The Credentialed Veterinary Technician – Patient Care Advocate is a key member of the medical team, supporting patient care, appointment flow, and client communication in a hands‑on, highly collaborative role. Patient Care Advocates work closely with veterinarians, technicians, and hospital leadership to ensure pets receive timely, safe, and compassionate care while helping the hospital operate efficiently. This position functions within state regulations and under the direction of the veterinarian.
As a senior‑level technician role, the Patient Care Advocate serves as an experienced medical support partner, assisting with examinations, treatments, diagnostics, and daily workflow. Patient Care Advocates support the delivery of care but do not diagnose, prescribe, or make independent medical decisions — all care is provided with veterinarian oversight.
This role is ideal for a licensed technician who is comfortable taking on elevated responsibility, managing appointment flow, and contributing to a patient‑first, team‑centered environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Patient & Client Support
- Greet clients and patients with professionalism and compassion, ensuring a positive experience from arrival through discharge
- Obtain accurate patient histories and document presenting concerns
- Prepare patients for examinations and treatments
- Communicate treatment plans, estimates, and discharge instructions clearly under veterinarian guidance
- Reinforce client education related to preventive care, diagnostics, and follow-up recommendations
- Act as a liaison between clients and the medical team to support clear communication and trust
Clinical & Workflow Support
- Assist veterinarians during exams and treatments, including safe patient restraint and exam room preparation
- Support appointment flow by managing patient movement and minimizing wait times
- Assist with diagnostic preparation, sample handling, and coordination of in-house or reference lab testing
- Support drop-off and urgent care workflows by coordinating patient updates and client communication
- Prepare and maintain exam rooms, equipment, and supplies according to hospital protocols
Operational & Administrative Support
- Accurately document patient information, services rendered, and client communications in the practice management system
- Support scheduling and front desk workflows as needed to optimize hospital capacity
- Assist with follow-up outreach, reminders, and rescheduling efforts
- Maintain hospital cleanliness, organization, and adherence to safety and infection-control standards
- Perform additional duties as needed to support hospital operations and team success
Ramp-Up & Performance Expectations
- To support patient safety and long-term success, this role includes a 120-day ramp-up period. During this time, team members complete onboarding, training, and LevelUp program requirements, and work toward validated competency in role-specific clinical skills.
- Appointment volume, workflow responsibility, and senior-level expectations are introduced progressively and aligned to demonstrated competency and readiness not immediately upon hire.
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Demonstrates professionalism, dependability, healthy and positive communication skills, and the ability to multi-task in a hands-on environment
- Energetic people-and-pet person with excellent work ethic and social and organizational skills
- Be compassionate/caring
- Willing to work flexible hours including weekends
- Can work individually, as well as on a team
- Self-starter personality that can complete daily tasks without the need for constant direction
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Clinical & Technical Skills
- Confident, safe handling and restraint of dogs and cats of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions
- Ability to recognize patient stress signals and apply low-stress or fear-free handling techniques
- Experience supporting examinations, treatments, procedures, and basic nursing care under veterinary supervision
- Knowledge of diagnostic workflows, including proper collection, labeling, handling, and preparation of samples
- Familiarity with anesthesia preparation, monitoring support, and recovery workflows under licensed supervision
- Strong attention to detail in medical documentation and compliance
- Professional Skills
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain medical information clearly and empathetically
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills in a fast-paced clinical environment
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and remain calm under pressure
- Team-oriented mindset with a willingness to support peers and hospital leadership
- High emotional intelligence and professionalism
- Qualifications
- Active veterinary technician license (state-specific requirements apply)
- Prior experience working in a veterinary hospital or clinical setting
- Comfort working evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by hospital operations
- Ability to stand for extended periods, lift and restrain animals, and perform physical tasks associated with patient care
- Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
- This position requires regular on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Due to the nature of veterinary hospital operations, in-person attendance is necessary to support patient care, respond to time-sensitive needs, collaborate with clinical teams, and maintain the safety and well-being of patients, clients, and staff. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and will consider requests for reasonable accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws
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Tuition reimbursement for Credentialed/Registered Veterinary Technicians
- Opportunity to make an impact in your community while tackling a challenging variety of tasks and the ability to help animals among a great team of people!
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision Options)
- 401k Match
- Generous paid time off (PTO)
- Paid Parental Leave + Paid Maternity Leave
- One (1) Work/Life Balance day off
- Short-term and long-term disability options
- Supplemental insurance options
- Discounted Veterinary Care
- Scrub allowance
- Hands-on and E-training
- Professional growth opportunities
Heart of Florida Animal Hospital has been proudly serving the small and exotic animals in the Polk County & Central Florida community for over 30 years! We are a bustling multi-doctor practice equipped with modern technology, including digital x-ray, ultrasound, electronic medical records (Cornerstone), surgical laser, and in-house IDEXX blood machines. As a family-friendly practice with a loyal client base, we are committed to providing exceptional care for pets and fostering a supportive, welcoming environment for our team.
