Veterinary Assistant - Clinton Animal Care Center

VETERINARY ASSISTANT

Clinton Animal Care Center

Wilmington, Ohio

The veterinary assistant will divide their time between helping doctors with physical examinations, dispensing medications, and helping veterinary technicians position patients for and process radiographs, prepare patients for surgery, provide nursing and comfort care, and perform treatments or basic laboratory diagnostic tests.

Veterinary assistants must build positive, professional relationships with clients and staff members. Assistants should have completed or be in the process of completing their high school diplomas and must pursue significant on-the-job training.

General Knowledge and Tasks 

General Knowledge 

• Know the range of services the practice provides and the species it treats.
• Be reasonably familiar with breeds and coat colors.
• 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.
• Competently speak and write the English language.

General Tasks 

• Always be in position and prepared to work by the start of each scheduled shift.
• 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.
• Smile and maintain an even, friendly demeanor while on the job.
• Perform job tasks efficiently without rushing.
• Promote a positive attitude among staff.
• 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 for clients, team members, and animals (alive or deceased) at all times.
• Effectively promote preventive health care, nutrition, and pet health insurance to clients. Support what fellow staff members have said 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. Avoid waiting for coworkers to ask for assistance.
• Stock hospital supplies and pharmaceutical, pet-food, and over-the-counter products.
• Ensure that medical supplies are always available. Add new items to the list of depleted supplies.
• Regularly check for outdated supplies. Remove and replace them as directed by the office manager.
• Participate in all staff and training meetings.
• Conduct tours of the practice and/or kennel. Before each tour, ensure that the facility is orderly and that staff and patients are prepared for tours.
• 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 contingency plans.
• Follow established closing procedures to ensure the security of patients, staff, data, revenue, inventory, and the facility.

Front-Office Tasks 

• Know phone functions.
• Answer the phone by the third ring when receptionists are preoccupied or unavailable.
• Assist receptionists in keeping the facility’s reception area and room(s) clean and tidy. Replace older issues of magazines with current ones, placed neatly in holders or on tables.
• When assisting at the reception desk, know names of clients and patients that are scheduled to arrive before they appear.
• Access client information within the practice-management software system. Enter and retrieve client and patient data in the computer.
• Assist receptionists with clients’ payments, and provide clients with receipts that detail their transactions.

Client-Interaction Tasks 

Patient-Admittance Tasks 

• Cordially greet incoming clients and patients, addressing each by name.
• Check clients in. Update clients’ or patients’ records as needed.
• Use clients’ and patients’ names during conversations.
• Counsel clients on financial and admittance policies, their pets’ medical procedures, and options that requir