Feline Triaditis

4/12/2019 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

Presenter: Liza Rudolph

Triaditis (triad syndrome) is the concurrent state of pancreatitis, cholangiohepatitis / cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease.  Patients who are hospitalized for triaditis have a myriad of issues that need to be addressed simultaneously and a comprehensive nursing care plan is recommended.  

Importance of Equine fecal analyses and how to properly deworm

4/12/2019 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

Presenter: Diana Migliaccio

...But the Commercial said Meat By-Products are Bad": Understanding Pet Food Labels to Help Your Clients Understand What They're Feeding Their Pets.

4/12/2019 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Garnetta Santiago

This will be an interactive session, so please bring an empty package of the dog or cat food you feed your pets.

Controlled Substance

4/12/2019 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Presenter: Jessi Godin

Cocktails with Vendors

4/12/2019 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM

Light fare & open bar

Membership Meeting & Breakfast

4/13/2019 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: NYSAVT Board

Keynote Speaker

4/13/2019 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Visit with your vendors

4/13/2019 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Animals, Large

4/13/2019 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Jesi Godin

Pt 1 Why Screen Healthy Animals? The Case for the Pre-Anesthetic and Preventive Care Diagnostics

4/13/2019 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM

Presenter: Dr Osborn-Doser

This presentation provides an overview of the current body of evidence that supports the benefits of preanesthetic and preventive testing in both dogs and cats. In recent years, there have been several studies evaluating animals that appear healthy on physical examination, and yet have lab work abnormalities. This presentation gives evidence to support a recommendation for preanesthetic and preventive diagnostics, as well as tips on communicating these recommendations to pet owners.

Bridging the Gap

4/13/2019 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM

Presenter: Jennifer Grady-Holmes

Communication errors are the leading cause of medical mistakes. As Veterinary Technicians, we interact with clients, clinicians, and colleagues in every aspect of our day, yet-- we seldom receive guidance as to how we can enhance these interactions. Practicing skills, such as active listening and closed loop communication helps to ensure that we are communicating effectively. Learning and utilizing consistent communication models is a proven way to ensure appropriate dialogues and information is being conveyed. This lecture will help incorporate ways to identify failed communications and techniques to improve communication dialogue as patients are admitted and transferred between departments and shifts.

Removing Toxicity and Negativity from your Workplace and your life

4/13/2019 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM

Presenter: Melissa Supernor

Removing Toxicity and Negativity in the Workplace A toxic workplace is a workplace that is marked by significant drama and infighting, where personal battles often harm productivity. Toxic workplaces are often considered the result of toxic employees, or workers who are motivated by personal gain (power, money, or special status), use unethical, mean-spirited and sometimes illegal means to manipulate and annoy those around them; and whose motives are to maintain or increase power, money or special status or divert attention away from their performance shortfalls and misdeeds. Toxic employees do not recognize a duty to the organization for which they work or their co-workers in terms of ethics or professional conduct toward others. Toxic employees define relationships with co-workers, not by organizational structure but by co-workers they favor and those they do not like or trust. How do we deal and remove the toxic employee: Hire correctly: Be clear about the qualities all candidates must have to fit into your practice culture. Developing a hiring process that better identifies candidates who complement the team will reduce the frustrations associated with hiring the wrong person. Hiring simply to fill a hole will ultimately be more time-consuming and expensive than finding the person who fits in well with your team. Watch and be aware of the toxic flags: Even when the best candidates are hired, life happens and people change. Sometimes the change in an employee's performance may be subtle or it can be more obvious. Is the negative behavior of one person affecting the attitude or even the performance of others? It's important for management to pay attention so appropriate action can be taken. Toxic flags may include change in behavior and performance, arriving to work late, increased absenteeism, and employees no longer wanting to work with the toxic employee. Deal in Real Time: It's extremely helpful to notice the signs of toxicity and negativity in the workplace, and when there, it is even more important to address the problem quickly and in a timely manner. The toxic employee has the right to know he or she is not performing to practice standards and practice management has the right to inform them of how the negative performance and/or behavior is impacting the practice. Don't Just Hear, Listen: When an employee exhibits negative, toxic behavior within the workplace, try to understand what the motivation behind that behavior is. Don't make assumptions; give the employee the opportunity to tell his or her side of the story and resist making judgments ahead of time. Establish Agreements and Communicate Expectations: When it is necessary to check in with the team members concerning their performance, it is helpful to provide a map of the necessary steps going forward. Communicating agreements, iterating and seeking agreement regarding what is required from both management and the team member, will help direct the next steps. Reassess Progress: Resist the temptation to consider the problem solved after providing a road map; once the expectations have been identified and communicated, follow-up is the next important step. This includes holding both sides accountable for following through on the agreements, not just the employee.

