Clinic Skills and Operations - (CSO) 

Enrollment Requirements: Completed application for Shelter Care Specialist (SCS) Certification and acceptance into the program during the application period and completion of course prerequisites in the SCS Program.  

Prerequisites: Modern Sheltering Foundations (MSF) and Animal Care Foundations (ACF) courses must be completed satisfactorily. 

Future sessions of this Course: This course runs approximately every two months and is open to students who have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite courses - "Modern Sheltering Foundations" (MSF) and "Animal Care Foundations" (ACF).

Coach:  Cindi Delany, DVM, KPA-CPT, FFCP - cddelany@ucdavis.edu

Co-Coach:  Chrissy Teuscher, RVT - cteuscher@ucdavis.edu

Learning Coordinator/TA:  help@shelterlearniverse.com

Sample Course Schedule:

• Week 1 - Review of Animal Care Foundations Course and Advanced Medical Care Course Medical Concepts 
• Week 2 - Medical Clinic Set-Up and Efficiency
• Week 3 - Surgery and Medical Care Scheduling and Flow, Delegation of Medical Care 
• Week 4 - Surgery-Related Tasks and Procedures (Prep, Monitoring, Packs, Equipment)
• Week 5 - Special Procedures - Performing and Assisting 
• Week 6 - Public Vaccination/Wellness Clinics, Telemedicine, and Advanced Client Interactions 

Live Meetings:

In each session of this course, there will be live meetings. Dates for those meetings will be provided to learners at the time of enrollment.

Course Overview:

Designed specifically for frontline shelter staff, this course "Clinic Skills and Operations," is one of two electives in the "Medical-Focus" track of the Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program. To take this course students must have taken and satisfactorily completed the "Modern Sheltering Foundations" and "Animal Care Foundations" courses.

Clinic Skills and Operations will provide information and experiences to give learners the knowledge and skills they need to increase their ability to work or assist in medical clinic settings.

As with all of the courses in this program, our focus is on sharing needed information on current best practices in a way that works for busy adult learners. This course will highlight current best practices that prioritize the needs of animals in shelters, shelter team members, and our communities, emphasizing efficiency while keeping stress reduction for animals and teams centered. 

This course equips you with the foundational and more advanced knowledge about clinic skills and operations in the shelter needed to enhance your day-to-day operations and prepare you for a sustainable and rewarding career in the animal shelter industry as a Shelter Care Specialist.

What You Will Learn:

• Best practices for medical clinic set-up and efficiency.
• Surgery scheduling and flow for efficiency and high quality care.
• Medical care schedule and flow for efficiency and high-quality care.
• How to appropriately delegate medical care duties and tasks.
• Surgery-related tasks and procedures:
  • Preparing animals for surgery
  • Monitoring animals under anesthesia - pre, peri, and post-operatively
  • Surgery packs and equipment - preparing and maintaining
• How to prepare for, assist with, and perform special procedures
• How to prepare for, assist with, and coordinate vaccination/wellness clinics for the public
• How to use advanced telemedicine to improve care provided and increase efficiency
• Advanced medical related client Interactions - history taking, documenting, sharing information with your team, medical plan review, and discharge instructions review.

Course Features:

• Accessible Anytime, On-Demand Content
• Mobile Friendly - Learn on Your Preferred Device
• Hands-on Learning Activities
• Practical Tips and Techniques
• Scenario-Based Discussions
• Interactions and Support of Your Classmates
• Direct Applications to Daily Tasks
• Assignments and Feedback to Ensure Your Mastery and Comfort with Course Content
• Coaching and Mentoring from Your Course Coach and Team

Why This Course Matters:

As a frontline shelter staff member, you are vital to the health and well-being of the animals in your care, and you are valuable and should have your skills and career prospects developed. This course provides you with the tools to make immediate improvements in your work environment and the daily care you provide to the animals in your shelter. It also prepares you for further professional development in other specialized areas of medical care and shelter operations.

Questions? Contact Us

If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at help@shelterlearniverse.com.