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
THE END