5 Pillars of Hospice Care
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians Track: Geriatrics
Overview:
Veterinary hospice care is a unique case approach centered around education,
preparation, and support for the pet and the client. Understanding what this
service includes and what it does not include will help veterinary
professionals solidify their role as animal advocators, strengthen the human
animal bond, and maintain the highest level of client care.
Learning Objectives
- Understand what Veterinary Hospice is and how to incorporate it within the clinic
- Learn the common symptoms and ways to manage them
- Consider caregiver concerns and stress in Hospice
Mary Gardner, DVM
Dr. Mary Gardner, Co-Founder and CIO of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia. There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzled dog or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved. Dr. Mary Gardner didn’t grow up hoping to become a veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Miami, she began working as a trainer for an enterprise-wide order management software. After learning the intricacies of the software and the variety of ways different businesses used it, she moved into a Business Architect role where she led the design of new software initiatives. Her innate talent for understanding logistics in a client-centric organization developed a unique skill set for a veterinarian. After 10 years in software she found herself longing for something different and more meaningful – the path she selected was to become a veterinarian. She completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the University of Florida. She worked in general medicine at a veterinary clinic in south Florida for two years before discovering her niche in end-of-life care. Dr. Gardner is a published author for many articles and a textbook, speaks all around the world on geriatrics and end of life care and was voted 2020 VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year!
This program is approved for 1.0 hour(s) of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE®-approval.
