Veterinary Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

To perform client service procedures and provide the best patient care and client education while upholding Brown Veterinary Hospital standards. They are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their work spaces as well as keeping needed supplies stocked. Registered Technicians should have proven customer service experience, strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to maintain a calm, courteous and professional demeanor under stressful circumstances. Additionally; they must execute tasks with great attention to detail and thoroughness.

General Information

- Be familiar with the employee handbook, our Mission Statement and Core Values.

- Know the range of services the practice provides and the species treated.

- Always be in position and prepared to start your shift at the scheduled time.

- Maintain accurate clock-in and clock-out times with ADP; submit correction forms quickly if needed.

- Follow OSHA safety standards. Be able to find Safety Data Sheets quickly.

- Maintain a professional appearance while at work, including clean and pressed uniforms or clothes. Change clothes daily as necessary to look professional and avoid carrying odors.

- Show respect for clients, team members and patients (alive or deceased) at all times.

- Maintain constant confidentiality regarding clients and patients for whom the practice provides veterinary services.

- Participate in your performance appraisal and when needed in those of others when asked by the lead or practice manager

- Be willing and available to stay late or through breaks, when needed, to assist with emergency or critical-care patients

Education and Knowledge

- Registered Technicians must maintain and have a current, valid license in the State of Indiana

- Continuing education must meet or exceed state mandate

- Ability to use standard office programs and equipment as well as specific veterinary software.

- Complete in-house training within 90 days.

- Complete additional training as assigned in a timely manner.

- Use standard medical and hospital abbreviations.

- Use proper medical terminology when speaking and writing.

- Be willing and able to teach other staff members technician duties.

- Attend and participate in all staff meetings and annual trainings; be willing to present training to staff at meetings

- Be reasonably familiar with breeds and coat colors for dogs and cats.

- Be familiar with infectious and zoonotic diseases, including their prevention and steps to reduce or eliminate transmission.

- Learn and know the policies regarding provisions of veterinary care, treatment of stray animals, deposits for the hospitalized patients, payments, credit, pet health insurance and finance fees.

- If unsure of a hospital procedure know where to locate information within the Standard Operating Procedure Manual Standard Duties

Hospitalized Patient Care

- Responsible for patients currently admitted to the hospital, pets being hospitalized for their exams, the second line for emergency patients, returning calls to clients with medical concerns, on-line pharmacy requests and end of day closing procedures

- Obtain and record vital signs

- Start medical note based on the provided patient history and cursory exam

- Work In tandem with attending veterinarian to perform diagnostics, complete notes and fill medication(s), if possible; administer first dose of oral medication(s)

- If need administer subcutaneous fluids with minimal stress to the patient

- Call owner with update unless the attending veterinarian needs to speak with the owner

- Update white board when patient is ready to go home or follow admittance protocol if pet must stay for hospital care

- Start and maintain IV catheter, fluids and IV pump using aseptic technique

- If pet has a closed urinary catheter system, properly maintain system and record out-put

- Complete the daily hospitalization medical note and finalize at the end of the day

- Prepare discharge medications and instructions

- Follow protocol when a patient must be in the isolation ward to reduce contamination to the rest of the hospital Emergency Patients

- Obtain a thorough medical history if patient is stable, if patient is not stable assign a fellow technician to obtain this information to allow emergency care and stabilization to occur quickly

- Follow admittance protocol if pet must stay for hospital care

- If pet is being referred to a university or 24-hour care facility complete the referral paperwork

- Follow protocol when a patient must be in the isolation ward to reduce contamination to the rest of the hospital Surgical Patients

- Verify reason for surgical procedure and review records; for growth removals complete growth chart with the owner while in an exam room

- Obtain and record vital signs

- Perform any pre-anesthetic lab work or other diagnostics

- Calculate and prepare pre-anesthetic medications based on each individual patient and their risk

- Calculate and administer discharge medications based on each individual patent and anticipated pain

- Induce anesthesia, intubate and monitor patient throughout surgery and recovery; understanding the planes of anesthesia and how these are assessed with the individual patient

- Prepare patient for surgery using aseptic techniques

- Assist attending veterinarian during surgery with requested supplies while maintaining the sterile field

- Assist attending veterinarian with surgical procedure when needed by the donning of sterile gown and gloves and maintain the sterile field

- Prepare consent forms and estimates for scheduled surgical procedures

- Perform complete dental prophylaxis and radiographs

- Assist with oral surgery

- Ensure medical billing, notes and discharge information is complete

- Update white board when patient is ready to go home

- Ensure all surgical equipment is being well maintained and trouble-shoot any problems Laboratory and Diagnostics

- Comfortably, with minimal stress to the patient obtain and/or perform the following:

- Blood samples in a way which minimizes hemolysis for ideal sampling for both in-house and Samples submitted to Idexx; ensure any paperwork for reference lab is complete

- Perform in-house blood work panels as directed by attending veterinarian

- Blood samples used to evaluate clotting time

- Blood typing for whole blood transfusion

- Urine samples for urinalysis – Free catch, catheterization (male dogs) and cystocentesis

- Fecal samples submitted to Idexx

- Ultrasound for simple diagnostics with the attending veterinarian

- Cytology samples from ears, skin and growths

- Culture samples for bacteria and fungus

- Skin scraping

- Corneal staining and assist with Tonopen ocular pressures

- Perform ECG’s and obtain blood pressure

- Perform monthly cleaning and quality control on in-house diagnostic equipment

- Trouble shoot any issues which may arise with in-house diagnostic equipment

Working Environment

-Exposure to various cleaning chemicals, radiation, animals, noises and various physical activities. We are an OSHA compliant practice

-Employee morale is very important at Brown Veterinary Hospital. We require our employees to focus their energies on work instead of participating in fruitless gossip.

-Follow the dress code as outlined in the employee handbook. We have an image we wish to project to the community; therefore, we have a policy in place which everyone is expected to follow. Personal hygiene is also an important aspect of the dress code. You must maintain your personal appearance to continue employment at our hospital.

-Maintain an even, friendly demeanor while on the job. Perform job tasks efficiently without rushing.

-Handle stress and pressure with poise and tact.

Schedule:

-Monday to Friday

-Weekend rotation