The digital way to fast-track your knowledge
The Accelerated Emergency Programme has been developed in partnership with experienced Animal Emergency Service (AES) veterinarians, including Members and Fellows of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care. Its aim is to help you gain the foundation emergency skills to approach your patients with confidence and competence.
Each of the 15 Modules covers veterinary emergency topics relevant and applicable to the everyday clinical setting. As an accredited veterinary training program you will also work towards a postgraduate certificate with the ISVPS, the Foundation Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care (FCert ECC).
Weekly module release and 1 year full programme access allows you to fit your education into your working schedule. The Accelerated Programme also includes exclusive invitations to four global ECC seminars with world renowned speakers, on essential emergency and critical care topics.
For further details, please refer to the programme handbook found in the General Information section of your programme.
Hear what our delegates have to say
Don’t just take our word for it - our delegate feedback speaks for itself.
Garrick Ponte
BVSc GPCert(SAM) MRCVS
The teaching at Improve is excellent and I have been able to take what I have learnt back to use in practice. It’s not just the lectures themselves but the practical work we did straight afterwards which drives home everything, which is why Impro … Read more
Colin Dickson
BVMS CertAVP MRCVS
Having previously completed a postgraduate surgery certificate with another provider, I was confident in my knowledge and understanding of the theory but felt underprepared from a practical perspective. I was initially hesitant to register for another … Read more
Key features of this programme
15 Varied Modules
Designed by experienced AES Veterinarians, Fellows and Members in ANZCVS in ECC
One module per week
Allowing you to complete the programme and take your learning back to practice faster
1-year unlimited access
Presentations, written notes, diagrams, interactive quizzes and exercises which test your knowledge as you work
Discussion forum
A discussion forum for conversations, debate and sharing cases with your peers and Module Tutors
100% online
Giving you access 24/7 via our world-leading Learing Management Platform
Regular assessments
Pre-module and post-module assessements encourage you to reflect on your learning and evaluate your progress
Interactive and engaging modules
Which allow you to absorb the learning materials in an online environment
Know-how
Join the global veterinary online learning CPD specialists and benifit from our know-how and high-quality resources
15 Varied Modules
Designed by experienced AES Veterinarians, Fellows and Members in ANZCVS in ECC
One module per week
Allowing you to complete the programme and take your learning back to practice faster
1-year unlimited access
Presentations, written notes, diagrams, interactive quizzes and exercises which test your knowledge as you work
Discussion forum
A discussion forum for conversations, debate and sharing cases with your peers and Module Tutors
100% online
Giving you access 24/7 via our world-leading Learing Management Platform
Regular assessments
Pre-module and post-module assessements encourage you to reflect on your learning and evaluate your progress
Interactive and engaging modules
Which allow you to absorb the learning materials in an online environment
Know-how
Join the global veterinary online learning CPD specialists and benifit from our know-how and high-quality resources
Programme details
Module Summary
01 - Acid Base and Blood Gas Analysis
Key Learning Objectives
- Identify and interpret acid-base disorders
- Identify primary and secondary acid-base disorders and compensatory mechanisms.
- List causes of acidosis and alkalosis
- Discuss the anion gap and its diagnostic use
- Describe the management of acidaemia and alkalaemia.
- Discuss the physiology of lactate production and its use as a perfusion marker
- Describe the pathophysiology of hyperlactatemia
- Outline oxygenation in terms of arterial blood oxygen, ventilation, perfusion and V/Q mismatch
- Recall the physiological causes of hypoxaemia and associated disease processes
- Use the P:F ratio and A-a Gradient in reference to oxygenation
- Discuss the parameters involved in the assessment of ventilation
02 - Shock and Intravenous Fluids
Key Learning Objectives
- Define shock and its physiological causes
- Explain circulatory shock in terms of hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, obstructive shock
- Outline the stages of shock
- Describe the principles of fluid therapy Discuss the goals of fluid therapy
- Demonstrate how to assess the degree of dehydration
- Discuss types of intravenous fluids and their indications Construct a fluid plan to correct hypovolaemia, dehydration, ongoing losses and maintenance
- Explain indications for bolus and shock fluid rates
- Describe monitoring and end points for fluid therapy.
