Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, MA

Description of Elective Experience: 

Students will learn emergency medicine by learning accurate assessment of levels of urgency in administering treatment, gathering key information through obtaining a history and performance of a physical examination, developing diagnostic and treatment plans, gaining exposure to skills and procedures that are integral to successful emergency care, and fostering the concept of teamwork and mutual reliance that is essential to productive work in the ER.

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

In each of the following areas, by the end of the rotation students will be able to:

  1. History: obtain information including relevant history and key facts pertaining to the presenting complaint and present the information in a succinct and orderly fashion.
  2. Physical Examination: demonstrate the ability to perform a thorough physical examination and identify important findings with descriptive detail. For the ER rotation, this will include thorough cardiac, neurologic and orthopedic exams.
  3. Problem List: create an accurate prioritized problem list based on history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.
  4. Assessment: generate a patient-appropriate, concise and prioritized list of differential diagnoses for the problems identified.
  5. Evidence-Based Medicine: reference and discuss peer-reviewed primary literature. Students will indicate the type of study performed and discuss limitations.
  6. Interpretation: interpret clinical data, including, but not limited to bloodwork and imaging results. For the ER rotation, this will include: TFAST and AFAST; NOVA and PCV/TS interpretation; EKG; Radiographs
  7. Skills & Procedures: describe and/or demonstrate proficiency with clinical procedures. For the ER rotation, this will include:
    1. Triage: Students will master assessment of urgency through evaluation of breathing, pulse rate and character, gum color, mental status and strength. Students will either initiate an appropriate interventional step or seek immediate assistance to initiate an appropriate interventional step. (Ex: place a cat with respiratory distress in oxygen).
    2. Shock: Students will recognize shock based on collapse, tachycardia, pulse rate and character and act to intervene by engaging assistance and placement of IVC or other interventional measures without delay.
    3. Blood pressure reading and interpretation
    4. Placement of IVC
    5. Placement of urinary catheter (not UO)
    6. Blood sampling
    7. Unblocking cat with a UO
    8. Cystocentesis
    9. Thoracocentesis
    10. Abdominocentesis
    11. Wound management including placement of drains
    12. Bandaging including soft tissue dressing, tie over dressing, splint
    13. CPR
    14. Pericardiocentesis
    15. Evaluation of cytology including blood and fluid
    16. Blood banking
  8. Reports: write accurate and concise written medical reports, including SOAPs, transfers, and discharge instructions with an appropriate level of detail. For the ER rotation, this will include:
    1. Treatment orders: Students will develop a treatment plan and write treatment orders including fluid therapy, basic drug dosing and CRI calculations.
    2. SOAPs: Students will write accurate and concise SOAPs (transfers) with an appropriate level of detail including updating test results and client communication as they occur following admission.
    3. Discharges: Students will write discharge reports that are concise and clear on the client instruction and follow up plan.
    4. Requests (radiology, neurology consultation, etc): Students will in write requests in a timely manner that are properly detailed for other services.
  9. Communications: demonstrate effective oral communication, using the four core communication skills: non-verbal communication, open-ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy. For the ER rotation, this will include students working with callers and the ER team to provide advice or solutions to inquiries or problems.
  10. Professional Skills: demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with all members of the healthcare team as well as with clients. This includes, but is not limited to adherence to teamwork, courtesy, compassion, honesty, a positive attitude, and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
Supervisor: 
Dr. Armelle de Laforcade
Contact email: 
Address: 
200 Westboro Road
Grafton, MA 01536
United States
Practice or Institution Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
No