SCAM13001U Veterinary Methodology and Paraclinical Skills

Volume 2024/2025
Education

This course is a compulsory course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The master is a post graduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

The course has a veterinary methodology and paraclinical perspective on companion animal patient work up and integrates the importance of applying a systematic approach to clinical decision making focused on the companion animal patient illustrated by the use of the problem oriented approach (POA) and theoretical knowledge and practical skills within key paraclinical methods. The course provides the students with theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for using microscopy as a solid diagnostic tool in companion animal practice. The course also emphasizes the importance of systematic evaluation of radiographs and provides students with knowledge of different image modalities applicable in companion animal clinical practice. Knowledge of ethics, welfare, management and communication tools both in respect to fellow colleagues but also the clients met in clinical practice are also parts of the course. Knowledge of effective infection control measures and hygiene standards in a veterinary clinical setting as well as safe handling and correct disposal of hazardous waste is part of the course.

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge

  • Define veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematic clinical decision making in dedicated companion animal clinical practice
  • List the systematic approach to the complex companion animal patient using POA and be able to explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical decision making
  • List and explain the systematic approach to microscopy of companion animal cytology and hematology specimens including sample collection and preparation procedures
  • Explain the systematic approach to interpretation of laboratory results.
  • List and explain the systematic approach to evaluation of existing and new veterinary imaging approaches in companion animal clinical practice and their advantages and disadvantages
  • Reflect about key ethical and welfare considerations, and the key communication and management issues in companion animal practice
  • Explain the approach of effective infection control and prophylaxis in a veterinary clinical setting
  • Define handeling of different waste categorys and their disposal in regards to national regulations

 

 Skills

  • Apply the methodologies and tools and use and adjust relevant equipment
  • Prepare blood smears
  • Evaluate and interpret normal and abnormal blood and cytology smears from companion animal patients including differentiating between inflammatory categories and malignant and benign lesions. Plan and implement additional work up based on analysis and interpretation of these in complex clinical situations
  • Apply the systematic approach to reading and interpreting radiographs in companion animal patients and plan and implement additional work up based on analysis and interpretation of these in complex clinical situations
  • Communicate effectively and discuss relevant problems and questions within the systematic approach to complex patients with both peers and and clients
  • Construct and apply a microbial surveillance programme in a veterinary clinical setting
     

 Competences

  • Collaborate and communicate within and between both specialist, dedicated companion animal and mixed practice peers and lay persons involved in companion animal patient management
  • Plan and reflect about the use of veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools

 

 

Literature

Updated literature list will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.
A mixture of lectures, e-learning, theoretical and practical exercises as well as case-study work.
In theory and by practical exercises to extend the participants knowledge, personal skills and competences within the subject of management, presentation and communication. In theory and by practical exercises to extend the student’s knowledge, practical skills and competences within clinical decision making, and the paraclinical disciplines clinical pathology and diagnostic imaging. In theory and by practical exercises to extend the participants knowledge in hygiene standards and infection prevention.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 124
  • Theory exercises
  • 12
  • Practical exercises
  • 18
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Individual
Collective
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Type of assessment details
The portfolio exam consists of two parts.
1) The course certificate, which supports, underpins, and focuses on the learning process (learning portfolio). All required components of the course certificate must be approved and include a) a minimum of 80% active participation b) completion of a hygiene e-learning course.

2) An evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The evaluation includes a) two on-site examinations with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions and b) a written assignment: a problem and communication oriented approach to a clinical case.
Exam registration requirements

Both, approved course certificate and a passed examination are required to pass the course. Students may attend examination without approval of course certificate.

Aid
Only certain aids allowed

The evaluation portfolio consists of one component with aids allowed and two components without aids allowed.

Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme  homepage.

Criteria for exam assesment

To acheive the grade passed the student must be able to:

Knowledge

  • Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematic clinical decision making in dedicated companion animal clinical practice
  • List and explain the systematic approach to the complex companion animal patient using POA and systematic clinical decision making
  • List and explain the systematic approach to microscopy of companion animal cytology and hematology specimens
  • Explain the systematic approach to interpretation of laboratory results.
  • List and explain the systematic approach to evaluation of existing and new veterinary imaging approaches in companion animal clinical practice and their advantages and disadvantages.
  • Reflect about key ethical and welfare considerations, and the key communication and management issues in companion animal practice
  • Explain the approach of effective infection control and prophylaxis in a veterinary clinical setting
  • Define handeling of different waste categorys and their disposal in regards to national regulations

 

 Skills

  • Reflect about and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical decision making
  • Apply the methodologies and tools and use and adjust relevant equipment
  • Evaluate and interpret normal and abnormal blood and cytology smears from companion animal patients including differentiating between inflammatory categories and malignant and benign lesions. Plan and implement additional work up based on analysis and interpretation of these in complex clinical situations
  • Apply a systematic approach to interpretation of laboratory results, in particular clinical chemistry.
  • Apply the systematic approach to reading and interpreting radiographs in companion animal patients and plan and implement additional work up based on analysis and interpretation of these in complex clinical situations
  • Communicate effectively and discuss relevant problems and questions within the systematic approach to complex patients with both peers and non-specialist colleagues and clients
  • Apply and evaluate appropriate infection control paradigms

     

 Competences
 

  • Collaborate and communicate within and between both specialist, dedicated companion animal and mixed practice peers and lay persons involved in companion animal patient management
  • Plan and reflect about the use of veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools