VSPN TECH301-0319: Physical Rehabilitation for the Geriatric Patient - Continual Education

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Enrollment is closed.
Instructor: Mary Ellen Goldberg BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-physical rehabilitation, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia)
Course Open: March 11, 2019-April 4, 2019
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, March 18 and 25, 2019; 8-9:30PM ET(USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

To prepare for your online experience, review the VIN-VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course will be open to veterinary technicians/technologists and support staff actively interested in geriatric dogs and cats their pain management and physical rehabilitation.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been approved for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.(22-35407) “

Course Description:
Gerontology is the study of aging. As companion animals age, they undergo changes. These are not a disease process, but a decline in reserves and strength as well as other changes in all body systems; which increases the likelihood of a patient developing disease. This course will help the veterinary technician to understand what happens in aging and ways to improve quality of life for the patient and their owner.

Week 1 (Real Time Session March 18): What Happens in Aging, How to Improve the Pet’s Lifestyle and Pain
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • Discuss what happens as animals age
  • Outline where to begin looking at the pet’s quality of life.
  • Discuss what physical rehabilitation for the geriatric patient entails.
  • Discuss common physical and functional changes associated with aging.
  • Understand how chronic pain affects the pet.
  • Point out non-pharmacologic therapies that can help the chronic pain.
  • Discuss multimodal pain management preferred.
Week 2 (Real Time Session March 25): Quality of Life, Setting Goals, Modalities and Therapies in Physical Rehabilitation plus Environmental Modifications
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • Discuss quality of life assessment.
  • Examine Multimodal Rehabilitation for the Geriatric Dog.
  • Discuss Manual therapies that can be used and precautions.
  • Explain Hydrotherapy.
  • Discuss Geriatric Canine and Feline Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
  • Know what muscles and movements are important for geriatric animals.
  • Analyze what the objectives are for geriatric patients.
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 be an audio presentation, 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: There is no required textbook for this course.

Recommended Textbooks:

  • Physical Rehabilitation for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, First Edition., Edited by Mary Ellen Goldberg and Julia E. Tomlinson, John Wiley & Sons, Ames, IA, 2018
  • Pain Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, First Edition. Edited by Mary Ellen Goldberg and Nancy Shaffran John Wiley & Sons, Ames, IA. 2015

About the Instructor:
Mary Ellen Goldberg BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRA, CVPP, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia), VTS-physical rehabilitation: Mary Ellen Goldberg is a graduate of Harcum College and the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. She worked at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Division of Animal Resources and for Research Scientists advising on their choices for anesthesia and pain management on their protocols. She was a member of VCU’s IACUC for 10 years. She has been the instructor of Anesthesia and Pain Management at VetMedTeam, LLC since 2003. She has been the Executive Secretary for the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) since 2008. She is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through IVAPM. Mary Ellen is also a Surgical Research Anesthetist certified through the Academy of Surgical Research. She is on the Exam Chair for APRVT (Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians). She is Exam Chair for the Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (APRVT). Currently, she is a staff member at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse. (CCRVN). Mary Ellen was chosen NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year 2017. Mary Ellen has written several books, and contributed to numerous chapters regarding anesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. She speaks at national meetings on these topics and gives private CE to organizational groups. She has worked in various aspects of veterinary medicine from small animal and equine to mixed practice, coccidiosis research for a pharmaceutical company, zoo animal medicine and laboratory animal medicine since 1976.

Total CE Credit: 3

Tuition: $63 ($57 early bird special if enrolled by February 25, 2019)
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 March 18,2019, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  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 . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

*Note: “This program has been approved for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. “ (22-35407);

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 VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

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

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services:
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