Basics of Prac, Proc, & Mgt Exam 1 Main Points (MSU VMT)

AVMA

American Veterinary Medical Association

CVTEA

Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities

Veterinary Technologist

Individual who graduates from a 4 year AVMA-accredited program

Veterinary Technicians

Individuals who graduate from a 2-year AVMA-accredited program and work as caretakers

Support Staff

Includes receptionists, managers, techs, and assistants in a veterinary setting

Becoming Credentialed Vet Techs

Process of graduating from an AVMA program, registering through AAVSB for VTNE, and passing the VTNE exam

Society

Group created by individuals with a common interest in a vet tech discipline, with bylaws, dues, and leadership opportunities

Academy

Designation for vet techs receiving recognition as a specialty after completing a formal process of education, training, and experience

NAVTA

National Association of Vet Techs in America

AVTE

Association of Vet Tech Educators

AAVSB

American Association of Vet State Boards

AAHA

American Animal Hospital Association

Ethics

The system of moral principles that determine appropriate behavior and actions within a specific group

Descriptive ethics

What members of the profession think is right or wrong

ex. Vet Techs oath

Official Ethics

The creation of the official ethical standards adopted by organizations of professionals and imposed on their members

ex. AVMA principles of vet med ethics

Administrative Ethics

Actions by administrative government bodies

ex. licensure requirements of Drug Enforcement Agency protocols

Normative Ethics

Individuals attempt to discover what they believe to be the correct moral standards and norms for professional behavior and attitude

ex. practitioners stance on convenience euthanasia and tail docking

ASPCA

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Human Animal Bond

The special, healthy, relationship between people and their pets

Professional judgement

The freedom given to all vets to treat a case the way they think is best

What are clinics ethically required to provide regardless of hours or money?

At least life saving treatment and pain relief

Biomedical research 3 Rs

Replacement, reduction, refinement

4 Main categories of law that govern daily procedures

1. Federal law

2. State law

3. Local/Municipal law

4. Common law

Age and schedule of rabies vaccine

First given at 3 months, revax 1 yr later, then once every 3 yrs

Common law

A body of unwritten law or legal interpretations evolved from use and customs and judicial questions

Negligence

Performing an act that a person of ordinary prudence would not have done under similar circumstances or failure to perform

Malpractice

Occurs when a licensed professional fails to provide care as set by the standards of a governing body and an injury occurs

Respondent superior

A legal doctrine that holds an employer responsible for actions of the employee

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Act, all employees have right to know about any hazard they may be exposed to

EEO

Equal employment opportunity, laws state that an employer of 15 or more employees may not discriminate against employees in hiring or firing practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

Whistle Blower

OSHA policy that protects employees from retaliation for exercising for exercising a variety of rights guaranteed under the act such as filing a complaint w/ OSHA or their employers

Non-exempt employees

entitled to paid overtime

Title 2 controlled substance act

Section most applicable to the vet community places all regulated substances into one of 5 schedules

DEA

Drug enforcement agency, primary federal law enforcement agency responsible for combatting the abuse of controlled drugs

IACUC

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

OSHP should include

complete med history of each employee, preventative med section, vx program suitable for the work performed, system of ongoing med eval, clear and standard policy for emergency situations, eval of individual risk factors

SOP

Standard operating procedure, detailed description of how each important procedure should be performed

Biosafety level 1

Do not ordinarily cause disease in humans, no requirements for handling or disposal, normal sanitation

ex. vx administered to animals, nonpathogenic strains of bacteria

Biosafety level 2

Have potential to cause human disease if handled wrong, precautions taken

ex. organisms that cause toxoplasmosis and salmonellosis

Biosafety level 3

Cause serious and potentially lethal disease, primary and secondary barriers required

ex. tuberculosis

Biosafety level 4

High risk of causing life threatening disease, max containment and precautionary measures used to prevent exposure, shower in, shower out, full body suits, extensive training

ex. ebola

Hazards of animal handling

Owner never restrains, watch arms and legs in chutes, keep yourself between door and animal

Hazards of bathing and dipping

Ventilation, store chemicals in cabinet below eye level

Zoonotic Hazards

Hazards that involve wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Radiation Hazards

Hazards that require avoiding any part of the body in the primary beam, wearing Dosimetry Personal Equipment (DPE), and having a well-ventilated area

Anesthetic Hazards

Hazards that involve checking machines before use, ensuring adequate scavenging systems, and storing cylinders in cool, dry places

Chemical Hazards

Hazards that include Safety Data Sheets (SDS), container labeling, and training.

