Travis Country Veterinary Hospital

Job Description

Position: Veterinary Technician/Assistant                                                                        Reports to: Medical Team Lead

General Description

The veterinary technician/assistant assists the veterinarian with outpatient exams, cares for hospitalized patients and assists the veterinarian while the veterinarian diagnoses and treats patients. The Veterinary Technician/Assistant works to build positive long term relationships with clients by providing appropriate client education, listening to individual client needs and working with clients to find the best solution.

Job Requirements/Skills/Physical Demands

Education/Experience

·         High school graduation or equivalent

·         Basic computer literacy is required, including the ability to type on a computer keyboard, use a computer mouse, view information on a computer screen and use the Internet.

·         Experience with Microsoft Windows, Word, and Excel is helpful.

·         Some experience working with animals

·         General animal husbandry or specific veterinary experience is preferred.

Language/Communication

• Must be able to speak, hear, read, write, and communicate clearly in English, in person, on the telephone and in writing.
• Must be able to communicate to clients about hospital policies and common pet health issues and prevention.

·         Must demonstrate the ability to continually provide positive and consistent client service. 

• Must be able to work within a team environment and communicate with team members effectively.

·         Must carry out all duties in a professional and courteous manner and remain respectful and polite in speech, tone, and actions under all circumstances

Mathematical Skills

·         Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

• Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Must be able to problem solve common issues and seek guidance when appropriate

Soft Skills

·         Must have organizational skills sufficient to prioritize work and complete assignments accurately and efficiently while maintaining attention to detail despite frequent interruptions.

• Must demonstrate personal accountability for actions and personal development.

·         Must be willing to cross-train and perform client care specialist duties as needed. Must have a developed sense of integrity and commitment to client satisfaction.

Other Required Skills

• Must be able to work energetically for the entire assigned shift, sometimes exceeding 9 – 10 hours per day.
• Must be willing to operate all necessary equipment including anesthesia, x-ray and laboratory equipment
• Must be willing to cross-train and perform reception duties when needed
• Must be willing to complete scheduled hospital maintenance and cleaning schedules

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift approximately 50 pounds, walk dogs of up to 130 pounds, and work on feet all day.  
• Must be willing and able to physically hold and restrain pets, use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms
• Must be able to squat, kneel, and bend to clean cages and other areas of the hospital facility
• Manual finger and wrist dexterity and ability to maintain repetitive motions for typing is required.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

·         Must be able to tolerate potential exposure to anesthetic vapors, radiation, controlled drugs, zoonotic diseases, harmful chemicals, and bodily fluids of patients.

• Potential exists for bite wounds, scratches, and other injuries that could be obtained by patient handling.

·         Must be able to withstand frequent exposure to unpleasant odors and noises.

·         Must be able to cope with emotionally challenging situations.

Hours

·         Hours will vary; however, shifts are generally scheduled between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm Monday-Friday

·         Saturday availability is required between 8 am and 1 pm.

·         Regular and predictable attendance and punctuality is required in order to meet the needs of patients, clients, and the team.

Essential Functions

Client Service

·         Actively seek ways to exceed clients’ expectations with every interaction you have with clients, potential clients, and patients of our hospital.

·         Listen actively and convey concern, empathy, and compassion to clients and pets at all times.

·         Provide a positive and friendly experience for clients by being respectful and friendly to both clients and their pets

·         Be respectful in all communications with clients.

·         Be patient, polite, and compassionate with clients who are emotional or discourteous.

·         Follow established hospital policies and procedures when handling client concerns and complaints.

·         Call clients to report testing results, check on patients, and other telephone correspondence.

·         Answer each call with a sense of urgency, encourage callers to schedule appointments when appropriate, answer questions, and properly route remainder of calls.

·         Field questions and inquiries about services, triage, and products.

·         Provide knowledgeable advice concerning the care and treatment of animals.

·         Educate clients regarding patient health through verbal, written, and other forms of communication (online media, etc.).

·         Communicate necessary follow up and home care instructions.

·         Support client care team members by answering phones, scheduling appointments and checking clients out when client care team members are not available.

Patient Care              

·         Implement low stress measures for patient comfort during hospital visits

·         Safely restrain pets and make use of appropriate restraint aids

·         Perform venipuncture and IV catheter placement

·         Accurately draw up and administer medication to pets, per veterinarian’s orders

·         Assist with positioning, taking and development of x-rays

Team Relations

·         Maintain positive, cooperative, and respectful relationships with the leadership team, doctors, and team members within the client care department as well as other departments.

·         Communicate effectively and respectfully with the leadership team, doctors, and team members

Medical Records

·         Take patient history by asking clients open ended, probing questions regarding patient’s health and actively listening to answers.

·         Document legibly and keep accurate medical records in accordance with hospital policy.

·         Maintain accurate and complete records of all client calls concerning patient health status in Practice Management Software and follow-up or assign to appropriate team member.

·         Obtain patient vitals at each patient visit and record in patient record

·         Obtain complete and accurate patient histories and document in SOAP format in patient file

Pharmacy

•         Accurately transcribe veterinarian’s prescription orders into medical record

•         Accurately dispense medications without error and follow double checking procedures.

•         Know common drug uses and protocols and be able to explain them to clients.

Laboratory

·         Monitor and collect urine and fecal samples

·         Operate and maintain in hospital laboratory equipment

·         Process in hospital blood work and other laboratory procedures as directed

·         Ensure blood work and other test performed in outside facilities are processed correctly

Surgery

·                   Set up, operate and maintain equipment for surgery and other procedures

·                   Prep patients for surgery

·                   Perform endotracheal intubation

·                   Administer and monitor anesthesia.

·                   Assist in diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures.

·                   Discharge patients based on the veterinarian’s orders, ensuring that patients are well groomed and in a medically appropriate state.

·                   Care for surgical materials and hospital equipment.

Additional Duties

•         Assist veterinarian with humane euthanasia and body care

•         Prepare deceased patients for cremation or return to client

•         Prepare and maintain the exam rooms and treatment areas.

•         Clean cages and runs

•         Maintain a clean and orderly facility

•         Clean and sanitize all areas of the hospital facility including exam rooms, treatment room, isolation area, employee break room, restrooms, reception area, lobby, etc.

•         Every staff member is responsible to maintain the cleanliness and sanitary condition of the entire hospital, including the parking lot, sidewalks, and entries. Trash, urine, feces, blood and such should be cleaned and sanitized immediately.

•         Follow all contagious patient management protocols

•         Walk, feed, and administer prescribed medications to pets according to treatment orders

•         Provide clean bedding, water, and litter pans for pets

•         Retrieve pets that are being discharged

•         Stock all areas of the hospital with supplies as needed

•         Do laundry

•         Wash and sanitize pet dishes

•         Perform reception duties

Perform other duties as assigned

I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS JOB DESCRIPTION AND AGREE TO PERFORM IN THE CAPACITY SET FORTH ABOVE. FURTHER, I CONFIRM THAT I AM ABLE TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS LISTED, WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION.

Signature____________________________________________________________   Date _________________________