MULT107-1013: Art of Euthanasia and Assessing Quality of Life

Enrollment is closed.

INSTRUCTOR(S): Mary Gardner, DVM and Dani McVety, DVM
COURSE OPEN: October 15-November 8, 2013
REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Tuesdays, October 22 and 29, 2013; 9:30-11:00 pm 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 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 veterinarians interested in euthanasia and the concept of "quality of life."
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians. This course has been RACE approved for veterinarians.

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) ninety (90) minute Real Time Sessions, 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.

*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(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructors:
Dr. Mary Gardner is a small animal veterinarian, speaker, consultant, author and inventor. After 10 years in the computer industry as a software trainer, business analyst and 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.

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 a Samoyed), 3 cats, and one rabbit.

Dr. Gardner writes and speaks for professional and lay audiences on all aspects of end of life care, including Veterinary Hospice and Euthanasia. She is also fluent in internet & social media marketing, search engine optimization and a variety of other topics. She has spoken at NAVC, 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, Vetlearn.com, DVM 360 and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Dani McVety, DVM - In addition to her important role as a hospice veterinarian, Dr. Dani McVety is a speaker, consultant, author, and mother. 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. After graduation, she practiced emergency medicine while forming Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice; both helping her gain a greater understanding of how to help families at a time in which they felt the most helpless. Dr. McVety joined forces with her classmate, Dr. Mary Gardner, shortly after founding Lap of Love and together they have built a business that partners with the some of the most warm and caring doctors around the country; this remains their greatest source of pride.

Dr. McVety frequently writes and speaks for professional and lay audiences on end-of-life veterinary topics 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, University of Florida Alumni Magazine, DVM 360, and many more. She proudly graduated from the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine and is the youngest recipient of the college's Distinguished Young Alumni Award (2013).

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session October 22, 2013): Accessing Quality of Life
Instructor(s): 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 October 29, 2013): The Art of Euthanasia
Instructor(s): 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: Free to VIN members only.
Non-members and veterinary students are not eligible to enroll in this class.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close at 5pm ET ((DATE)) 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.

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 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 VSPN/VIN 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 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
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
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