VACATIONS AND VACCINATIONS by Grace Jones, AU/CVM, Class of 2024
I began writing this article at the conclusion of my first veterinary fi- nals week when I fell asleep somewhere between getting my neurosci-
ence grade back and packing to go away for my summer job. Here I am one month later, rested and writing from a few states away. While some students have decided to go home and relax, others have filled their break with clinic, research, or odd jobs. Te days have started melding together again and my sleep schedule is so regular I often forget to set my alarm and still wake up at six to put scrubs and boots on. In other words, life is good.
Schools have rung their final bells, kids are joining their parents in appointments, and the schedule is beginning to fill with, “new puppy needs vax” and “going on vacation needs Bordetella.” Look at how far we have come from last summer, when “essential business” and “curbside” became such important words to veterinarians. While we may still be wearing masks and offering the occasional outside appointment, I have never felt so lucky to ask someone, “How are you?” and watch as their eyes light up and hear the smile in their voices. Tere are even some that proudly announce they have been vaccinated as they remove their masks to speak to me. Everything might not be the same, but I would say normal is closer than six feet away.
Meanwhile, some clients are still enjoying speaking to veterinarians on phones and through apps they downloaded in the previous year. Doctors are balancing in person appointments with online consults and phone conversations. Clinics and new laws are determining how often patients need to be seen for telemed- icine to be applied or what is necessary to establish a VCPR in a world where technology has become the primary form of communication.
We are required to ask ourselves how comfortable we are diagnosing something through pictures and mes- sages without palpating and observing first. Should certain prescriptions be distributed after a few phone conversations? Sometimes it seems as if the online dating world has invaded this career and we must de- termine what questions to ask owners to get to know our patient. After all, each of us has experienced the phone call where a beloved pet has not eaten for days, just to have them come in perfectly healthy and full of table scraps.
While the AVMA still requires an in-person exam to establish a VCPR and supports the proper use of telemedicine, we all know changes are happening every day and some states are already minimizing the number of in-person meetings needed for proper veterinary care to be provided later. So, while curbside services are transitioning back to the classic exam room appointments, the veterinary career continues to modify itself and doctors are required to adapt to these changes.
As a student of an online semester, I under- stand how important technology is. As a worker, I use my time in a clinic to understand what doc- tors determine in person and what they provide from other forms of communication. Te ulti- mate goal now is combining the two to prepare for my veterinary career and continue working towards success, even on my work vacation.
https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/tele- health-guidelines/telehealth-home/
16 KVMA News - Student Letters
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
