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COMPETENCY AND PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF ANIMAL CARE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. Elizabeth Dodemaide B.V.Sc., M.A. Associate Director, Laboratory Animal Services Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Challenges in a Large Academic Institution. Diversity of Research:
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COMPETENCY AND PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF ANIMAL CARE TRAINING PROGRAMSIN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS Elizabeth Dodemaide B.V.Sc., M.A. Associate Director, Laboratory Animal Services Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Challenges in a Large Academic Institution Diversity of Research: Field Studies to Farm Animals to Cancer to Neuroscience
Challenges in a Large Academic Institution • Diversity of Researchers: • Professors • Post docs • Students • Graduate, Undergraduate, High School • Animal care staff • Cultural diversity
Challenges in a Large Academic Institution • Numerous facilities • Distance
How do we determine competency? • Adequate animal welfare • Research results • Non-compliant findings • Observation of technical and surgical procedures
How do we achieve competency? • Training • Orientation program • Hands-on training • Department/ lab meeting visits • Re-training
Responsibility for Training • IACUC delegates Laboratory Animal Services veterinarians to provide Orientation Training • Principal Investigators responsible for registering all individuals and ensuring training in protocol specific procedures • Protocol approval contingent on PI completing Orientation training
Orientation Programs Face-to-face • Negatives - Limited number of classes – PIs, students have class scheduling conflicts - Travel problems to location of class • Diverse group with very different needs
Orientation Programs Face-to face • Positives – Participants get to meet a veterinarian or other Lab Animal Services staff member • Able to ask questions • Able to meet and interact with other animal users
Orientation Programs Online • Negatives – Impersonal, don’t meet LAS staff - Can’t ask questions - Computer access necessary
Orientation Programs Online • Positives • Can be completed at any time • Modules provide more focused training
Hands-on Training • Species specific • Small groups Negative - Voluntary Positive - Trainer able to observe proficiency in techniques
Lab Visits • Focuses on lab needs • Dialogue often identifies areas for further training Result: • Improved compliance
Proficiency Assessment • Observation of surgeries and certain procedures • Often a condition of protocol approval Result: • Better animal welfare and compliance
Hazards • Individual SOP for each hazard • Tied to protocol approval • Training of animal care and investigator’s staff • Observation of first procedure with Health and Safety person – often done as dry run
Field Studies • Training & observation can be difficult • May require study specific occupational health/hazard training
Summary • Providing adequate training for all animal users is challenging • Good communication with PIs is vital • Need continual critical evaluation to update and improve programs