Lunch

4/13/2019 12:20 PM - 2:00 PM

Animal Communication and Learning

4/13/2019 2:00 PM - 3:20 PM

Presenter: Dr Jesi Godin

Animal communication (e.g. ear and tail position, posture, etc) and learning techniques that are used for behavior modification techniques and training purposed.

PT 1 Stress Management, Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

4/13/2019 2:00 PM - 3:20 PM

Presenter: Melissa Supernor

PART 1 Stress, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue for the Veterinary Professional What is Stress and Stressors for the Veterinary Professional? Stress is a fact of life today, and it is a problem within the field of veterinary medicine that can cause mental and physical problems and disrupt this rewarding career. Stress can be defined as the state produced when the body responds to any demand for adaption or adjustment. Stress can be good and bad depending on the stressor associated with the stress. Stress can have both negative and positive effects on a person. There are three main stressors that we experience on a daily basis, they are: external, environmental, and internal and we can experience all of them or single one at any given time. Each stressor that we experience can act differently in each individual person. The stressor can energize a person to achieve challenges and achievements that normally the individual may shy away from, but on the other hand, the stressor can make the individual feel overwhelmed and exhausted. There are three factors that determined whether the stressor is negative or positive, they are: choice, control, and consequences. Therefore, each of the stressful situations provides an opportunity of choice, a feeling of control, and an anticipation of the consequences, which again these can be good or bad, depending on the situation. Since stress is unavoidable, complete understanding of these concepts can help an individual transform adverse stressors into tolerable stressors. What are the physical and mental effects of the stress on the individual? Stress, whether good or bad, effects a persons mental and physical functioning. A complete understanding of how and where stress originates within the body, its pathway throughout the body, and the mental and physical toll it can take on the individual, will help the individual manage his/her own stress and maintain good health. Fight or flight is one concept in daily life and understanding this important will understand your reaction to the stressor plaguing you at the time. Humans are equipped with this concept to help them handle threatening situations, basically to either flee or fight when someone or something is threatening them, either externally and internally. The list of an individual's internal stressors is unique to each individual, depending on the individual's background, temperament, and aspirations and the stress response is nonspecific and is mobilized when one is faced with any of these threats, either being perceived or real. Ways of dealing with stress, either good or bad, in which an individual within the veterinary field will do to deal with all of it. There is many good and bad ways for dealing with stress in your life. Some good ways of dealing with stress is exercise, good nutrition, plenty of sleep. A negative way, which is too common in the veterinary professional, is the use of illegal or legal substances. Substance Abuse and stress is a bad influence of dealing with difference types of stress. Since the nervous system, brain, and emotions are dependent of the normal action of the neurotransmitters, some individuals suffering from stress may turn to drugs and alcohol almost as a form of self-medication. Obviously, the risk factors of substance abuse is great for the individual and this type of behavior is also a great risk to that the individual's family, friends, and the patients that are being treated by that individual. Identifying the stressors in the veterinary professional. A veterinary professional's stressor load is unique to the veterinary world, which do include general, basic stressors in anyone world, but also those unique to the veterinary world. These include life event stressors, environmental stressors, personal stressors, client stressors, and career stressors. We will identify each stressor and have examples for each individual will be able to help identify their individual stressor and help the individual cope with those stressors in a positive way. There are many years, one important aspect is the use of support systems, such as friends, family, coworkers, etc…. Burnout Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long term involvement in emotionally demanding situations. Veterinary medicine has a high burnout rate, especially among the veterinary technician and support staff. There are many physical symptoms of burnout, they include illnesses such as ulcers, gastroenteritis, cardiac issues, heartburn, etc…. Behavioral symptoms of burnout include withdrawal, overeating, increase in alcohol or drugs intake, constant fatigue, agitation, nervousness, anger or aggression, increase spending, etc…. As we go through the lecture, we will discuss the four major stages of burnout that each individual goes through, they are: 1. Physical, Mental, and Emotional Exhaustion, 2. Shame and Doubt, 3. Cynicism and Callousness, 4. Failure, Helplessness, and Crisis. Along with the stages, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of burnout and how to help identify them to get the support needed before getting to the point of such burnout that the individual leaves the profession. Also in this lecture, we will discuss the difference between stress and burnout for that individual will understand what stage of this common disease within our profession. Compassion Fatigue Compassion is defined as a deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it. Fatigue is defined as the mental weariness resulting from exertion that is associated with attending to the emotional and physical pain of others. Combined together, compassion fatigue has been called the hurt of the heart something all of us in the veterinary profession are susceptible to, and many of us today suffer from this condition. Why us? Only compassionate, empathic, loving, and caring people suffer from compassion fatigue the very people who are so vital to the animal-care field.

