contrast. We will discuss and evaluate a number of films, interpreting film quality, positioning, density and contrast. Common artifacts will also be considered. Radiation safety will also be reviewed.

Week 2 (Real Time Session August 5): Digital and Computed Radiography
Content: As technology continues to dominate, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of digital radiography. Evaluation of different types of systems, storage, practicality and expense will also be looked at.

Week 3 (Real Time Session August 12): Positioning-Restraint and Exposure
Content:This will be the first of 2 parts based on patient positioning. First, an overview of restraint, both manual and chemical, will be reviewed; restraint devices will also be discussed. This weeks' focus will be on common exams, including thorax, abdomen and extremities.

Week 4 (Real Time Session August 19): Positioning-Special Films and Series
Content: This week's focus will be on pelvic radiographs, including information needed for PennHIP/ OFA certification. Other less, common positions will be reviewed including TPLO views, shoulders, skull, and other specialty views.

CE HOURS: 6

Tuition: $120 ($108 early bird if registered by July 8, 2012).
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
** To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the Participant Resource Center

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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Note: "This course has been submitted for RACE approval for 6 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 VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 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/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) 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/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).
** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/VSPN/VSPN_M02231.htm

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Barb Burri (Barb@vspn.org); ext 764
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

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