Handling Ethylene Oxide

Dealing with a gas used to sterilize equipment that would be damaged by other sterilization methods.

Handling Formalin

Using formalin for storage of tissue samples and in some diagnostic tests.

Electrical Hazards

Hazards that involve not overloading outlets and not running extension cords through water or windows/doors.

Fire Evacuation

Involves reviewing fire safety, locating extinguishers, knowing evacuation protocols, and storing flammable items away from ignition sources.

Personal Safety

Ensuring doors are secure, there is sufficient lighting, and having a buzzer entry system in 24-hour clinics.

Zoonotic Diseases

Diseases that may be transmitted from animals to humans.

Reservoir

Essential for the replication of a disease and can include dirt, animals, mucous membranes, and droplets from infected humans or animals.

Vets are liable if

Clients contract zoonotic diseases and they did not educate the owner

Host

A living organism that provides an environment for the maintenance of an organism.

Direct Transmission

Requires close contact between reservoir and host, such as infected skin.

Types of direct transmission

Rabies (bite), lepto (urine), brucellosis (infected tissues)

Indirect Transmission

Transmission through intermediaries that carry the agent from one source to another.

Vector

A living organism that transports infectious agents, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.

Airborne Transmission

Transmission of an agent through dust particles or droplets.

Who is at high risk of zoonotic diseases?

Seniors, children, immunocompromised individuals

Control of Zoonotic Diseases

Aimed at controlling the reservoir

Pasturella

Responsible for 50% of dog bite infections and 90% of cat bite infections

If you're bitten by an animal

Clean wound with butadiene scrub for 5 minutes then rinse

4 sections OSHAs Compliance + Safety Program

1. Administrative tasks

2. Evaluation of facilities

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

4. Training programs.

Biohazards

Include blood, glass, and needles, which should be discarded in sharps containers.

Chemotherapy Agents

Require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Closed System Transfer Devices (CSTD), animal bedding, and spill kits.

NFPA Label blue square

Health,

4. deadly,

3. extreme danger,

2. hazardous,

1. slightly hazardous,

0. normal material

NFPA label red square

Fire hazard, 4. below 73F very flammable,

3. 73-100F flammable,

2. 101-200F combination,

1. 200F+ slightly combustable,

0. not flammable

NFPA label yellow square

Reactivity, 4. may detonate,

3. shock or heat may detonate,

2. violent chemical reaction,

1. unstable if heated,

0. stable

NFPA label white square

Specific hazard,

OXY- oxidizer,

ACID- acid,

ALK- alkaline,

COR- corrosive,

W (with line)- no water,

RAD- radiation hazard

Most common reason for fire

overloaded electrical circuits

Practices with 10+ employees

Must have fire prevention and response plan

Fire extinguisher placement

No more than 75 ft from any distance

PASS Technique

Pull the pin, Aim low, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side.

Practices with 11+ employees

Must fill out OSHA form 300 for each accident

Safety plans should include

Intro outlining practices commitment to safe and healthy workplace, overview of SDS filing system, overview of your rights under the Right to Know law, list of hazardous materials known on the premises

Right to Know law

Requires employers to post notices where toxic substances are present in the workplace

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Produced by chemical manufacturers, must be provided by the selling company, and kept current within 3 years of printing.

Hazardous Chemical Characteristics

Include being a Carcinogen, toxic, irritant, sensitizer, combustible liquid, compressed gas, explosive, flammable, oxidizer, and unstable.

Hazardous Wastes Regulation

Materials regulated by EPA, not OSHA.

Tobacco Regulation

Regulated by FDA, not OSHA.

Factors when choosing a lab include

Tests offered, technology used, and customer service.

Serum tubes

Red top tubes and serum separator tubes

Plasma tubes

Lavender top tube, green top tube, blue top tube

Plasma uses

Anticoagulants to prevent clotting

Lithium heparin

Green tops, more common, doesn't elevate Na

Sodium heparin

Green tops, falsely elevates Na

Potassium citrate

Blue tops, figure out how fast or slow patient is clotting

EDTA

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Cytology

never ship out in the same bag as formalin container, ship with name and date

Phone Etiquette

Answer calls within 3 rings.

Patient history form

Should only take 5-10 minutes to fill out

Blanket Consent Form

Does not stand in court, only for informed consent.

Premium

What you pay yearly/monthly

Deductible

Amount paid before insurance coverage.

Co-pays

Percentage the owner is responsible for.

Accounts Receivable totals

Should not exceed 2-3% of total gross revenue amount

Overtime Pay

Paid time and a half for over 40 hours per week.