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OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
TO
VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF

    
VSPN CE Course TECH254-0915:Triage
Audio only: The lectures for this course will be presented in a predominantly audio format.
Please come prepared to listen.

  

Instructor: Liz Hughston, MEd, RVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM, ECC)
Course Open: September 30, 2015-October 31, 2015
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesdays, October 7 and 14, and 21, 2015; 9:00- 10:30pm 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.

*The instructor 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 basic course is focused towards all veterinary support staff and concentrates on triage systems, phone triaging, and how to clinically triage the emergent patient.
VSPN CE Course: This course has been RACE approved for veterinary technicians only. The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is RACE Provider #22.

Course Description:
Do you have trouble determining which pets should come to the hospital when owners call with concerns? Are you nervous about evaluating emergency patients that walk in to your clinic or hospital? Do emergencies get your adrenal glands pumping or make you want to go and hide in the bathroom? This course is for you! Join Liz Hughston for this basic course geared to all staff members at the veterinary hospital. We�ll learn about the evolution of triage, different systems of triage, and tools to use to triage patients in the hospital. The course will also give you tips on getting the best information over the phone so every pet receives the care it needs. Triage � done correctly � means the difference between life and death for some patients. Be sure you have the knowledge to help make your triage efforts successful.

This course consists of three (3) Real Time Sessions of ninety (90) minutes each, 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 earn a certificate of completion for the course.

*The lecture portion of this course will be an audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.

*To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

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 Textbook: There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructor:
Liz Hughston has been practicing as a veterinary technician since 2005. In 2012, Liz was certified as a VTS in both Small Animal Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Emergency/ICU Technician at Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos triaging and treating emergent and intensive care patients. Liz is dedicated to advancing veterinary technology through training and mentorship, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the AVECCT Mentor Committee and the Chair of the California RVT Association�s CE Committee. In addition to her clinical work, Liz is active in local, state, and national veterinary technician associations. She is a frequent national and international speaker on topics in emergency, critical care, and small animal internal medicine.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session October 7): History of Triage and Triage Levels
Content: Week 1 will cover the history of triage in human medicine and veterinary medicine. We will discuss different systems of triage currently in use, and how triage levels correspond to disease severity and which pets are seen first. Discussion will include various categorizations helpful for veterinary triage.

Week 2 (Real Time Session October 14): Telephone Triage: Does My Dog Need to Be Seen Tonight?
Content: Week 2 will center on the art of phone triage. We�ll discuss open-ended questions and important information to gather over the phone to determine if an animal must be seen by the veterinarian emergently, urgently, or on a non-urgent basis.

Week 3 (Real Time Session October 21): Triage at the Clinic: A CRASH PLAN
Content: Our final session will review methodology for a thorough triage exam and primary survey when an animal presents to the clinic in person. In addition, we will discuss first steps for stabilization after triage is completed, using case examples.

CE Credits: 4.5

Tuition: $90 ($81 early bird special if enrolled by September 16,2015)

* 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 at 5PM ET October 7, 2015, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  
  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 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email VSPNCE@vspn.org. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
*Note: "This course is approved for 4.5 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 800-846-0028 ext. 792 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 VSPN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VSPN office at 800-846-0028 ext. 792.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Charlotte Waack, RVT, CVT
VSPN Director/VSPN CE Interim Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035
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