Veterinary Medical Center Vet Tech

Idaho Humane Society -
Idaho

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Job Details

Full-time
$16 - $23 an hour

Benefits

Paid holidays
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan

Qualifications

Animal behavior
Medical terminology
Veterinary terminology

Full Job Description

The Idaho Humane Society is a community-supported open-door facility that provides shelter, medical
care, adoption services, humane law enforcement services and much more to over 10,000 animals
annually. Since its incorporation in 1945, the Idaho Humane Society has become one of the most
recognized and beloved nonprofit organizations in the community.

Department: Clinic

Classification: Regular, non-exempt

Job Relationships: Supervised by Vet Tech Supervisor

Salary: $16/hr - $23/hr

Benefits: Paid time off accrual, eight paid holidays, retirement plan,

health insurance, dental insurance and supplemental insurance.
All employees receive discounts on veterinary care and retail
store pet supplies, as well as veterinary care credit and one free
adoption annually.

Position Summary:

The purpose of this position is to assist veterinarians with patient care and treatment, monitor
hospitalized pets, maintain inventory, prepare prescriptions, perform routine in-house lab work,
educate clients regarding veterinary care and procedures and assist with surgical procedures. Our
veterinary medical center is a fast paced and highly productive entity that serves the public as
well as the animals in the attached shelter. Employees must be team players and promote the
mission of the entire organization. Weekend availability is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Client Communication:

Communicate with clients regarding the medical status of their pet. Provide accurate information
to clients concerning fees, hospital policies, etc. to clients concerning fees, hospital policies, etc.

Education of clients and proper care for their pets, including basic health care, products and
service they or their pets could benefit from.

Instruct clients as to what they should do prior to bringing their pets in for procedures, how to
care for their pets after discharge from the hospital, how to administer medications, etc.

Demonstrate warmth, courtesy, and professionalism in all interactions with clients.

Knowledge from admission to discharge and cashiering out out-patient and hospitalized patients,
patient folders, vaccine schedules, other front desk procedures in order to assist receptionists.

Animal Handling
Restrain animals in a safe, efficient, and compassionate manner during examinations and

procedures.
Assist with moving animals throughout the hospital. Cage and remove animals as needed.
Exercise compassion and care in all interactions with patients. Know how to properly handle

difficult or contentious animals.

Assist Veterinarians / Exam Room Protocol
Follow established procedures in order to assist veterinarians with examinations and facilitate the

flow of clients and patients through the out-patient clinic. Consult with veterinarians on a daily
basis to plan each day’s activities. Keep doctors apprised of potential problems, discussions with
clients and the overall flow of urgent and emergency cases.

Review medical records and notes made by the admitting receptionist in order to discern the
nature of the visit and any tests or procedures that may be needed.

Greet clients and escort them and their pets into an exam room. Place the patient on the exam
table and prepare for the doctor to enter the room. Obtain base information (weight, temperature,
etc.) on the pet.

Discuss with the client the reason for the visit, any symptoms or problems being experienced, and
any procedures that may need to be done (i.e. vaccinations, fecal or heartworm tests, etc.). Utilize
a pre-exam checklist to ensure that all medical needs are covered.

Obtain any lab samples that may be needed from the pet. Utilize a fecal loop when necessary.
Anticipate and prepare any medications or vaccines the doctor will need to treat the patient.

Notify the veterinarian when patients in the exam room are ready to be seen. Advise the
veterinarian of the information already known such as the nature of the visit, preventive
procedures due, tests that are to be run, etc. Assist the veterinarian within the exam room by
restraining the animal, preparing forms, obtaining instruments, etc. Remain in the exam room
until excused by the doctor.

Perform any lab work that may be needed or make sure that lab work is performed by another
team member while the patient is still in the exam room.

Ensure all procedures rendered during the visit are documented for proper billing. Ensure that all
vaccinations, procedures, notes, etc. have been documented in the medical record.

Escort the client and patient to the front desk and give the medical record and patient visit form to
the receptionist for client receipting. Prepare and clean the exam room for the next visit.

Laboratory Procedures and Radiographs
Accurately perform routine in-house laboratory procedures. Appropriately prepare and handle

specimens.
Prepare specimens for outside laboratory. Obtain results from the lab over the phone, fax or email

and forward to doctor. Ensure that clients have been notified of the results and assist in
scheduling any additional treatment necessary. Record all necessary information in the lab
notebook.

