VETERINARY ASSISTANT - OSCEOLA VETERINARY CLINIC

About

Osceola Veterinary Clinic is a mixed animal practice in Southern Iowa, meeting the needs of pets, livestock & horses. We’ve been serving pets and their owners for 75 years! When you bring your pet to our veterinarian clinic, you’re trusting their health and care to the very best the Osceola area has to offer. 



Hours of Operation 

Monday-Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm; Saturdays 8:00am - 12:00 pm



Position Purpose

Reporting into the Veterinary Technician Team Leader and the Practice Manager, the Veterinary Assistant assists the veterinarians and technicians with patient care and treatment, monitors hospitalized pets, maintains inventory, prepares prescriptions, performs routine in-house laboratory work, educates clients regarding veterinary care and procedures, and assists with surgical procedures.



Veterinary Assistant Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making Doctors, teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented.  Responding quickly and calmly to crisis while maintaining a high standard of patient care.


• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with Doctors and practice team members.  Providing feedback appropriately and in a timely manner.  Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results.  Sharing ideas and being open to other’s ideas.


• Communicating: Conveying instructions to clients and teammates to ensure successful patient care.


• Active Listening: Following the instructions of Doctors and sometimes patient owners.  Picking up the needs of Doctors and teammates based on prior experiences and feedback.


• Organization Skills: Clear tracking of lab specimens, medications, patient instructions, workflow, and other job-related items while managing multiple patients and clients.


• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Reviews medical records and notes made by the Customer Service Representative and determines the nature of the visit and any tests or procedures needed.


• Ensures all procedures rendered during the visit are documented for proper billing; ensures all vaccinations, procedures, notes, etc. have been documented in the medical record.


• Demonstrates warmth, courtesy and professionalism in all interactions with clients; exercises compassion and care in all interactions with patients.


• Communicates with clients regarding the medical status the patient; provides accurate information to clients concerning fees, hospital policies and procedures, etc.


• Prepares clients for patient procedures and provides post-procedure instructions including proper care of the patient, rest, diet, administering medication, etc.


• Educates clients regarding preventive medicine and vaccination requirements; provides handouts and educational materials support recommendations.


• Recommends laboratory procedures including pre-anesthetic profiles, geriatric screening, fecal, urinalysis, heartworm checks, FeLV testing, etc.


• Uses a pre-exam checklist, lifestyle surgery, and any other applicable client educational pieces to ensure that all medical needs are covered.

Essential Responsibilities continued

• Prepares patients for exam including:
  
  
  
  
  • Greeting clients and provides escort to the exam room.
  
  
  • Placing the patient on the exam table and prepares for the Doctor’s entrance
  
  
  • Obtaining basic information (weight, temperature, etc.) on the pet.
  
  
  • Discussing the reason for the visit (chief complaint), symptoms or problems, and procedures that may need to be done (i.e., vaccinations, fecal or heartworm tests, etc.).
  
  
  
  


• Prepares Doctors for the exam including:
  
  
  
  • Notifying when the patient is ready to be seen.
  
  
  • Advising of the patient basic information and reason(s) for visit including: nature of the visit, preventive procedures due, tests that are to be run, etc.
  
  
  • Assisting with the exam by restraining the patient, preparing forms, obtaining instruments, etc.
  
  
  
  


• Conducts exam exit activities including:
  
  
  
  • Escorting the client to the front desk.
  
  
  • Providing the Customer Service Representative with the medical record and patient visit form.
  
  
  • Recapping continued care instructions.
  
  
  • Answering final client questions.
  
  
  • Cleans and prepares exam room for the next patient.
  
  
  
  


• Consults with Doctors daily to plan each day’s activities.


• Communicates with Doctors and practice team members including client discussions, patient plans, client concerns, etc.


• Properly restrains animals in a safe, efficient and compassionate manner during examinations and procedures.


• Obtains laboratory samples; uses a fecal loop when necessary.


• Anticipates and prepares medications or vaccine.


• Prepares specimens for outside laboratory; obtains results from the laboratory over the phone or fax.


• Monitors laboratory supplies and orders supplies, as needed.


• Takes, develops, and maintains radiographs following proper safety procedures.


• Performs routine suture removals, nail trims, and weight checks; applies bandages and splints under the direction of the attending Doctor.


• Provides injections, as directed by Doctor - intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous.


• Promotes the practice’s products, programs and services using direct or passive marketing; makes appropriate suggestions to clients about products appropriate for the patient’s condition.


• Accurately dispenses medications as directed by Doctor; prepares prescription labels and packages medications; ensures medications are added to the patient’s record and appropriately charged to the client.


• Follows DEA and OSHA guidelines; documents controlled drug logs anytime a controlled drug is used; follows appropriate safety and handling of hazardous materials; follows established hospital safety guidelines regarding radiographs, controlled drugs, animal handling, etc.


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• Cleans and straightens exam rooms, treatment, and lab areas; restocks exam rooms with supplies.  Assists other team members to keep the public areas of the practice clean; cleans and maintains all medical equipment.


• Any other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Full or part-time


• Ability to work on weekends


• Previous veterinary experience preferred


• High school diploma or equivalent


• Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance


• Practices OSHA safety techniques including proper PPE


• Computer skills, MS office applications, etc.

Benefits Offered

• Paid time off


• Health insurance; dental insurance; vision insurance


• Retirement benefits or accounts


• Bonus incentive


• Flexible work schedules


• Career and professional development