Clinical Reasoning in Veterinary Medicine

Course
Semester
Spring
Year
2022
Faculty and Staff Information

Adria Rodriguez, DVM, MSc, CVA, CVCH, MS TCVM

Associate Professor, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and Professional  Development

  • Email: AIRodriguez@sgu.edu 
  • Office: Cassia Building Ground Floor (SGU Campus map #17)
  • Office Hours: By appointment 

Collaborating Faculty: See schedule

Course Location

ONLINE Live Zoom Seminars/Panopto

ONLINE Sakai Weekly Requirements

Required Resources

Software requirements: Sakai, Zoom, Panopto, Turning Point Mobile, Google Drive, Google Slides

Recommended Resources

Clinical Reasoning in Small Animal Medicine; Madison, Volk and Church, 2015

Accommodation
  1. Students who need accommodations should contact Student Accessibility and Accommodations Services (SAAS), located in the Welcome Center, inside the International Students Office.
  2. Information can be found at mycampus.sgu.edu/group/saas
Other Requirements
  • Equipment: Desktop or laptop computer, and/or tablet or other smart mobile device; functional camera, speakers and microphone
  • Reliable internet connection 
Course Rationale

This selective course for term six students will allow students to recall information learned in previous courses and will provide students with additional opportunities to successfully utilize the clinical reasoning approach will be explained and demonstrated by discussing selected clinical cases in different fields and specialties in veterinary medicine. A clinical case will be presented each week through lecture, skit or interactive session to facilitate group discussion. Each lecture will focus on a different area to assist students in collecting relevant clinical data, developing a problem list in order of significance, creating a differential list and diagnostic plan using an evidence based approach, and aiming to reach a diagnosis by the end of the lecture. The students will then work independently to create a treatment plan/ discharge summary and/ or a referral letter and/ or a case report for case presentation rounds. The main goal is to increase the students proficiency in utilizing the critical reasoning approach to analyze clinical cases information and demonstrate their understanding of the case by producing and/ or presenting a specified component of the patient medical record, while promoting the effective use of professional communication and interaction. 

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: Successfully utilize the clinical reasoning approach when tackling veterinary clinical cases by way off 1) generating a problem list based on history and physical exam findings, 2) generating a differential diagnosis list, 3) practicing and enhancing clinical decision making process/skills, 4) demonstrating accurate, practical, and efficient case management, and 5) communicating professionally with clients, colleagues, and while presenting and/or referring cases or providing feedback to peers and clients. 

Lesson Learning Outcomes
  1. Use clinical reasoning through discussions of small/ large animal veterinary clinical cases in different fields and specialties to extrapolate relevant clinical data
  2. Create a problem list by applying the clinical reasoning approach
  3. Utilize clinical reasoning to generate differential diagnosis lists
  4. Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests derived through utilizing the clinical reasoning approach
  5. Appropriately and accurately analyze clinical data, design an appropriate treatment plan, and determined the prognosis for different disease processes
  6. Recognize emergency presentations, and apply clinical reasoning skills to manage these cases
  7. Promote decision making skills
  8. Communicate professionally when presenting or referring a case to other clinicians/specialist, and communicating with peers and clients
Alignment of Course Learning Outcomes with Program Learning Outcomes

Course Level Outcome

Program Level Outcome

Successfully utilize the clinical reasoning approach when tackling veterinary clinical cases by way off: 

  1. generating a problem list based on history and physical exam findings, 
  2. generating a differential diagnosis list, 3) practicing and enhancing clinical decisionmaking process/skills, 
  1. demonstrating accurate, practical, and efficient case management, and 
  2. communicating professionally with clients, colleagues, and while presenting and/or referring cases or providing feedback to peers and clients

PLO 1 Recall, understand, and adequately utilize multidisciplinary knowledge of basic structures and functions of healthy animals.

PLO3 Recall, understand, and adequately utilize knowledge of etiology, pathogenesis and pathology of common infectious, non-infectious, and zoonotic diseases, including biosafety and biosecurity considerations.

PLO 4 Explain the relationship between disease processes and clinical signs.

PLO 5 Recall, understand, and adequately utilize knowledge of and apply principles of therapeutic agents and their application, including relevant legislation and guidelines on the use of medicines.

PLO 6Apply multidisciplinary scientific knowledge to clinical situations and understand evidence-based veterinary medicine.