- List the potential complications of fluid therapy
- List considerations for perioperative fluid therapy
03 - Electrolytes
Key Learning Objectives
- List the main serum electrolytes which need to be monitored and clinically managed
- Recall the common causes of derangements in the main electrolyte
- Describe the clinicopathological changes seen with common electrolyte derangements e
- List the appropriate management and treatment for common electrolyte disturbances
- Discuss hypernatremia and hyponatremia in terms of volume status
- Recall the specific calculations used in the management and treatment of sodium disorders
04 - Clinical Pathology and Focused Ultrasound
Key Learning Objectives
Clinical Pathology Part I
- Identify and interpret a complete blood count.
- Outline differential diagnoses for complete blood count changes
- Discuss how to perform and evaluate a blood smear
- Interpret a serum biochemistry profile and outline differential diagnoses for abnormalities.
- Outline the interpretation of the coagulation profile
- Identify artefacts that may affect clinical pathology results in terms of animal breed, sample artefact and laboratory artefacts
Focussed Ultrasound Part II
- Describe aFAST and tFAST techniques.
- Outline the abdominal fluid scoring system
- Describe and outline VetBLUE including the acoustic windows
- Identify lung ultrasound signs - A lines, B lines, glide sign
- Describe likely disease processes using the regionally based respiratory pattern
- Describe focused echocardiography and the use of this technique
05 - Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Key Learning Objectives
- Outline the pathophysiology of the pain pathways including the main neurotransmitters
- Recall the three types of pain
- Identify how to assess pain and use pain scales
- Define multimodal analgesia and pre-emptive analgesia
- Discuss the basic pharmacology of commonly used analgesics, their advantages and disadvantages
- Select appropriate analgesic agents for different trauma situations
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of some commonly used sedative and anaesthetic agents.
- List considerations for anaesthetic drugs based on common emergency presentations and surgeries
06 - Triage and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Key Learning Objectives
- Identify the important components of a triage assessment
- Discuss life-sustaining interventions in primary triage and the use of point-of-care diagnostics
- Explain the secondary triage survey and assessments
- List the clinical signs of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA)
- Explain basic life support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Describe recommended techniques for chest compressions and ventilatory support
- Describe monitoring devices used in advanced life support (ALS)
- Identify shockable and non-shockable rhythms in CPR and how to treat
- Discuss medications potentially used during CPR
07 - Hematological and Coagulopathy Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Explain the cell-based model of coagulation
- Recall the pathophysiology of primary haemostasis
- Identify the clinical signs, diagnostic tests and treatment of primary haemostatic disorders
- Recall the pathophysiology of secondary haemostasis
- Identify the clinical signs, diagnostic tests and treatment of secondary haemostatic disorders
- Recall the main disorder of tertiary haemostasis (fibrinolysis)
- Recall the basic overview of traumatic coagulopathy
- Outline the primary mechanisms of anaemia
- Identify the clinical signs, diagnostic tests and the treatment of anaemia.
08 - Cardiovascular Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathophysiology and clinical signs of cardiac failure
- Outline the diagnostic evaluation of the cardiac system
- Outline the medical treatments and procedures used in the management of cardiac emergencies
- Discuss the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) and blood pressure maintenance
- Describe the clinical signs of hypertension and hypotension
- List the diagnostic tests used in the evaluation of blood pressure
- Outline the medical treatment for hypotension and hypertension
- Outline the aetiology, diagnosis and management of FATE (Feline Aortic Thromboembolism)
- Describe the commonly seen cardiac arrhythmias
- Outline emergency treatment of common cardiac arrhythmias
09 - Respiratory Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss respiratory physiology in terms of hypoxaemia and hypoxia and causes
- Describe the difference between ventilation and oxygenation measures and V/Q mismatch
- List relevant measures for assessment of ventilation and oxygenation
- Explain the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve
- Explain lung function assessment in terms of the PF ratio
- Detail a diagnostic plan for patients with respiratory distress
- Detail a treatment plan for patients in respiratory distress
- List common disease states that present as respiratory emergencies.
