Auditing in-house ear cytology by Plymouth Veterinary Group

This award-winning case example from Plymouth Veterinary Group highlights how introducing ear cytology protocols for patients with ear conditions helped optimise team skills and improve patient care. The initiative showed a bottom-up approach, enhancing RVN training, leveraging their expertise, and providing strong evidence that these changes led to a reduction in antibiotic prescriptions.

Key takeaways

• Enhancing diagnostics and empowering RVNs: The initiative aimed to increase the utilisation of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) by involving them in ear cytology, thereby supporting veterinary surgeons in diagnostic decision-making and reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use.

• Evidence-based protocol implementation: A structured protocol was introduced, requiring cytology to guide the appropriate antimicrobial prescribing for otitis externa. This enabled targeted treatment and reduced empirical antibiotic use.
• Improved team engagement and satisfaction: RVNs felt more valued and engaged, and their skills were actively utilised. The practice invested in new equipment and facilitated peer learning, with RVNs leading in-house training sessions for other teams, including veterinary surgeons.

Download the PDF and read the case example to get deeper insights into the methods and outcomes, and to apply these strategies in your own practice to enhance patient safety and care.

Nicola Lakeman from Plymouth Veterinary Practice spoke to RCVS Knowledge’s Lou Northway about this project. Read their Knowledge Natter Q&A.