PLO 12 Demonstrate, evaluate, and model

effective communication with clients, the general public, professional colleagues and responsible authorities.

PLO 13 Demonstrate, evaluate, and model ethical and responsible behavior in relation to animal care and client relations, such as, honesty, respect, integrity and empathy.

PLO 14 Demonstrate, evaluate, and model leadership, teamwork and conflict resolution skills as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

PLO 19Demonstrate appropriate sensitivity to client diversity, such as cultural, economic, and emotional differences.

PLO 20 Execute a comprehensive patient diagnostic plan (differential diagnosis list) and demonstrate problem solving skills to arrive at a diagnosis.

PLO 21 Create comprehensive treatment plans including prognosis.

PLO 22 Analyze, design and execute appropriate plans for anesthesia and pain management considering patient welfare.

PLO 23 Analyze, design and execute appropriate

plans for basic surgery and surgical case management.

PLO 24 Analyze, design and execute appropriate plans for medical case management.

PLO 25 Analyze, design and execute appropriate plans for emergency and critical care case management.

PLO 26 Design and execute plans for health promotion, disease prevention, food safety, biosafety and biosecurity.

PLO 27 Demonstrate and model effective client communication and ethical conduct.

Course Schedule

Week 

Dates Mondays

Time

Lectures/Content 

Assigned Task

Faculty 

Jan 10

No Content

Jan 17

-

No Content

-

-

Jan 24

 1:30-3:20

The Clinical Reasoning Process and its Importance in Vet Med/Giving Productive Feedback/Peer Evaluation Process  

 

-

Dr. Adria Rodriguez

Jan 31

1:30-2:20

Small Animal   Oncology Case 

Communication to the owner re: treatment options 

Dr. Annie Corrigan 

Feb 7

 

No Content-Holiday

-

-

Feb 14

1:30-2:20

Large Animal (Equine) Theriogenology Case 

Post-Treatment Complications  and their Management

Dr. Firdous Khan 

 

Feb 21

1:30-2:20

Large Animal Surgery

Surgery Report

Dr. Heidi Janicke

7

Feb 28

1:30-2:20

Anesthesia   Case 

Anesthetic Plan  

Dr. Flavia Restitutti

8

Mar 7

-

No Content-Midterms

-

-

Mar 14

-

No Content-Midterms

-

-

10 

Mar 21

1:30-2:20

Small Animal   Neurology Case  

Discharge instructions 

Dr. Jill Narak 

11 

Mar 28

1:30-2:20

Livestock Medicine

Treatment Sheet

Dr. Stacey Byers

12

Apr 4

1:30-2:20

TBA

-

-

13

Apr 11

1:30-2:20

Small Animal Dentistry

Discharge Instructions

Dr. Francesca Ivaldi

Grading and Assessment Policy
  1. The course will be graded according to the SVM grading scale published in your gradebook. Grade will be determined by:
    1. Successful completion and timely submission of all assignments and peer assessments (see below)
    2. Mandatory engagement in the course content which includes: 
      1. Attendance of all synchronous Zoom sessions
      2. Completion of pre and post discussion tasks by the due dates. Unexcused absences are not allowed.  Any absences or technical difficulties must be immediately addressed by emailing  the course director (Dr. Adria Rodriguez at airodriguez@sgu.edu). Failure to attend mandatory lectures and/or engage in course content without following the appropriate reporting/excused absence protocols outlined in Section XVIII may result in course failure AND the student may be placed on non-academic probation by the CAPPS committee. 
  2. Course Assignments: Students will be responsible for completing a specific pre- and post-case discussion task weekly (8 total). In addition, students will complete peer evaluations on the weekly task (8 total). Each weekly task should take the student 45 minutes to one hour to complete. Peer evaluations using a rubric should take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. See course schedule for brief description of weekly post discussion assignments.

Open dates for the weekly task are Monday after the lecture. The task is due and will close at 11:55pm AST on Friday of that week and the peer assessment is due and will close Sunday at 11:55pm AST. Please keep this in mind throughout the course.

Recommended Study Strategies

Course content will be released week by week. Students must visit the weekly requirements tab in Sakai to ensure they complete all the necessary requirements. Once all live lectures are attended/viewed and the different activities and assignments are completed, the student will have successfully attained the intended knowledge and will have achieved the course learning outcome.

