Companion Animal Internal Medicine and Speciality Cases - Systematic Diagnostic Decision Making

Course content

The purpose of this course is to provide the students with theoretical and practical skills to perform rational diagnostic work-up and clinical decision-making and to extend the participants knowledge, personal skills and competences within the discipline of companion animal internal medicine and the subspecialties neurology, cardiology, dermatology, and oncology. The course will have special emphasis on the application of the problem-oriented approach (POA) as a systematic reflective diagnostic decision-making tool in companion animal internal medicine patients. It will mainly be case-based and interactive to further reflection, analysis, and synthesis of patient problems from available data and background knowledge. The POA will be used to work-up cases with simple or complex clinical manifestations of medical diseases. Evaluation and interpretation of blood samples, including haematological and biochemical profiles, as well as urine samples and other laboratory results will be taught in relation to complex clinical cases.

Education

This course is a compulsory course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The master is a post graduate education targeted companion animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

 

Read more about the  Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science.

Learning outcome

Having completed the course, the student shall be able to:


Knowledge

  • Define, identify, and discuss the systematic diagnostic decision-making approach to the companion animal internal medicine patient as well as the cardiologic, neurologic, dermatologic, and oncologic patient using the POA.
  • Explain and reflect about the systematic diagnostic decision-making approach using POA.

 
Skills

  • Apply POA in complex companion animal internal medicine patients in relation to clinical manifestations of disease.
  • Interpret, assess, and reflect on patient data in order to list patient problems, localise and identify the cause of disease (DAMNIT), establish a final diagnosis and perform follow-up assessment based on POA on complex internal medicine patients.
  • Reflect about indications for and interpretion of laboratory and imaging data in relation to the internal medicine patient.
  • Perform an advanced clinical cardiologic examination, neurologic examination, dermatologic examination, and examination of a patient with cancer.
  • Perform case presentations for both companion animal dedicated and non-dedicated colleagues and clients.
  • Apply evidence-based approaches in internal medicine patients.

 
Competences

  • Plan and evaluate a diagnostic work-up for patients with a complex history within companion animal internal medicine.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within veterinary internal medicine.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between both companion animal dedicated and non-dedicated peers and lay persons involved in companion animal internal medicine patient management.

Case-based and problem-oriented lectures, theoretical and practical exercises, and workshops. E-learning may be used as well.

Theoretical cases and practice case paradigms as well as an updated literature list will be posted at least 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation. Furthermore it is required that the participant has worked with all theoretical cases and prepared a presentation of a practice case (following the POA paradigm).

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

Written
Oral
ECTS
1 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Type of assessment details
The ongoing tests consist of three parts:
a) a minimum of 80% active participation,
b) preparation and presentation of, and participation in case discussions,
c) an assignment on an evidence-based procedure.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1.
Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner.
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assessment

To achieve the grade passed, the student shall be able to:


Knowledge

  • Define, identify and discuss the systematic diagnostic decision making approach to the companion animal internal medicine patient as well as the cardiologic, neurologic, and oncologic patient using the problem based approach (POMR).
  • Explain and reflect about the systematic diagnostic decision making approach using POMR.

 
Skills

  • Apply the POMR approach in complex companion animal internal medicine patients in relation to clinical manifestations of disease.
  • Interpret, assess and reflect on patient data in order to list patient problems, localise and identify the cause of disease (DAMNIT), establish a final diagnosis and perform follow up assessment based on POMR on complex internal medicine patients.
  • Reflect about indications for and interpretion of laboratory and imaging data in relation to the internal medicine patient.
  • Perform an advanced clinical cardiologic examination, neurologic examination, and examination of a patient with cancer
  • Perform case presentations for both companion animal dedicated and non-dedicated colleagues and clients.
  • Apply evidence based approaches in internal medicine patients.

 
Competences

  • Plan and evaluate a diagnostic work-up for a patient with a complex history within companion animal internal medicine.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within veterinary internal medicine.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between both companion animal dedicated and non-dedicated peers and lay persons involved in companion animal internal medicine patient management.
ECTS
6,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
The written assignment includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1.
Examination prerequisites

Students may attend this examination without approval of Exam 1 (SCAM25017E Ongoing Test).

Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner.
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assessment

To achieve the maximum grade 12, the student shall be able to:


Knowledge

  • Define, identify and discuss the systematic diagnostic decision-making approach to the companion animal internal medicine patient as well as the cardiologic, neurologic, dermatologic, and oncologic patient using the POA.
  • Explain and reflect about the systematic diagnostic decision-making approach using POA.

 
Skills

  • Apply the POA in complex companion animal internal medicine patients in relation to clinical manifestations of disease.
  • Interpret, assess, and reflect on patient data in order to list patient problems, localise and identify the cause of disease (DAMNIT), establish a final diagnosis and perform follow-up assessments based on POA in complex internal medicine patients.
  • Reflect about indications for and interpretion of laboratory and imaging data in relation to the internal medicine patient.
  • Perform an advanced clinical cardiologic examination, neurologic examination, dermatologic examination, and examination of a patient with cancer.
  • Perform case presentations for both companion animal dedicated and non-dedicated colleagues and clients.
  • Apply evidence-based approaches in internal medicine patients.

 
Competences

  • Plan and evaluate diagnostic work-up for a patient with a complex history within companion animal internal medicine.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within veterinary internal medicine.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between both companion animal dedicated and non-dedicated peers and lay persons involved in companion animal internal medicine patient management.

Part time Master and Diploma courses

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 10
  • Preparation
  • 134
  • Theory exercises
  • 12
  • Practical exercises
  • 10
  • Exam
  • 40
  • English
  • 206

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
SCAM25017U
ECTS
See exam description
Programme level
Part Time Master
Duration
6 days full time.
Placement
Spring
Price

Companion Animal Internal Medicine and Speciality Cases - Systematic Diagnostic Decision Making – University of Copenhagen.

Schedulegroup
This course will be offered in the Spring semester (even-numbered years). For more information about the exact course please visit the webpage.
Capacity
30
Studyboard
Study Board for the Professionel Master´s Degree Programmes at The Faculty og Health and Medical Science
Contracting department
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Contracting faculty
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
  • Lisbeth Rem Jessen   (4-6f75706d4376787167316e7831676e)
  • Charlotte Reinhard Bjørnvad   (3-6574644275777066306d7730666d)
    Main responsible
Teacher

National and International capacities within the field.

Saved on the 25-06-2025

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