Certified Veterinary Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary 

Assists the veterinarian that examines pets and other animals for signs of illness or injury; Assists in procedures and surgeries and provides routine and specific care. Administers treatments under the supervision of the veterinarian. 

General Knowledge 

• Know the range of services the practice provides and the species it treats.
• Be familiar with breeds and coat colors.
• Follow OSHA standards.
• Know and use standard medical and business abbreviations.
• Use proper medical terminology when speaking and writing.
• Understand the life cycle and pathology of common parasites (intestinal parasites, heartworms, fleas, ticks), and know the names of most common preventatives, recommended treatments, and diagnostics.
• Be familiar with zoonotic (contagious) diseases, including their prevention and steps to reduce or eliminate transmission. 
• Be familiar with infectious diseases, including their prevention and steps to reduce or eliminate transmission.
• Know the policies regarding provision of veterinary care, treatment of stray animals, deposits for hospitalized patients, payments, Care Credit, Scratch Pay, and pet health insurance.
• Competently speak and write the English language.

General Accountabilities  

• Always be in position and prepared to work by the start of each scheduled shift.
• Maintain accurate personal time clock records.
• Enter and exit the practice through the employee entrance, but routinely visit the practice through the client entrances, picking up trash or feces from the parking lot, sidewalks, or entryways as needed.
• Maintain a professional appearance while at work, including clean and unwrinkled uniform, jacket, and appropriate shoes. Change clothing daily as necessary to look professional and avoid carrying odors.
• Smile and maintain an even, friendly demeanor while on the job.
• Perform job tasks efficiently without rushing.
• Promote a positive attitude among team members.
• Handle stress and pressure with poise and tact.
• Be willing and available to stay late or through breaks, when needed, to assist with emergency or critical-care patients. 
• Show respect to clients, team members, and animals (alive or deceased) at all times.
• Effectively promote recommended healthcare to clients. Support fellow staff members when speaking to clients.
• Have the physical strength and ability to stand for an entire shift when needed and be able to lift pets and objects weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance. Assist in lifting patients weighing more than 50 pounds.
• Maintain a list of tasks and engage in productive work during slow periods. 
• Assist other employees as needed. Don’t wait for co-workers to ask for your assistance.
• Stock hospital supplies and pharmaceuticals as needed.
• Ensure low medical supplies are added to the depleted supplies/order list.
• Regularly check for outdated supplies. Remove and replace them as directed by management.
• Assist in hiring new team members by advising candidates of openings, participating in working interviews to evaluate their personalities and skill levels, and providing your opinion to those hiring.
• Maintain constant vigilance regarding open doorways that could allow pets to escape from the facility.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding clients and patients for whom the practice provides veterinary services.
• Be prepared to handle any pet or facility emergency that may arise, including dog or cat fights, choking or strangulating animals, and facility fire or weather-related emergencies. Follow all contingency plans.
• Follow established opening and closing procedures to ensure the security of patients, staff, data, revenue, inventory, and facility. 
• Follow established cleaning schedule, always ensuring your duties are complete before leaving for the day.
• Supervise and direct technician assistants.
• Direct on-the-job training of technical and technician assistants.
• Maintain your personal veterinary technician certificate, license, or registration.
• Participate in your performance appraisal, and as requested, in those of others.
• Participate in all staff and training meetings.
• Keep up with new developments in the field by reading journals and attending continuing education. Attend off-site CE as required by the practice manager or as required to maintain your license.

Reception Accountabilities 

• Know phone functions, including hold, intercom, transfer, forward, and conference calling.
• Answer the phone by the third ring when receptionists are preoccupied or unavailable.
• Pick up calls on hold when needed. 
• Assist reception and technician assistants with client payments, information, and euthanasia client care.
• Possess sufficient knowledge of animal husbandry and basic medicine to answer routine questions or refer calls to appropriate colleagues.

Client-Interaction Accountabilities 

• Cordially greet incoming clients and patients.
• Update client/patient records as needed.
• Use client and patient names during conversations.
• Counsel clients on financial and admittance policies, pet medical procedures, and options that require consideration. 
• Answer client questions and ensure all admittance paperwork is properly completed. 
• Obtain client signatures on consent forms.
• Inform clients of recommended services for their pets.
• Provide clients with accurate and thorough information about over-the-counter products. 
• Understand and explain internal and external parasite products as well as diets, dental products, and behavior management tools. 
• Know where brochures and client-education materials are stored. Provide clients with handouts and brochures regarding relevant medical conditions, surgeries, immunizations, internal and external parasites, pet insurance and diets. 
• Always give estimates for services to be performed on all patients.
• Advise clients of significant changes in policies or services since their last visit. 
• Explain delays that affect clients. Ensure the comfort of clients and patients during their waits. Offer water, refreshments, etc. Offer to reschedule appointments as needed.
• Lead clients and pets to exam rooms or throughout the hospital.
• Identify in-patients with appropriate cage information.
• Use SmartFlow to track patient through the hospital.
• Assist clients with unruly or unrestrained pets. 
• Ensure all dogs are leashed when in the hospital.
• Ensure team members restrain pets instead of owners.
• Admit patients to the hospital. Provide counseling and compassion for clients, answer their questions unless the attending doctor should do so, and ensure that all admittance paperwork is properly completed.
• Provide clients with handouts and brochures regarding relevant medical conditions, surgeries, immunizations, internal and external parasites, pet health insurance, and diets.

Pet Identification Accountabilities 

• Scan new patients and strays for microchips, tags, and tattoos. Identify and record microchip numbers, tattoos, and or patient markings in patient records.
• Communicate with clients about the various pet-identification systems available.
• Assist clients in registering pet identification information in the practice computer system and in the appropriate national database. 
• Transfer incoming patients to appropriate wards and ensure their comfort. Identify patients properly.

Procedural Accountabilities

• As patients are admitted, build a surgery, procedure, and/or treatment schedule for the approval of the attending doctors.
• Direct SmartFlow organization each as patients are admitted for day-procedures, surgeries, or hospitalization.

Patient Discharge Accountabilities 

• Coordinate patient transfers with reception and veterinarians.
• Prepare medications and prescriptions for dispensing according to practice standards and as directed by the doctor. 
• Dispense Medications: When dispensing medications, discuss administration or application of products and potential side effects with owners as instructed by doctors or licensed technicians.
• Accurately invoice clients from charges in SmartFlow, patient charts, and estimates.
• Discharge patients: Instruct clients on the care of patients at home, timing of recheck appointments, and potential adverse effects of surgeries, procedures, or medications.