Veterinary internships disclosure outline

Personnel and caseload number

1. Full-time diplomates in each specialty area in direct support of internship program
2. Part-time diplomates in each specialty area in direct support of internship program
3. General practitioners/emergency doctors in direct support of internship program
4. Diplomates in indirect support of internship program
5. Number of clinical residents in each specialty area in direct support of internship program
6. Number of registered/licensed/certified veterinary technicians in direct support of internship program
7. Number of registered/licensed/certified veterinary technicians assigned to the emergency service
8. Number of registered/licensed/certified veterinary technicians assigned to the intensive care unit
   1. On a 24/7 basis
   2. Only after hours
   3. Only during working hours
9. Caseload - include only hospital areas where intern will be assigned
   1. Total annual caseload
   2. Average number of cases presented daily
   3. Average number of outpatients presented daily
   4. Average number of inpatients each day
   5. Average number of surgeries performed daily
   6. Average number of emergency cases seen daily
10. Other personnel of note. Please describe (text box)

# Do not list personnel known to be leaving the practice in the next 12 months.

Outcome assessment (questions 1 – 3 formatted as a table)

1. Number of interns who started this program per year for the past 5 years
2. Number of interns who completed this program per year for the past 5 years
3. Number of interns from this program who applied for a residency in the past 5 years
4. Number of interns from this program who accepted a residency in the past 5 years
5. Is an exit interview required? Are results available to prospective applicants?

Clinical experience and responsibilities

1. Does the intern have primary case care responsibility for first-opinion and emergency/critical care cases?
2. Describe back-up available for interns when assigned to emergency duty. (text box)
3. Is the intern the primary surgeon on a broad range of elective and entry-level procedures?
4. Does the intern have primary case care responsibility for complex cases with supervision by a boarded specialist?
5. Are patient rounds held daily with a boarded specialist in attendance?
6. What is the percentage of time the intern will be directly supervised:
   1. During the first 1/3 of program?
   2. During the middle 1/3 of program?
   3. During the final 1/3 of program?

Didactic training

1. Are teaching rounds held weekly?
2. Does the intern deliver a professional presentation or seminar to senior clinicians and peers?
3. Does the intern have an opportunity to attend a professional meeting? If so, is funding provided?
4. Is the intern required to complete/submit a publication?

Facilities

1. Does the intern have access to current medical textbooks?
2. Is a computer with internet access provided?
3. Does the intern have access to search engines for scientific literature and online journals?
4. Does the primary hospital have an intensive care unit?

Equipment – check all that apply

1. Bone plating equipment
2. Computed tomography
3. Magnetic resonance imaging
4. Digital radiography
5. Echocardiography
6. Electrocardiography
7. Endoscopy
8. Ultrasonography
9. Laparoscopy
10. Arthroscopy
11. Basic clinical laboratory equipment on site
12. Nuclear medicine
13. Blood gas analysis
14. Diagnostic laboratory
15. Physical therapy equipment (underwater treadmill)
16. Other (text box)

Scheduling

1. Percentage of program intern is assigned to daytime primary emergency
   1. Describe shifts (text box)
2. Percentage of program intern is assigned to overnight primary emergency
   1. Describe shifts (text box)
3. Percentage of program intern is assigned to first opinion (primary care) clinics
4. Percentage of program intern is assigned to required exotic/small mammal rotation
5. Percentage of program intern is provided elective time
6. Percentage of program intern is required to work at a secondary (satellite) clinic

Orientation/Supervision/Mentoring

1. Is a formal orientation program required?
2. Does the intern have a mentor who is a veterinarian in the practice?
3. Are written performance evaluations provided? If so, how often? (text box)
4. Is an internship orientation manual provided?

Employment information

1. Is a contract required?
2. Is there a non-compete clause in the contract? If so, list time and distance. (text box)
3. Salary (text box)
4. Does the intern have an opportunity to earn additional cash compensation? If so, describe and include estimated total additional income. (text box)
5. Benefits – list all provided (text box)
6. Vacation – list number of days (text box)
7. Is a state license required? If yes, what is the fee? (text box)
8. Is a DEA license required?
9. Is USDA accreditation required?
10. Does program assist intern in finding housing?

APPENDIX A - Specialties

ABVP
ACLAM
ACVB
ACVD
ACVIM/Cardiology
ACVIM/Neurology
ACVIM/Internal Medicine
ACVIM/Oncology
ACVIM (Large Animal)
ACVM
ACVO
ACVPM
ACVS
AVDC
ABVT
ACPV
ACVA
ACVCP
ACVECC
ACVN
ACVP
ACVR
ACVR (Radiation Oncology)
ACZM
ACT

APPENDIX B - Definitions

(Bold/Italicized words in disclosure form are defined in this section)

Internship
An internship should prepare a veterinarian for high-quality service in practice or for advanced specialty training. It is primarily an educational program for the intern rather than a service benefit to the hospital.

Direct support and direct supervision
The supervising veterinarian is in the building and available to the intern.

Full-time diplomate
The diplomate is in the building and available to the intern at least 8 hours per day, 4 days per week.

Part-time diplomate
The diplomate is in the building and available to the intern at least 20% of the work time.

Indirect support
The diplomate is available for consultation by telephone.

Patient rounds
An in-depth discussion about the mechanisms of disease and a thorough review of case management plans for each patient being managed by the intern and by the service. Typically occur on a daily or twice daily basis.

Teaching rounds
Journal clubs, seminars, lectures, morbidity/mortality rounds, clinicopathologic conference, etc. Typically occur on a weekly basis.

Internship orientation manual
A summary of hospital policies, protocols and procedures, performance expectations and minimum post-internship competencies as determined by the program director.

Disclaimer

The information provided should be considered typical or average for the program. Fluctuations in staff and caseload numbers are to be expected.

AVMA Internship Task Force
March, 2011