Internship-Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

VCA South Shore Animal Hospital

Intern Survey Results

Positions: 8
Survey Responses: 3
Category: Small Animal Rotating
Program Dates: 6/13/2016 to 7/5/2017

Responses except for Question 11

  1. Strongly Disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Neither agree or disagree
  4. Agree
  5. Strongly Agree

Questions

  1. The internship met the program description as provided in the VIRMP

    Mean: 3.7

  2. The time spent on emergency duty matched the program description

    Mean: 3.3

  3. I received an orientation to the work environment and job requirements at the start of the internship

    Mean: 3.7

  4. I was provided with supervision and opportunity to consult with other doctors at the institution/practice regarding patient care

    Mean: 3.7

  5. Rounds, journal clubs, or other educational opportunities were regularly available during the internship

    Mean: 3.3

  6. Adequate opportunity to study and prepare for clinical cases was provided

    Mean: 3.0

  7. I was satisfied with the clinical training opportunities provided during the internship

    Mean: 3.3

  8. The internship met my learning objectives

    Mean: 3.3

  9. I was treated in a professional manner by staff and other doctors

    Mean: 3.3

  10. I would recommend this internship program to a friend or colleague

    Mean: 3.7

  11. The average number of hours I worked per week

    Mean: 4.3

    1. Less than 40 hours
    2. 40-49 hours
    3. 50-59 hours
    4. 60-69 hours
    5. 70-79 hours
    6. Greater than 80 hours

Program Being Evaluated Follows

Employment Information

Salary: $32,000/year

Opportunity to earn additional cash compensation: The intern will receive $25 for each surgical case that he or she is called in to assist on that is outside of his or her normal working hours.

Benefits: VCA provides its interns with a comprehensive benefits package, including: VIN Membership at no charge Continuing Education Allowance Eligibility for Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage Eligibility for Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance Eligibility to participate in 401(k) retirement savings plan Professional Liability Coverage

Vacation: One week

Is a contract required? Yes

Is a non-compete clause required? No

Is a State license required? Yes    If yes, what is the licensure fee? $125 (reimbursed)

Is a DEA license required? Yes

Is USDA accreditation required? No

Caseload

The following information represents the average of cases in direct support of this program

Total No. Annual Cases: 27600
Average Daily No. Cases Presented to Hospital: 76
Average No. Cases Treated Daily as Outpatients: 61
Average No. of Inpatients Each Day: 15
Average No. Daily Surgeries Performed: 12
Average No. of Emergency Cases Seen Daily: 22

Number of Faculty/Clinicians in Direct Support of Program: 26
Number of Residents in Direct Support of Program: 0

Diplomates in Direct Support of Internship

Full Time Part Time/Consultant Full Time Part Time/Consultant
ABVP ACT
ACVAA ACVD 1
ACVCP ACVN
ACVO 1 ACVR 2
ACVS 2 ACZM
AVDC ACVECC 1
ACVIM/CARD 1 ACVIM/INTMED 4
ACVIM/NEUR ACVIM/ONC
ACVB ABVT
ACLAM ACPV
ACVM ACVP
ACVPM ACVIM/LA
ACVR/ONC ACVSMR

Registered/Licensed/Certified Veterinary Technicians

In Direct Support of Program: 24
Assigned to the Emergency Service per shift: 1
Assigned to the Intensive Care Unit per shift: 1

Clinical Experience and Responsibilities

  1. Yes No
    Does the intern have primary case care responsibility for first-opinion and emergency/critical care cases?
  2. Yes No
    Is the intern the primary surgeon on a broad range of elective and entry-level procedures?
  3. Yes No
    Does the intern have primary case care responsibility for complex cases with supervision by a boarded specialist?
  4. Yes No
    Are patient rounds held daily with a boarded specialist in attendance?
  5. 92%
    What is the percentage of time the intern will be directly supervised?

