VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital (VCA HAH) provides externships to multiple students annually. Ideally these are a maximum of two weeks. The program is designed for the self-guided individual. This is an opportunity for the extern to get out what they put in. We are here to guide and facilitate in the externs education and we take it quite seriously. The student is given freedom of the entire clinical and surgical facility and it us up to that individual to self design their day. Our multiple veterinarians enjoy the assistance of the extern and in return are very willing to discuss their cases and treatment plans. Students are given the authority to enter any exam room with the practitioner. Most of our guests spend time in the mornings assisting the associate veterinarians in th exam room endeavors. The more in-depth surgeries are performed at or shortly after the noon hour with the extern as a second set of hands. The afternoon is again in the exam room. Over-night and Sunday emergencies are common at VCA HAH and many students spend one or more shifts assisting during those hours. General office hours are from 7:30AM until 7:00 PM with a staff doctor present throughout the night. The digital radiology reports are an excellent additional method of training for both positioning technique and the following of radiologist interpretation in conjunction with the case chart. We are very proud of our laboratory and the four technicians in there. They are always willing to assist and train in slide preparation and cytology reading.
Our veterinary team is comprised of 9 progressive general practitioners; four ABVP board certified practitioners, and five specialists. Our board certified specialty team consists of two surgeons, dermatologist, cardiologist and a dually boarded IM/ECC specialist. Three members of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists are available for consultation to the practice in the reviewing of our digital radiographs and CT scans. They provide additional radiographic expertise for the intern group, as well as daily written tele-radiographic consultation. Antech is our main reference labratory; however, our in house labratory has its own full time staff that performs routine chemistries and hemograms utilizing an ATAC 8000 Spectrophotometer in conjunction with both a Sysmex KX-21 and a ProCyte cell counter unit. Our point of care testing includes and I-Stat, Alpha Trak and hand held Lactate meter. TFAST and AFAST ultrasound is available on emergencies with out Sound portable GE Logic P5. VCA HAH has a dedicated veterinary dispensary with a knowledgeable and friendly staff. Our high case load demands that we have state of the art monitorying and anesthesia capabilities. We have 18 anesthesia stations, monitored by Life Window and BioNet physiologic monitors, respiratory monitors, Doppler blood pressure and SurgiVet pulse oximetery and ETCO2. There are three operating suites, with a total of six tables available, as well as four fully equipped dental tables with Schick digital dental radiography. Other radiographic capabilites are provided with two 600 MA 100 Kvp x-ray units with Eklin digitalized processing. Viewing monitors are present in the radiology viewing room, operating rooms, exam rooms and all doctors offices, as well as DICOM3 certified, PACs compatible, CereTOM 8 slice small bore portable CT scanner. Our surgeons have access to a complete line of Synthes bone plating and Biometrics total hip equipment, nitrogen driven drills, saws and pin drivers as well as external fixators and a Luxar carbon dioxide laser and Ligasure. For our orthopedic and spinal patients we offer a veterinarian and technician CCRT certified rehabilitation facility. Services include both dry and underwater treadmill, thermotherapy, hydrotherapy, and cold laser. Additional diagnostic tools include; Dyonics arthroscopic, laparoscopic, video endoscopic and bronchoscopic equipment and Philips ultrasound with color Doppler capabilities. VCA HAH has access to two different on-call fluoroscopy units.
A total of five - 8 hour days, with both shadowing and some direct instruction including things such as iv cath placement, calcuation of fluid administration rates, etc. Students are encouraged to spend part of an overnight shift as well in order to get a full feel for the practice.