Despite many hurdles, our phased re-opening of the hospital is going well, thanks to everyone’s participation. Our transition to outdoor client check-in is the result of a tremendous effort by the client services team. By swiftly establishing a makeshift reception area at the front door, the client service representatives and technicians have worked together to efficiently admit our patients and provide their families alternative waiting options. Their teamwork in the face of the stress of an alternative work environment has been exemplary, especially as the heat of the summer is upon us. I also wish to acknowledge the efforts to establish our new VMTH entrance policy. I want to congratulate the administration, IT, client services, and supervisor teams who helped create the process, as well as the daily symptom screening survey. This simple online tool takes just a minute to complete each morning, but is invaluable to all our health and safety and has led to several actions that had the potential to reduce spread of infection within the hospital. Thank you to all for your efforts in adhering to this new protocol of entry each day. We will be introducing thermal scanning on June 29 in response to the rise in cases in the state. I know it adds a few extra steps to your already busy schedules, but it truly is an important part of keeping us all safe. We urge you to continue to follow hospital policy with mandatory face covering usage and attention to disinfection and hand hygiene. Because of everyone’s efforts over the past few months, we’ve been able to continue to provide care for our community’s animals, including
Max, whose case is a reminder of what makes the VMTH special – the ability for several specialty services to seamlessly collaborate under one roof. With Max, it was five different services: Emergency/Critical Care, Anesthesiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Soft Tissue Surgery, and Internal Medicine. No other hospital in California, and very few nationwide, can rival what we bring to the table every day. And I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve assembled here.
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Dr. Jane Sykes
Chief Veterinary Medical Officer
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The hospital’s Focused Recognition Award Program provides an opportunity to highlight our ongoing Cultural Journey and recognize those who have provided remarkable progress within our five Cultural Beliefs: One Team, Trusted Dialogue, Pursue Excellence, Realize Our Vision, and Value People.
June recipients:
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Shane Westman, farrier, and
Gabe Gil, service coordinator
in the Large Animal Clinic, were recognized for demonstrating the Cultural Beliefs of
Value People,
One Team,
and
Realize Our Vision,
which contributed to the Key Result of
Excellence in Patient Care.
The Equine Lameness and Surgery Service, in conjunction with our farrier Shane Westman, have continued to provide excellent customer service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And in moments of down time, Westman and Gabe Gil were able to do a long-overdue remodel of the farrier shop. Dr. Larry Galuppo recognized their hard work and dedication: “Shane and Gabe have both gone above and beyond the call of duty during this pandemic by providing outstanding patient care and client service. With the nature of our cases with critical podiatry issues, this team has continued to work hard during the entire length of the clinic’s limited service protocols. Additionally, they worked extremely hard in preparing and finishing the farrier shop for its long overdue remodel.” Well done, Shane and Gabe!
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Key Cultural Pillar
"Pursue Excellence"
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Several residents won awards this year for their outstanding research. Equine surgery residents Drs. Jannah Pye and Tom Cullen were awarded the Mark S. Bloomberg Memorial Resident Research Award by the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS). The two were among a handful of residents throughout the country awarded the prize. They were recognized in February at the VOS Annual Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, before the COVID-19 pandemic caused all veterinary conferences to cease in-person activities. Drs. Pye and Cullen are the first UC Davis residents to win the Bloomberg award since its inception in 2012. Also, behavior resident Dr. Sun Kim was selected as the recipient of the 2020 American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) R.K. Anderson Resident Award. The recognition is given annually for outstanding research by veterinarians in ACVB residencies, such as UC Davis’ three-year advanced training program. Normally, recipients of the award showcase their research at the annual Veterinary Behavior Symposium. Dr. Kim was scheduled to attend and present her paper titled “Effects of trazodone on behavioral and physiological signs of stress in dogs during veterinary visits.” However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACVB restructured the meeting as a virtual event, where Dr. Kim’s presentation will appear as part of their online symposium. Starting July 15, those interested can view the event at their leisure free on the ACVB
website. Previously, two other UC Davis residents won the award – Dr. Meredith Stepita and Dr. Liz Stelow, who is now the chief of the Behavior Service. Congratulations to all!
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COVID-19 Update:
- Please continue to use the VMTH entry process and only enter the hospital at three doors: CCAH front door, VMTH east door (near the annex), and VMTH west door (LAC entrance). Before entering, you will need to complete the online daily symptom screening survey. Items needed at all times in the VMTH include: a mask, your identification badge, and daily colored dot for badge showing you are approved to be in the building. Please leave enough time (~10 extra minutes) to get through the health screening entry points that includes survey approval check-in. We appreciate your dedication to the safety of all our team members.
- Infrared scanning will begin June 29 as communicated by email.
VMC Phase I Update:
- On June 15, we opened the new women’s locker room on the first floor of the VMTH. This renovation is part of the needed infrastructure upgrades for the VMC project. You will only be able to access this room with an assignment from Personnel. Therefore, if you are interested in a obtaining a locker on the first floor, please reach out to Personnel Services (530-752-2238). You can setup a time to receive a key and a locker assignment. We will keep the Annex locker room operational as well.
- The Feline Treatment and Housing Suite is complete. The Ward 3 redesign has given us a dedicated area to hospitalize and treat cats in the same area, without having to transport patients to other areas of the VMTH. This new suite will help create a more efficient work environment for technicians, as they care for multiple patients. We will be having a virtual ribbon cutting for our generous donors and will communicate when the ward is available for use.
Wellness Tip of the Month:
Florence Soares-Dabalos, MS, LMFT, the VMTH’s client support counselor/grief counselor, offers a brief tip on managing stress through the current crisis. Please see the
full website of services that Florence offers.
- Want a quick way to relax your body when you don't have much time? The 4-7-8 breathing technique can help within minutes. Watch this 2-minute video to learn how to use this relaxing breathing technique.
- House Officers are invited to participate in “Take-A-Break Thursdays,” the VMTH’s new virtual drop-in group facilitated by Florence. This group allows House Officers to share whatever is on their mind and to receive support in a safe, confidential space. Register here
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