Comprehensive clinic training includes three online modules with quizzes, custom templates for compassionate email correspondence, recommendations for instantly transforming your exam room into a cozy grieving room, and a list of excellent grieving resources for families. Our e-learning courses are offered on-demand so your team can learn at their own pace.
Module 1 (OAVT Category 1 – 1.5 credits)
Helping Families Know When It’s Time
One of the biggest struggles a family has as their beloved pet approaches the end of their life is knowing when it’s time to say goodbye. It’s up to the veterinary team to empower families with the knowledge and resources they need to be able to monitor their pets comfort and overall quality-of-life. During this module we will discuss the following:
- What are the components of an excellent quality-of-life assessment.
– Review effective quality-of-life scales.
– Discover the importance of having a family track their pets good days and bad days on a calendar.
– Chronic pain scales and helping families use one.
– The importance of quality of life over quantity of time.
– Having families create a bucket list
– Helpful resources for a grieving family
Module 2
Creating a Meaningful End of Life Care Experience (OAVT Category 1 – 1.5 credits)
Families now have higher expectations than ever for their pet’s end-of-life care experience. During this module team members will discover modern sedation protocols that allow for MUZZLE-FREE sedation for all patients. Your team will be prepared to gracefully navigate any and all challenges that arise during end-of-life care, ensuring that families have a meaningful experience. The Navigating End-of-Life Care Challenges course covers the following subjects:
- Discovering the difference profound sedation makes for the patient, family, and care provider.
– Basic sedation protocols for End-of-Life Care.
– Learning when to deviate from standard protocols.
– Effective oral sedation options.
– Learning when to involve the family.
– Discovering how to achieve muzzle-free sedation for all patients.
– Tips and tricks for distracting patients for sedation.
– What to do when you can’t secure a vein.
– Common reasons a patient won’t fall asleep and what to do.
– Seizures: what to do when a patient has a seizure and how to reassure the family.
– Aggressive patients
– Respiratory distress, patient handling, and family education.
– Edema in the limbs.
– Reassuring the nervous family.
– Handling an angry family member.
Module 3
The Team Approach to End-of-Life Care (OAVT Category 3 – 1.25 credits)
A great end-of-life care experience requires team effort! Gone are the days when a family has a half-hearted greeting from a busy staff member and then waits in the reception area for their pet’s end-of-life care. Families are demanding more, and we are here to help. This course outlines the importance of a team approach and teaches students easy-to-implement techniques for creating a warm and compassionate experience. Your team will learn that a meaningful death starts when the family makes the dreaded “call” and builds from there. Your team will examine why the responsibility falls on every team member to ensure that the worst day of a pet owner’s life is just a little bit easier.
The Team Approach to End-of-Life Care course covers the following subjects:
- Why compassionate communication should be a team effort.
- Why paperwork and payment should be done ahead of time.
- Strategic booking for end-of-life care.
- The role our team members play in a good death.
- Why every team member matters.
- The importance of having a sign.
- Don’t make them wait.
- The importance of offering privacy.
- Why less is more.
Cost: $399 for 2 team members and $75 per additional team member
https://www.theartofgoodbye.ca/our-services/veterinary-clinic-courses