Caring for the Caregiver

4/13/2019 3:50 PM - 5:10 PM

Presenter: Jennifer Grady-Holmes

Unaddressed compassion fatigue - a frequent occurrence in the Veterinary Technician profession - can result in burnout, staff attrition, staff inefficiencies and reduced empathy. As medical professionals, we are trained to triage and recognize the early warning signs of illness and distress in our patients. However, the impact of trauma, illness, failed communications and stressful daily routines may escape our notice until it reaches a personal/professional crisis. Raising awareness means learning how to both identify symptoms of compassion fatigue and the implementation of skills to decrease its effects and return each sufferer to optimal levels of functioning. Managing compassion fatigue is essential to increasing the longevity of the Veterinary Technician practice. Let's beat the odds by learning how to prevent compassion fatigue and/or recognize the warning signs in ourselves and our staff!

PT2 RECOVER ALS *Certification*

4/13/2019 3:50 PM - 5:10 PM

Presenter: Renee LaCorte

PART 2 This course will equip participants with concepts and techniques in Advanced Life Support. The certification process consists of an online course provided by Cornell University that is completed and followed up by an onsite training at the conference. Participants must have successfully completed the online BLS and ALS certification in order to receive Recover ALS rescuer certification.

Sunday Breakfast

4/14/2019 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Calf Management

4/14/2019 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Presenter: Tara Woyton

Diabetes

4/14/2019 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Presenter: Liza Rudolph

Diabetes mellitus is a relatively common endocrinopathy that occurs in both dogs and cats. The management of the diabetic patient is individualized and requires an understanding of the pathophysiology itself, as well as the necessity of frequent reassessment, open client communication and education, and clearly defined goals for the pet's treatment plan. The veterinary technician is an integral part of successful diabetic patient management.

Zoonotic

4/14/2019 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Presenter: Tara Woyton

Update on what Zoonotic diseases we should be concerned about in both the clinic and the field. Zoonotic diseases are a concern for everyone, ourselves, our clients and our staff. The veterinary team plays a key role in educating the public about concerns brought up surrounding Zoonotic diseases. How to keep ourselves and our clients safe

Antibiotics: What do we Really Need to Know?

4/14/2019 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM

Presenter: Tara Woyton

Antibiotic use in both Small animal and Large animal medicine is a hot topic! How do we regulate ourselves in the clinic to make sure we are using them judiciously? How do we make sure our clients are aware of the concerns surrounding antibiotic resistance? Is it our responsibility to educate the public? All these questions come up in everyday practice. This class looks at the current regulations (Veterinary Feed Directive) and discusses what is best for our practice.