Instructor's Expectations of the Student
  1. The student is expected to adhere to the guidelines provided throughout this syllabus including attendance and assignment submission.
  2. The student is expected to communicate with the Course Director professionally and in a timely manner in the event of technical difficulties, inability to attend lectures or turn in assignments on time for any reason.
Professionalism Statement

Always exhibit professional and respectful behavior towards colleagues, faculty and staff. Please be on time and engaged in course content as directed. Student’s may be asked to turn on their cameras during live sessions. Please be mindful of this regarding attire and surroundings. If you are asked to turn on your camera and you are not able to, please email your lecturer in advance prior to the live session.

Attendance/Participation Policy

Students are expected to be available during the standard 8:30am-5:20pm AST school day, to attend, engage with in-person/online content, and participate in all classes and clinical rotations for which they have registered. Employment is not an excusable absence. Although attendance, engagement, and participation may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance, engagement, and participation is graded for mandatory sessions. Students’ lack of attendance, engagement, and participation may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy.  

If failure to attend, engage, or participate in individual classes, examinations, and online activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed.

Zoom Synchronous Seminar Attendance policy (ALL students): Attendance is mandatory. If a student has received an excused absence or there are external circumstances which are communicated to the course director in a timely manner, students will be required to view the video of the lecture by Sunday 11:55pm AST of the week of the missed lecture.

Policy Regarding Missing Examinations and/or Failure of Submission of Assignments

Students who fail to attend an examination (Sakai quiz/test or ExamSoft) or submit an assignment by the deadline without a valid reason (see student manual: SGUSVM POLICY ON AN EXCUSED ABSENCE (EA) FOR STUDENTS) will receive a score of “0” points for the examination.

Students who have technical issues during assignment submission MUST inform the  Course Director (Dr. Adria Rodriguez airodriguez@sgu.edu) and IT  (tellexaminationservices@sgu.edu OR support@sgu.edu OR call 1-631-665-8500 ext. 4444 (US, NU, International) OR 1-473-439-2000 ext. 4444 (Grenada), AND Dean of Students (DOS@sgu.edu) during the open period for the examination. Failure to do so immediately will result in the student receiving the highest score recorded at the time, but NOT being eligible for a remediation. Scheduling of remediations is at the discretion of the Course Director and the School.

Failure to adhere to attendance and engagement guidelines may result in course failure AND the student may be placed on non-academic probation by the CAPPS committee.

ExamSoft Policy

N/A

Copyright Policy

The materials (such as slides, handouts and audio/video recordings) provided to students who are taking courses at St. George’s University (SGU) are the intellectual property of the Faculty and/or Administration of SGU. Students are free to use these materials solely for the purpose of group or individual study. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

School of Veterinary Medicine Master Syllabus — Info for All Sections

ExamSoft Policy

All students are responsible for knowing and complying with the University’s  Code of Conduct and the guidelines. Students must read and then sign the Honor Code statement at the start of examinations to indicate that they will comply with the University Code of Conduct. 

 

Prior to Exam Day

  1. Each student is required to have a laptop for the purpose of taking computer-based examinations (e-Exams) at SGU. Students must ensure that their laptops meet the current minimum system requirements prior to exam day:
  2. Examinees must use their MY SGU Member Center username and password to access the Custom Home Page (www.examsoft.com/sgu) created by ExamSoft for the University.
  3. Examinees are responsible for downloading and registering the latest version of Examplify on their laptop prior to exam day. Once Examplify has been successfully downloaded, examinees are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the software by downloading and taking practice exams.
  4. Examinees are responsible for setting their laptop up for ExamMonitor prior to the exam (see links below).
  5. Examinees will be notified via MyCourses, of all exam related information. Email notifications will also be sent from ExamSoft Support to examinees, notifying them of examinations available for downloading.
  6. Examinees experiencing difficulties with their laptop are encouraged to visit the IT department for assistance prior to exam day. Examinees needing a laptop must visit the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) to request an exam loaner.
  7. Examinees should visit the following information to familiarize themselves with the online proctored exam format and set up their baseline photo.
Disclaimer

Copyright Policy

The materials (such as slides, handouts and audio/video recordings) provided to students who are taking courses at St. George’s University (SGU) are the intellectual property of the Faculty and/or Administration of SGU. Students are free to use these materials solely for the purpose of group or individual study. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.