Surgery Licensed Veterinary Technician at Ann Arbor Animal Hospital

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description: Licensed Veterinary Technician (Surgery)

Fair Labor Standards Act Status: Non-exempt

Desired Behaviors:

1. Possesses a passion for delivering the highest level of patient care possible.
2. Exhibits strong leadership traits (e.g., proactivity, role-modeling appropriate behaviors, appropriately delegating responsibilities, providing coaching to others), understanding that Reception Team and Assistant Team view LVTs as informal leaders.
3. Communicates with clients and coworkers in a friendly and professional manner.
4. Utilizes active listening skills in all communications.
5. Maintains composure and prioritizes patient care during stressful / high patient count situations.
6. Dedicated, hardworking team-player possessing a “can-do” mentality demonstrated by their consistent punctuality and their willingness to go the extra mile. If client flow dictates, employee stays beyond their regularly scheduled shift, understanding their role and why their presence and positive attitude are necessary.
7. Compassionate and empathetic towards coworkers, clients, and their pets.
8. Extremely detail-oriented with a heightened focus towards accuracy and follow-up. Possesses an appreciation for how significant a minor detail can be with regard to patient outcomes.
9. Receptive to constructive feedback.
10. Committed to ongoing Continuing Education in order to continuously improve patient care.
11. Follows the Golden Rule.

Essential Position Responsibilities:

1. Maintains a mental inventory of all patients in the hospital as a safety net to ensure all patients are accounted for.
2. Completes TPRs on patients.
3. Triages / assesses condition of patients.
4. Administers medications to patients.
5. Keeps patients clean and comfortable.
6. In collaboration with Surgery DVM, presents clients with estimates and charges. Discusses with client to facilitate understanding.
7. Exhibits warm client relation skills, ensuring clients know they are valued and important:

• Answers basic client questions concerning updates on their pet’s condition, etc.
• Handles difficult client interactions effectively (e.g., diffusing emotional/tense situations, understanding the client stress associated with ill pets) as needed.
• Educates clients on follow-up care for their pets (including home care).
• Acts as an informal grief counselor for clients who have critical pets.

1. Assists DVMs and co-workers depending on need. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Placing catheters
• Placing central lines
• Calculating IV dosages
• Drug calculations
• Intubation
• Monitoring Anesthesia
• Assistant during surgery
• Blood transfusions
• Blood collection
• Special procedures
• Use Blood Pressure, Nebulizer, EKG, Ultra Sound, X-ray, and anesthesia machines
• Provide patients with O2 (either through O2 machine or tanks)
• etc.

1. Prepares surgery packs and sets up surgical suite in anticipation of surgeries.
2. Ensures that proper discharge procedures have been handled for surgery patients (i.e., entering charges in practice management software, explaining invoice to clients, reviewing discharge Instructions, discussing follow-up appointments and reviewing prescriptions with the client as needed).
3. Safely uses ventilator, autoclave, and gas sterilizer.
4. Clean surgery prep area and surgical suite as needed.
5. Independently cleans and polishes patients’ teeth.
6. Positions patients for dental radiographs.
7. Admits surgery patients per established protocols.

Marginal Position Responsibilities:

1. Assists with mentoring and training new hires.
2. Performs preventative maintenance on hospital equipment.
3. Prepares and faxes appropriate paperwork to rDVM.
4. Completes tasks listed on PC Checklist (e.g., supplies, custodial, etc.).
5. Cleans patient cages.
6. Assists with laundering cage bedding, etc.
7. Periodically checks employee lounge to make sure all custodial functions have been completed (e.g., dishes washed, soap in dispenser, etc.) and complete these functions as needed.
8. Completes special projects as needed.

Physical Demands and Environmental Factors:

• Frequent exposure to animals which may bite, scratch, or otherwise cause physical injury to employee
• May be exposed to anesthesia gases, zoonotic and chemical hazards, and radiation
• In order to ensure the safe and effective performance of this job and the successful operation of the business, English fluency is necessary for this position.
• Ability to move around the building to access drawers, cabinets, etc.
• Must be able to efficiently position self for safe and effective physical restraint of all patient types (including large patients, which may need to be quickly moved from the floor to an elevated surface such as a table)
• Ability to ascend and descend step stools to safely reach supplies in cabinets and/or on shelves
• Ability to independently move supplies (weighing up to 40 pounds) from shipping boxes to their proper positions on shelving units
• Ability to store and retrieve items which are located above head-level
• May need to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods (i.e., up to several hours) while using computer, phone, etc.
• Must be able to efficiently operate computers, phones, and other office equipment
• Ability to observe and accurately discern fine details at close range (e.g., handwritten notes; patient features; etc.)
• Position requires frequent communication with coworkers and clients. Must be able to exchange accurate information during these communications.
• Must be able to perceive physical safety/OSHA hazards in the environment

Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice as a Veterinary Technician in Michigan (required).
• Prior surgery experience (strongly preferred).
• Has a reliable method of transportation to get to shifts on time.
• With the exception of people with disabilities that prevent them from safely operating a motor vehicle, applicants are required to have a valid driver’s license and a safe driving history. This is necessary because hourly employees may need to make runs to the blood bank, pharmacy, etc. If you have a disability that prevents you from driving, we would be happy to make a reasonable accommodation.
• Able to work mornings, afternoons, and evenings on surgery days.

When duties and responsibilities change and develop, job descriptions are reviewed and are subject to changes of business necessity.

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