TECH271-0717: Myelopathies Appreciated in Small Animals
Audio and Text: The lectures for this course will be presented in a text format. Audio will be used to answer questions and augment the lecture.
Please come prepared to listen.

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Instructor(s): Carissa Reese, BS, RVT, VTS(Neurology)
Course Open: July 11, 2017-August 18, 2017
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, July 18, 25, August 1 and 8, 2017; 8:30-10:00pm EDT (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area.

*The instructors for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course is focused towards all veterinary support staff and concentrates on various myelopathies appreciated in canine and feline patients. Clinical findings, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and treatment options will all be explored.
VSPN CE Course: Open to VIN and VSPN members. This course has been RACE approved for veterinary technicians/technologists.(22-29650)

Course Description:
This interactive course will explore myelopathies that are most commonly appreciated in canine and feline patients. The main focus will be on the clinical signs, physiology, diagnostics, treatment and prognosis of each of the myelopathies discussed. There will be videos utilized to help visualize specific aspects of each disease. There will also be diagnostic images provided for discussion.

Week 1 (Real Time Session July 18): Anatomy/Physiology, Clinical Signs and MRI Basics
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Be familiar with common clinical signs in patients with myelopathies
• Recognize the difference between upper and lower motor neuron localization
• Explain the order of functional loss in extra-dural compressive myelopathies
• Interpret the various scans and sequences involved with MRI
• Describe nursing care for the non-ambulatory patient

Week 2 (Real Time Session July 25): Degenerative Myelopathies
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Differentiate the pathophysiology between Hansen type I, Hansen type II and ANNPE disc diseases
• Recognize the treatment options and surgical procedures performed based upon localization and level of compression
• Explain the pathophysiology differences between bone associated and disc associated wobbler
• Identify the MRI differences between bone associated and disc associated wobbler
• Recognize the clinical signs of caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy
• Understand the pathophysiology and clinical signs of degenerative lumbosacral disease and degenerative myelopathy

Week 3 (Real Time Session August 1): Anomalous and Neoplastic Myelopathies
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Describe the treatment options and nursing care for atlanto-axial subluxation
• Understand the clinical signs of patients with a subarachnoid diverticulum
• Identify a variety of vertebral malformations
• Assess MRI findings of spinal cord masses

Week 4 (Real Time Session August 8): Infectious/Inflammatory, Trauma, and Vascular Myelopathies
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Know the difference between infectious and non-infectious myelitis
• Recognize diskospondylitis on imaging and understand treatments involved
• Describe the pathophysiology of fibrocartilaginous emboli
• Explain when stabilization is recommended for vertebral fractures

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

*The lecture portion of this course will include audio for questions and answers, please be prepared to listen.

*To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructors:
Carissa Reese, BS, RVT, VTS (Neurology) obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at Purdue University and became a registered veterinary technician in 2003. She worked in general practice for 4 years, and then returned to academia at Purdue University in 2007. She was integral in developing the neurology service at Purdue University as the senior neurology technologist. Carissa pursued advanced education and training in neurology, and achieved board certification in 2011 by the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Neurology. In 2014, Carissa and her husband moved to South Florida and currently work at an exclusive neurology specialty practice; Southeast Veterinary Neurology. She has a strong interest in advanced imaging, neurosurgery, and teaching.

Total CE Credit: 6

Tuition: $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by June 27, 2017)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close at 5pm ET on July 18, 2017, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
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1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email VSPNCE@vspn.org. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

*Note: "This program 22-29650 is approved by the AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 0.00 CE Credits (0.00 max) being available to any one veterinarian: and/or 6.00 Veterinary Technician CE Credits (6.00 max). This RACE approval is for the subject matter categories of: Category One: Scientific using the delivery method of Interactive-Distance. This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board's CE requirements. RACE does not "accredit" or "endorse" or "certify" any program or person, nor does RACE approval validate the content of the program."

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VSPN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VSPN office at 800-846-0028 ext. 792.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Charlotte Waack, RVT, CVT
VSPN Director/VSPN CE Interim Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357

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