college connection
PROFESSIONALISM
BE AWARE continued from previous page
“ algorithmic” and literal minded approach to clinical choices and behaviours close the mind to relevant feelings and options. These practices in senior veterinarians can be emulated by junior colleagues who then become unconsciously incompetent with respect to self-awareness, even as they develop clinical knowledge and skills.
Self-Awareness Strategies
Here are a few recommendations to help improve self-awareness:
• Keep a journal of reflective writing. Record thoughts and ideas about your reactions to events of the day, reflecting upon what went well, or not, and how your personal realities influenced your choices.
• Learn and practice meditative techniques.
• Seek out friends and peers with whom you can discuss your thoughts, feelings, behavioural choices and reactions.
• Seek behavioural feedback at work.
• Seek out opportunities for group education and discussion that focuses upon relevant leadership, problem-solving and ethical practice knowledge and skills.
• Mentor and be mentored by others who value self-awareness practices.
• Employ the services of a suitable professional coach.
• Sometimes, professional counselling is a good way to enhance self-awareness.
In The Heat of the Moment
I often ask audiences if it’ s acceptable to be uncivil toward colleagues in an urgent situation. Invariably there is someone who believes it is OK to be uncivil, especially in a“ life and death” situation. The speaker is usually referring to a communication style that is firm, even forceful. Perhaps taking an assertive, directive, yet respectful stance is
in keeping with civility in such a situation, designed to bring out the best action from a co-worker. Nonetheless, crisis is a moment of high tension that can place civility at risk. How do you handle your frustration or even anger?
The Physician Health Program has developed a short strategy that incorporates awareness techniques. We borrowed the ABC( airway, breathing, circulation) approach familiar to those who work in critical care:
• A stands for Awareness— learn to recognize one’ s own reactions to critical situations as an early warning sign.
• B stands for Breathe— learn how to pause, even if very briefly, to reflect on the situation. If there is time, a short breathing meditation may help.( For an example: http:// php. oma. org / Mindfulness. html).
• C stands for Choose a Civil form of Communication— effective communication is the third Fundamental of Civility.
The goal of awareness, certainly as it pertains to civility, is to render informed and conscious behavioural choice readily available. Those who achieve the highest level of selfawareness obtain a useful and functional insight. Such individuals are able to recognize the roots of their behaviours, solve problems and overcome challenges by being present in the moment, able to feel and express compassion while developing new attitudes and the freedom to make civil choices. An interesting thing can happen: while any one of us accesses civility, others seem to do the same! Awareness is at the heart of a caring and civilized profession. Choose civility.
Dr. Michael Kaufmann is Medical Director of the OMA Physician Health Program and Physician Workplace Support Program. At a recent Council meeting, Dr. Kaufmann delivered a presentation on civility and explained the five fundamentals of civility for veterinarians. View the presentation at www. cvo. org / video. Watch College Connection for the complete series of articles on civility.
VCPR
STANDARD AND GUIDE AVAILABLE
The veterinarian-client-patient relationship( VCPR) is one of the foundations of effective veterinary care and service. The College Council recently approved a revised Professional Practice Standard on the VCPR. The standard and a related guide are now available on the College website.
A VCPR must exist before a veterinarian recommends or provides any veterinary services, such as prescribing, dispensing or administering drugs, to an animal or group / herd of animals.
The guide addresses questions and offers suggestions on how to apply the VCPR standard in veterinary practice including:
• what constitutes sufficient and recent knowledge of an animal?
• what information should be shared to support continuity of care?
• how can a VCPR be terminated?
• does a VCPR expire? Resources available
The College has resources available to assist you in explaining the VCPR to clients. A poster to display in your facility, an informative video to watch and share online, and also a handout to provide to clients are all available upon request. Information is also available on the College website which helps to assist clients and veterinarians in their expectations and responsibilities to one another.
Ensure you and your client have a strong relationship- it’ s the responsible thing to do!
Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship
Review the standard and resources. www. cvo. org / VCPR
www. cvo. org / Resources / Client- Communications-and-Consent
Fall 2016 / 3