Monitor lab supplies and notify inventory manager when lab supplies are needed.
Properly, label, take and maintain radiographs following proper safety procedures.

Veterinary Procedures

Perform routine suture removals, nail trims, and weight checks. Apply bandages and splints.
Sterilize instruments.
Prep patients for procedures.

Give injections as directed - intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous.
Examine patients for fleas, skin problems, and other obvious problems.

Marketing and Client Education

Educate clients regarding preventive medicine and vaccination requirements. Recommend
laboratory procedures, such as pre-anesthetic profiles, fecals, urinalysis, heartworm checks, FeLV
testing, etc.

Promote the organization’s products, programs, and services. Educate clients about products
appropriate for their pet’s condition.

Give clients handouts and educational materials to take home to further their understanding of
veterinary issues.

Preparing Medications
Accurately dispense prescription medications. Prepare prescription labels and appropriately

package medications.
Document controlled drugs in the appropriate log anytime a controlled drug is used.
Ensure that medications are added to the patient’s record and appropriately charged to the client.

Safety

Follow OSHA guidelines concerning safety and handling of hazardous materials.
Follow established hospital safety guidelines regarding radiographs, controlled drugs, animal

handling, etc.

Physical Plant Maintenance
Clean and straighten exam rooms, treatment, and lab areas. Restock exam rooms with supplies as

needed. Assist other staff members to keep the public areas of the practice clean and well
maintained.

Clean and maintain all medical equipment as required.
General cleaning of public and employee areas, building and yard maintenance to maintain clean,

odor-free, and attractive environment; housekeeping and laundry duties for all areas.
Unpacking, labeling, and stocking of hospital supplies, ordering, purchasing and stocking of

cleaning and office supplies.

Surgical Assistance
Provide support to the surgical team by coordinating, preparing, and participating in surgical and

post-surgical monitoring.
Assist veterinarians during surgical procedures.
Administer intravenous fluid therapy, monitor vital signs and oxygen saturation. Place and

maintain a urinary catheter.
Transport animals to other areas of the hospital, fill post-surgical prescriptions, assist in entering

charges, and other various duties related to surgery.

Hospitalized Patient Care
Ensure that each hospitalized patient has a treatment chart and that all treatments and

observations are properly recorded. Know who the patient’s doctor and technician are so you can
communicate with them regarding patient care.

Assist with morning rotations of animals in kennel as needed. Ensure that all animals receive
needed medication. Treat routine surgical patients from the previous day. Maintain any treatments
requested by the doctor and document all services rendered.

Care of boarding and hospitalized animals including cage cleaning, exercising, feeding,
observation for signs of illness, parasites and disease control, laundry, bathing and dipping
procedures, keeping animals clean.

Veterinary Knowledge
Exercise appropriate veterinary medical knowledge. Utilize in-house educational materials and

continuing education provided by the hospital.
Exercise knowledge of the hospital’s programs, products and services.
Attend and actively participate in “lunch and learns” and other client education programs.
Maintain state-required continuing education requirements.

Qualifications

Required:
o Prior experience in animal care.
o Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work well in a

fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks at once.
o Strong communication skills and ability to maintain a positive and professional demeanor

with clients, patients, and other staff members.
o Knowledge of basic veterinary practices, procedures, and terminology.
o Must have patience with frightened animals and basic understanding of animal behavior,

while working with all species without bias.
o Demonstrate initiative and teamwork in everyday duties by seeking other work to do

during slack times, assisting other employees within the practice, and filling in for other
employees as needed.

o Sincere interest in IHS mission and vision.
Desired:

o Prior experience as a veterinary technician.
o Fear Free Certified

Education/Training
o High school diploma/ G.E.D.
o Education equivalent to two years of college (pre-veterinary curriculum) or Licensed

Veterinary Technician, three years of recent experience in veterinary practice with
increasing responsibilities, or technical school training preferred.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in an animal shelter and animal clinic. Potential for exposure to environmental factors
such as temperature variations, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, animal waste, hazardous chemicals or
chemical materials requiring OSHA Material Safety Data Sheets, anesthetics, sharp objects and potential
hostile persons and/or dangerous and fractious animals.

Mental, Physical and Communications Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to stay standing or active during entire shift.
Ability to lift and carry objects and animals of moderate to heavy weight.
Ability to lift, bend, stop, kneel, crouch, push and other strenuous activities.
Requires treating people and animals in a pleasant, courteous, and professional manner.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed
by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job related
duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied
or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

Idaho Humane Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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