competency and proficiency assessment of animal care training programs in academic institutions
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COMPETENCY AND PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF ANIMAL CARE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. Elizabeth Dodemaide B.V.Sc., M.A. Associate Director, Laboratory Animal Services Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Challenges in a Large Academic Institution. Diversity of Research: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
COMPETENCY AND PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF ANIMAL CARE
TRAINING PROGRAMSIN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
Elizabeth Dodemaide B.V.Sc., M.A.Associate Director, Laboratory Animal Services
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Challenges in a Large Academic Institution
Diversity of Research:
Field Studies
to
Farm Animals
to
Cancer
to
Neuroscience
Challenges in a Large Academic Institution
• Diversity of Researchers:– Professors– Post docs– Students
• Graduate, Undergraduate, High School
• Animal care staff
• Cultural diversity
Challenges in a Large Academic Institution
• Numerous facilities
• Distance
How do we determine competency?
• Adequate animal welfare
• Research results
• Non-compliant findings
• Observation of technical and surgical procedures
How do we achieve competency?
• Training– Orientation program– Hands-on training– Department/ lab meeting visits– Re-training
Responsibility for Training
• IACUC delegates Laboratory Animal Services veterinarians to provide Orientation Training
• Principal Investigators responsible for registering all individuals and ensuring training in protocol specific procedures
• Protocol approval contingent on PI completing Orientation training
Orientation Programs
Face-to-face
• Negatives - Limited number of classes
– PIs, students have class scheduling conflicts
- Travel problems to location of class– Diverse group with very different needs
Orientation Programs
Face-to face
• Positives– Participants get to meet a veterinarian or
other Lab Animal Services staff member- Able to ask questions- Able to meet and interact with other animal
users
Orientation Programs
Online
• Negatives
– Impersonal, don’t meet LAS staff
- Can’t ask questions
- Computer access necessary
Orientation Programs
Online
• Positives– Can be completed at any time– Modules provide more focused training
Hands-on Training
• Species specific• Small groups
Negative- Voluntary
Positive- Trainer able to observe proficiency in techniques
Lab Visits
• Focuses on lab needs
• Dialogue often identifies areas for further training
Result:
• Improved compliance
Proficiency Assessment
• Observation of surgeries and certain procedures
• Often a condition of protocol approval
Result:
• Better animal welfare and compliance
Hazards
• Individual SOP for each hazard
• Tied to protocol approval
• Training of animal care and investigator’s staff
• Observation of first procedure with Health and Safety person – often done as dry run
Field Studies
• Training & observation can be difficult
• May require study specific occupational health/hazard training
Summary
• Providing adequate training for all animal users is challenging
• Good communication with PIs is vital
• Need continual critical evaluation to update and improve programs
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