Veterinary Assistant

POSITION:                 Veterinary Assistant

STATUS:                    Temporary; Full-Time     3 months

SHIFT:                        Various Shifts

LOCATION:                Vancouver Animal Hospital in Vancouver, BC

CLASSIFICATION:    CUPE 1622

WAGE:                       Hourly                                     

CLOSING DATE:       Open Until Filled

About the Position:

Working with doctors and the rest of the hospital care team, the Veterinary Assistant is responsible for assisting staff, patients, and clients in a variety of functions, as assigned.  This includes communicating with the public and clients, assisting with patient appointments and surgeries using low stress and fear-free handling techniques, record-keeping, inventory, housekeeping, maintenance, and other duties as required to ensure efficient operations and high quality of care.

Veterinary Assistants may be assigned to any of the following posts while on shift:

• Client Care Representative
• Exam-Room Assistant
• Surgical Room Assistant
• Dental Assistant

• Inventory

Some specific duties:

• Client Care Representative duties include:

• • Communicating with clients using a variety of media including telephone, email, and/or text:
    • Answering incoming enquiries;
    • Reminding clients of upcoming appointments including providing any instructions as required;
    • Follow up communication on progress from past appointments; and
    • Performing other communication as required.
  • Scheduling appointments.
  • Greeting all clients coming into the hospital and offering your assistance.
  • Inform clients of expected wait time and take reasonable measures to ensure their wait is comfortable.
  • Announcing arrival of an appointment to the applicable team member.
  • Admitting and discharging patients, fill prescriptions, and complete over-the-counter-sales.
  • Acting as initial source of information to clients on topics such as, but not limited to vaccinations, basic lab tests, common diseases, basic pet behaviour, low stress and fear free handling, and over the counter diets and products.
  • Preparing a new client file for all new clients/patients; ensuring all existing records are complete, accurate, and up to date.
  • Preparing estimates, patient visit lists (PVL), invoices, prescription labels, medications, and discharge instructions, as required.
  • Reviewing invoices with clients, outline balance owing, and process payments.
    • In collaboration with the RVT, ensuring all fees associated with a patient are placed on the patient visit list.
  • Ensuring client has all medications and personal belongings when discharged.
  • Issuing reminders, marketing materials, and other information to existing or prospective clients.
  • Registering microchips with the BC Pet Registry.
  • Ensuring the hospital is clean and tidy as per daily task lists; assist in outside maintenance as required.
  • Performing end of day closeout.
  • Other duties as assigned.

• Exam Room Assistant duties include:
  • Following detailed task list, including but not limited to:
    • Checking in clients and patients and recording the reason for the visit.
    • Obtaining weight of large dogs prior to entering the exam room.
    • Guiding client and patient to the appropriate exam room.
    • Recording vitals as relayed verbally by the veterinarian.
    • Notifying doctor that the patient is in the exam room and providing a brief history.
    • Attending examinations and inputting data in the medical record as relayed verbally by the veterinarian.
    • Preparing estimates, obtaining doctor’s approval on estimate, and once approved, providing estimate to client.
      • If client approves treatment at estimated cost, taking patients to Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) and assisting either the RVT or the doctor in further procedures (e.g. blood collection, radiographs, vaccinations, hospitalization, etc).
    • Preparing medications and presenting to RVT or doctor to check; once approved, dispensing and providing medications to client.
    • Discharging patients, recording any follow up required, and booking future appointments as necessary.
    • Providing basic information for clients regarding vaccine, deworming, flea control, and dental protocols and other hospital policies.
    • Ensuring the exam rooms are always clean and stocked with supplies.
    • Maintaining laundry flow and restocking laundry for exam rooms.
  • Other duties as assigned.

• Surgical & Dental Assistant duties include:
  • Providing support and assistance to doctors and Registered Veterinary Technologists during surgical and dental procedures required.
  • Following detailed task lists identified for each post, which include but are not limited to:
    • Assisting with checking in patients, taking patient histories, and recording notes throughout appointments and procedures.
    • Assisting with treatments, diagnostics, and basic procedures during appointments.
    • Helping Registered Veterinary Technologist with preparation, set up, inducement, monitoring, and recovery after various surgeries and dental procedures.
    • Assisting with cleaning and preparation of surgical suite, dental equipment, surgical instruments, and treatment area.
    • Maintaining laundry flow and restocking laundry for treatment, surgery and recovery areas.
    • Caring for hospitalized patients that may need to be walked and cleaned up throughout the day.
    • Ensuring the hospital is clean and tidy as per daily task lists; assist in outside maintenance as required.
    • Registering microchips with the BC Pet Registry.
    • Other duties as assigned.

• Inventory duties include:
  • Maintaining lists of supplies to be ordered.
  • Placing orders.
  • Stocking supplies as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications you need to have:

• Successful completion of a Veterinary Office Assistant Certificate or equivalent or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable to the employer.
• Strong computer skills; experience in using common veterinary practice software would be considered an asset.

• Experience in delivering high quality customer service to a variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to multi-task and complete tasks/projects within defined timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills along with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Philosophical harmony with BC SPCA policies, programs and protocols.
• Able to fulfill physical demands of the job which may include standing for long periods of time, walking, sitting, and lifting heavy objects and patients.
• Understanding of the risks associated with working with animals and an ability to follow safety requirements and other precautions such as fear free handling techniques.
• Willingness and no identified barriers to exposure to supplies commonly used in a hospital setting such as anesthetic gases, chemicals, drugs including controlled substances, and x-ray radiation within Canadian safety standards.
• Philosophical harmony with the vision, mission and strategic directions of the BC SPCA