Management 2 Record Keeping Record Keeping A method

Management #2 Record Keeping

Record Keeping • A method of communicating about Animal care and well-being • Important to the physical and mental health of the animals • Provides information to various team members about nutrition, health, social dynamics, training, enrichment and behavior.

Part of the Daily Routine • Feeding • Cleaning • Record Keeping/Monitoring Groups • Assisting other staff • Providing enrichment • Cooperative learning • Socialization/Integration

How often should records be updated? • Many records should be kept daily or weekly. For example health, behaviour, nutrition, social dynamics, enrichment, and training records. • Certain records may happen sporadically – for example when a new animal is introduced to a group or when a physical exam occurs. • Monthly records may be kept depending on the needs & goals of the sanctuary.

Why is effective record keeping important? To ensure that relevant information is recorded for short and long term review. This may be even more important when new staff members join the team or to look back on possible patterns of behaviour or health issues.

Record Keeping • Records may be kept many ways • Via paper & pencil/pen • Will you then enter electronically? • Electronically • Via photos & videos

Record Keeping • Advantages of electronic records: • Prevents errors • Via check boxes and drop down menus • Visible from various locations & to various team members • if internet available • May be able to summarize information more easily • Example – via an Excel spreadsheet

Record Keeping • Some electronic options: Excel Files Tablets/Phones Specific programs like Filemaker Voice Recorders

Record Keeping with Photos & Videos • Photos – may be useful to record wounds, to help identify new animals as they arrive at the sanctuary. • Videos – may be useful for recording dynamic behaviour For example: • Abnormal Behaviours • Social Behaviours

Why? What? How? Who? • Some decisions to consider: • Why are you keeping particular records? What is their purpose? • What types of data do you want to collect? • How will this be done? How often will you record information? • Who will collect & enter the information? Who will review the data? • Who will have access to the data? Is it for internal use only or will it be shared with other organizations/outside researchers, etc. ?

Review, Backup & Cross Checks Records should be reviewed or cross checked for accuracy by someone at the sanctuary. This may be the veterinarian, the manager, or fellow caregivers. Both paper & electronic records should be backed up in some way in case of natural disasters, etc.

What qualifies as a “good” record? Understandable long into the future and by people who do not necessarily have the background you have.

How can records be utilized? • To assist in decision making about animal care. • Examples: • Effectiveness of environmental enrichment • Quality and quantity of social interactions • Nutritional requirements • Others – can you think of a way your records could be used?

Thank you! PASAprimates. org facebook. com/PASAprimates gregg@pasaprimates. org

The PASA Primate Care Training Program is made possible by a generous grant from Fondation Brigitte Bardot.