Veterinary Assistant

CityVet•Colorado Springs, CO

55d•$18 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The Veterinary Assistant (VA) is responsible for maintaining excellent patient care and operational productivity by helping the Veterinarian leverage their time and efforts to meet the needs of the clients and patients. The Veterinary Assistant (VA) works to relieve the Veterinary Technician (VT) and Veterinarian from technical work and administrative detail to achieve greater levels of efficiency in daily practice. Veterinary Assistant (VA) help facilitate and streamline the communication from the operating room, to the front office staff and most importantly, the client.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
Lift 50 lbs to waist height
Understanding and ability to properly and safely restrain animals
Knowledgeable on veterinary medical terminology and medication
At least 1 year of veterinary industry experience
Frequent standing, bending, walking, lifting, carrying, and reaching
At least 18 years of age at the time of hire

Nice To Haves

Experience with dental radiography
Familiarity with therapeutic laser treatments
Experience in urgent care settings
Experience with exotic animals including pocket pets, reptiles, birds, etc.

Responsibilities

Assists in preparing clients for medical, surgical, and dental surgeries, by assisting in the administering of anesthesia and properly restrains the animals as needed for examination and treatment
Effectively partner with the Veterinarian and Veterinary Technician (VT) Teams to administer proper patient triage protocol based on the client and facilities needs and capabilities in a fast paced and effective manner
Help to coordinate operational duties that facilitate the work of the Veterinarian, Animal Care Attendant (ACA), and Groomers – all who provide patient care and client service
Collects specimens for laboratory testing, manages samples for in-house and outside lab testing, and ensures that test results are recorded in patient charts for labs including, but not limited to fecal, heartworm, skin scrapings, urinalysis, fungal cultures, and blood draws
Assists with administering radiographs, EKGs and EEGs
Monitor patient health, physically and behaviorally, and rapidly identify any issues or changes that may require special action and report the information to the supervisor immediately, through properly monitoring the vital signs for all animals under the care of the clinic for hospitalization
Aid Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians (VT) with booked appointments, walk-ins, and work-ins, including recording observations/treatment plans in the patient file, and aid in the performance of medical treatments under doctor supervision
Support the medical team by admitting and discharging patients under the advice and plan of care drawn up by the Veterinarian and communicated to the client through client education, both written and verbal, on proper wound care, wellness protocol, vaccination expectations, illness, medication dosage, the purpose of the medications prescribed, and what to expect in the coming days after a surgery
Work with the Veterinarian and the Veterinary Technician (VT) to prepare and present treatment estimate to the client and properly invoice the client once the plan of care is agreed upon and documented in the patients’ chart
Partner with the medical team to maintain an appropriate inventory of all medical supplies as determined by the inventory control system in all exam rooms and surgery areas
Provide consistent and on-going support to the medical team as needed and maintain a positive and cooperative relationship with other facility staff
Maintain facility cleanliness and sanitation standards by organizing product, keeping the staff areas clean and organized, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, washing/drying of facility laundry, washing patient dishes and discarding of trash/waste materials on a continuous basis to meet the CityVet policies