Didactic Training

  1. Yes No
    Are teaching rounds held weekly?
  2. Yes No
    Does the intern deliver a professional presentation or seminar to senior clinicians and peers?
  3. Yes No
    Does the intern have an opportunity to attend a professional meeting?
  4. Yes No
    Is financial support provided to attend a professional meeting?
  5. Yes No
    Is the intern required to complete/submit a publication?

Facilities

  1. Yes No
    Does the intern have access to current medical textbooks?
  2. Yes No
    Is a computer with internet access provided?
  3. Yes No
    Does the intern have access to search engines for scientific literature and online journals?
  4. Yes No
    Does the primary hospital have an intensive care unit?

Equipment

  1. Do interns have access to the following equipment/technology, either on-site or outsourced?
    • Ultrasonography
    • Electrocardiography
    • Blood Pressure Monitoring
    • Echocardiography
    • Endoscopy
    • CT Scan
    • Bone Plating Equipment
    • MRI
    • Digital Radiography
    • Laparoscopy
    • Arthroscopy
    • Basic clinical laboratory equipment
    • Nuclear Medicine
    • Blood Gas Analysis
    • Diagnostic Laboratory
    • Physical Therapy

Scheduling

These percentages may not be cumulative

  1. 19%
    Percentage of program intern is assigned to daytime primary emergency
  2. 16%
    Percentage of program intern is assigned to overnight primary emergency
  3. 8%
    Percentage of program intern is assigned to first opinion (primary care) clinics
  4. 57%
    Percentage of program intern is provided elective time
  5. 1%
    Percentage of program intern is required to work at a secondary (satellite) clinic

Orientation/Supervision/Mentoring

  1. Yes No
    Is a formal orientation program required?
  2. Yes No
    Does the intern have a mentor who is a veterinarian in the practice?
  3. Yes No
    Are written performance evaluations provided?
  4. Yes No
    Is an internship orientation manual provided?

Additional Information about Program

VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital is offering its 45th competitive small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship program beginning June 13, 2016. There are eight small animal medicine and surgery internship positions available for our 12.5 month training program. This program is designed to provide the intern with very strong clinical mentorship.VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital is a 34-doctor group practice that was founded 49 years ago. The practice is located 25 minutes south of Boston and 55 minutes from Cape Cod. The hospital has a large referral practice, as well as an emergency service and a general practice. Sixteen of the senior staff doctors have completed residency programs. Our senior staff is comprised of 6 internists (4 are board certified), and board certified specialists in dermatology, diagnostic imaging (2), emergency/critical care, ophthalmology, and surgery (2). We also have two residency-trained veterinarians in neurology, one residency-trained veterinarian in oncology, and one residency-trained veterinarian in avian and exotic animal medicine. Our staff also includes part-time board certified specialists in acupuncture and cardiology. All interns are assigned a mentoring team at the start of their program.The practice consists of the main hospital in South Weymouth and an outpatient clinic in Quincy. The new South Weymouth hospital, which was opened in 2011, is a 28,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that has specialized services including diagnostic ultrasound, echocardiography, digital radiography, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, I131, electrodiagnostics, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, advanced orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, mechanical ventilation, pulse oximetry, blood pressure monitoring, telemetry, blood bank, a full clinical laboratory, and a 24-hour emergency service. The emergency service rotations include overnight duty at the main hospital in South Weymouth. Interns are expected to manage complex as well as routine cases under the direction of the intern director and senior staff. Ward rounds are conducted each morning. Didactic training consists of daily afternoon case-based rounds and a monthly doctor lecture series. Each intern is also required to give a formal forty-five minute PowerPoint presentation on a topic of their choosing during the internship. In addition, VCA provides two all-day seminars annually for all area veterinarians, which the interns are expected to attend. The total compensation package for the program consists of an annual salary of $32,000. A Massachusetts license and a DEA license are required prior to the start of the internship. Interns receive one week of paid vacation. VCA provides its interns with a comprehensive benefits package. In addition to our didactic programs, interns receive a free membership to VIN during their year of matriculation. We would be happy to arrange for a visit to the hospital. Although an interview is not required, it is strongly recommended; a telephone or Skype interview can also be arranged.