Definition of DC Time

Unless you are told otherwise on your case, each submission period is one day.

We try to be realistic regarding the amount of time it takes to get a test result back.

  • You can expect tests that would take 24 hours or less in real life to be returned after one submission period. (e.g. CBC’s, panels, U/A’s, cytology, radiographs, gross necropsy findings, etc).
  • Tests that would take 24-96 hours in real time will typically take longer – e.g. two submission periods. (e.g. most serology & viral isolation, antibiotic sensitivity, histopathology, etc.).
  • Tests that include: require more than 96 hours, run uncommonly, or must be sent to an outside laboratory (a lab other than WADDL or the VTH Clinical Pathology Service) may take longer. Examples include antibiotic sensitivity, viral isolation and some serology or toxicology. We will try to give you an idea of expected turn around time when these kind of tests are requested.

It is sometimes necessary and prudent to call “Time Out” so that you can confer with your colleagues. However, be forewarned that DC Clients should not be privy to these discussions. If you call “time out” when meeting with a client, you should excuse yourself from the room, hold your conversation outside the client’s earshot, and then return to continue your interaction with the client.

In order to evaluate response to treatment or to expedite the return of lab results that take a few days, you may request to “leap forward in time.” However these requests are usually only granted at or near the end of a DC case.

  • You should understand that for some cases a TIME LEAP will sometimes be imposed by the Case Facilitator. Mostly this will be used only to help you. However, “time leaps” also allow us to use cases that would not normally unfold over just 2-3 days. For example, a disease may have a more chronic course – or a case might warrant a treatment trial before proceeding on to more diagnostic tests/procedures.
  • It’s also acceptable to request a time leap from your facilitator – especially at the very end so that you might learn how the case turned out (e.g. did it respond to your treatment?). However, facilitators will usually NOT permit requested time leaps earlier – especially if it is seen as just an excuse for moving on, getting done, or for sloppy thinking. Remember that in real life, you often times have to just wait and see …
  • To request a DC Time Leap you must commit to a course of action for a designated period of time. For example, you might elect to treat with amoxicillin 150mg/BID PO for 5 days.
  • After a time leap you will receive an update describing what has happened during the designated period of time. The animal may be unchanged, may have improved, or may even have died. Remember that you MUST commit to a specified time period for a TIME LEAP. You cannot just say “continue treatment unless a change is noted”, although you can sometimes provide very specific instructions on what the client/clinic should be on alert for in order to truncate the time leap and alter the plan.

Some cases may also have built in “TIME COMPRESSIONS” during which real time is slowed down.

  • For example, in an emergency situation the next update may indicate what has happened in a few hours or less, instead of overnight. This will allow you to respond in an appropriate amount of time. You will almost always be given additional time to think, confer with your colleagues, and do some research before you’ll be asked to make decisions.
  • When you are given the results from a diagnostic procedure where a decision needs to be made. time is usually “frozen” temporarily so that you can think about what you’ve found/seen, confer and then make a decision.