Veterinary Receptionist / Veterinary Exam Room Assistant FULL TIME

Valley View Animal Hospital•Dover, OH

About The Position

This full-time position combines veterinary reception and exam room assistance at Valley View Animal Hospital. The receptionist serves as the first point of contact for clients and patients, maintains client and medical records, performs clerical and payment-processing duties, schedules appointments, and supports the veterinary practice manager and staff. The role requires practical knowledge of hospital organization and services, veterinary terminology and records, data entry, word processing, and procedures governing visitors and animal patient treatment. The exam room assistant supports veterinarians with examinations, patient care and treatment, laboratory work, radiographs, prescriptions, surgical procedures, and care for hospitalized animals. The assistant communicates with clients about their pets’ status and care, helps keep patient records and billing documentation accurate, maintains supplies and equipment, and contributes to a clean, safe, and orderly hospital. The exam room assistant works under the supervision of veterinarians and the Hospital Administrator.

Requirements

Knowledge of basic veterinary practices, procedures, and terminology.
Ability to appropriately handle animals weighing up to 100 pounds.
Ability to perform routine veterinary medical procedures, such as collecting urine and fecal samples.

Responsibilities

Open and close the practice as directed; prepare the practice for the day and complete end-of-day procedures, including reconciling invoices, balancing the cash drawer, running reports, and preparing deposit information.
Keep reception, public, exam, treatment, laboratory, and employee areas clean, organized, and stocked; maintain equipment and assist with housekeeping, laundry, building, and yard maintenance.
Welcome clients and patients, provide for their comfort, answer and direct phone calls, and communicate information about hospital services, fees, policies, and animal care within the scope of the role.
Prepare for appointments by retrieving records, completing required forms, gathering client and patient information, and notifying doctors and technicians when patients arrive.
Handle urgent requests according to clinic procedures, determine the nature of reported injuries or illnesses, reassure distressed owners, and refer cases for immediate treatment as appropriate.
Follow patient-admittance procedures, check whether immunizations and tests are current, and recommend updates when needed.
Discharge patients by entering charges, reviewing instructions and medications, setting future reminders, presenting medications and take-home materials, and explaining services and balances to clients.
Process cash, check, charge-card, and credit-account payments; confirm payment obligations or Care Credit arrangements.
Schedule appointments; prepare clinical records, certificates, lab reports, and other required forms; enter, retrieve, and update client and patient data; and accurately retrieve and refile medical records.
Dispense medications and provide routine instructions to owners; sell pet foods and supplies and maintain knowledge of products offered.
Communicate with clients about pets’ medical status, fees, policies, discharge care, and medication administration; show warmth, courtesy, and professionalism.
Safely and compassionately restrain, move, cage, and remove animals; assist with examinations and procedures and handle animals that may be difficult or contentious.
Review medical records and visit notes, escort clients and pets to exam rooms, discuss visit concerns and needed procedures, use pre-exam checklists, and collect fecal or urine samples.
Prepare medications and vaccines, notify veterinarians when patients are ready, relay relevant patient information, assist during examinations, and remain in the exam room until excused.
Perform or coordinate routine laboratory work, prepare specimens for in-house or outside testing, and take, develop, and maintain radiographs using appropriate safety procedures.
Perform routine nail trims and weight checks, sterilize instruments, prepare patients for procedures, give injections as directed, and check patients for fleas, skin problems, and other obvious issues.
Document procedures, vaccinations, notes, and charges in the medical record; relay doctors’ advice and reinforce medication instructions and at-home care.
Escort clients and patients to the front desk, deliver records and visit forms to the receptionist, prepare exam rooms for the next visit, and follow up with clients when needed.
Educate clients about preventive medicine, vaccination requirements, and relevant laboratory procedures; promote hospital products and services and provide educational or promotional materials.
Prepare prescription labels and packages, document controlled-drug use, and ensure medications are recorded and charged appropriately.
Follow OSHA and hospital safety procedures for hazardous materials, radiographs, controlled drugs, and animal handling.
Support surgical technicians and veterinarians during procedures; administer intravenous fluid therapy and monitor vital signs and oxygen saturation.
Assist with hospitalized-patient care, including kennel rotations, cleaning, exercise, feeding, observation, bathing, treatments, medications, and documentation of services.
Maintain patient-status lists and sheets, communicate patient needs to attendants and technical staff, and admit or discharge patients on doctors’ orders.
Attend staff meetings, follow hospital policies and work schedules, use the time clock, demonstrate punctuality and teamwork, and organize and prioritize work effectively.
Perform other duties as assigned.