Association of Avian Veterinarians

Importantce of a BackupAuthor(s): Clinton ParkerSource: AAV Today, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Winter, 1988), p. 200Published by: Association of Avian VeterinariansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30171152 .

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In My Experience.... Avian Autotutorial Program

We have developed an avian diagnostic tutorial program (ADTP) to use as a practical teaching tool for veterinary students. The user-friendly menus allow "non-computer" people to run through ten actual avian cases (representative of private practice) in a clinical competency test format.

In the "opening scenario," the user reads the history and physical ex- am and is asked to generate a list of problems, followed by a list of dif- ferentials. The main part of the pro- gram, the branching diagnostic selec- tion, offers fifty tests from which to choose. Ten general services are cur- rently available, each set up to pro- vide a result as it might come from a specialty-oriented group practice or veterinary teaching facility. The ser- vices include clinical pathology, en- docrinology, endoscopy, microbiology, parasitology, pathology/biopsy, radiology, serology/virology, surgery / laparoscopy, toxicology. Specific tests are selected from the services; for example, from microbiology, one may choose air sac culture/sensitivity; choanal culture/sensitivity; fecal culture/sen- sitivity; tracheal culture/sensitivity; choanal gram stain; fecal gram stain; or fecal acid-fast stain.

The user must make use of minimum database tests in order to achieve the highest score, even if the diagnosis is highly suspected from the opening scenario. There are some tests which are clearly contrain- dicated, based on history, physical ex- am findings and diagnostic tests engaged.

Although there may be multiple diagnoses involved in an individual case, in the diagnostic phase of ADTP, the user is asked to enter a primary diagnosis. Regardless of whether the user chooses the correct or incorrect diagnosis, the program will end and the score will be

displayed along with some summary comments about the primary disease entity.

Scoring is based on the number of tests performed and the total client bill. The user is allowed a very

200 AAV TODAY

reasonable amount to charge the client before he is penalized for run- ning too many tests.

Hardware requirements for the pro- gram include: IBM compatible XT, AT or better computer with 5MB hard drive, 640 K RAM memory, MS DOS 3.0 or better disk operating system and at least one 5 /4" floppy disk drive.

Designed branching programs will always include some of the author's subjective opinion of what is impor- tant to present. This effort has been reviewed by seven clinicians, three of whom practice avianlexotic medicine on a regular basis. This represents the first (and perhaps only) version of an attempt to teach veterinary students and interested clinicians our approach to avian medicine. - Patrick J. Morris, DVM, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Recycled Computer Paper Don't throw away those perforated

edges torn from your reports and in- voices. They make great cage filler for cats hospitalized after a declawing. The paper is clean and doesn't ir- ritate the animal's tender paws. - From PSI Client Newsletter On Line, September, 1988

Importance of a Backup Most people who use a personal

computer do not make frequent

backup copies of their records. When things are running smoothly, they feel they have no need for them, but when a crisis occurs and data is lost, it is too late if a backup does not exist.

Unfortunately, many veterinary management system users also fail to backup their data as often as they should. The two most common reasons are, "It takes too long" or "The system has never crashed, so why bother?" In an attempt to ad- dress both of these issues, we added an incremental backup function that is performed every time one exits the system. This feature is not optional (so the user is forced to use it). Because it saves only the records which have been modified since the last backup, it normally takes less than a minute. An incremental

backup feature is worth considering when deciding on an appropriate system. - Clinton Parker, Action Computer Services, Greenwood, Delaware

Computer Records Very few veterinarians who request

information on a practice manage- ment system are interested in how many records the system can handle. The few who do, normally ask, "What size hard disk do you pro- vide?" The idea that "bigger is bet- ter" is not always true.

Actually, the important piece of information is the average record size. A system with a 20MB hard drive that averages 25 bytes per record can store twice as many records as a 40MB system that average 100 bytes per record. When choosing a system that serves one's needs, consider that a larger hard drive usually costs more money, and that larger records take longer to access and backup. When reviewing a potential system for your practice, make sure that the data be- ing demonstrated is representative of your practice, and note how fast records can be accessed and backed up. - Clinton Parker, Action Computer Services, Greenwood, Delaware

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