10 - Urogenital Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Describe the physiology of potassium homeostasis
- Discuss the aetiology, clinical consequences and management of hyperkalemia
- Discuss the aetiology, diagnosis and management of uroabdomen
- Discuss the aetiology, diagnosis and management of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
- Describe the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury and the differential diagnoses for pre-renal, renal and post-renal causes
- List the veterinary staging systems for acute kidney injury
- Discuss the treatment, management and monitoring of acute renal injury
- Discuss the diagnosis and treatment of pyometra
- Discuss the diagnosis and treatment of eclampsia
- Discuss the recognition and management of dystocia
- Discuss the criteria of caesarean for managing dystocia
11 - Ophthalmological Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Describe how to perform a complete ophthalmic assessment
- Discuss the ophthalmic assessment in terms of gross and specialised examination techniques
- List the required equipment and drugs required for a complete ophthalmic assessment
- Describe the aetiology and clinical signs of common ophthalmic emergencies
- Discuss the diagnostic workup of common ophthalmic emergencies
- List the treatment and management of the following ophthalmic conditions
- Corneal ulcer/laceration
- Descemetocele
- Uveitis
- Glaucoma
- Horner’s Syndrome
- Proptosis
12 - Neurological Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Describe assessments that are used in neurological lesion localisation in brain and spinal cord injury
- Describe how to perform a neurological examination
- Discuss primary and secondary traumatic brain injury
- List the clinical assessments and treatment for traumatic brain injury
- List the diagnostic workup and treatment of seizures and status epilepticus
- List the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected intracranial disease
- Discuss specific treatments for meningitis and meningoencephalitis
13 - Acute Abdominal Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the clinical findings in acute abdomen presentations
- Describe the diagnostic workup for an acute abdomen presentation
- Describe treatment for an acute abdomen presentation
- Discuss Acute Pancreatitis, including clinical signs, diagnostic plan and management
- Discuss Acute Gastroenteritis, including clinical signs, diagnostic plan and management
- Discuss Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV), including clinical signs and diagnostic plan and management
- List the post-operative management and monitoring of GDV patients
- Discuss Acute Non-Traumatic Haemoabdomen - including clinical signs and diagnostic plan and management
14 - Endocrine Emergencies
Key Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the pathophysiology, clinical signs and diagnostic investigation of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Describe the clinicopathological abnormalities and management regimes for DKA patients
- Discuss hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS)
- Outline the pathophysiology of glucose regulation and the clinical signs, diagnostic investigation and management of patients with hypoglycemia
- Discuss the pathophysiology of primary and secondary hypoadrenocorticism
- Describe the common clinicopathological abnormalities and diagnostic investigations for hypoadrenocorticism
- Discuss the emergency treatment and management of patients in the ‘Addisonian Crisis’.
- Discuss Critical Illness Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency Syndrome (CIRCS)
15 - Intoxications
Key Learning Objectives
- Describe the phone triage of suspected intoxication cases
- Discuss the decontamination methods for intoxicants and associated complications and contraindications
- Discuss the common intoxications, including clinical signs, diagnosis, stabilisation, and management of patients affected :
- Metaldehyde intoxication
- Synthetic pyrethrin intoxication
- Anticoagulant rodenticide intoxication
- Lily plant intoxication
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intoxication
- Chocolate/Caffeine intoxication
- Ethylene glycol intoxication
- Grape & Raisin intoxication
- Discuss 'serotonin syndrome’, including clinical signs, diagnosis, stabilisation, and management of affected patients
Qualifications
Foundation Certificate (FCert)
This course is accredited by ISVPS and allows you to achieve a Foundation Certificate
Partners
Approved by
Approved by RACE for 80 CE credits
Pricing
£2,490.00
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Accelerated Programmes
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