Head Licensed Veterinary Technician

Caring Animal Hospital in Holt, MI is looking for a Head Technician to lead our support staff. This position may include evening hours but no weekends, averaging 34-36 hours weekly. We require candidates be licensed in the state of Michigan and have 8 years of LVT experience. The Head Technician is responsible for seeing that the administrative policies and decisions are accomplished. They work closely with the practice manager to develop policies and procedures to optimize hospital productivity. They will be expected to perform general technician duties along with the duties of head technician, at a 60/40 break-up. Please review both job descriptions provided for a full list of responsibilities and skills. Our ideal candidate would have experience with Impromed software, Heska lab machines, and Fear Free restraint, but is not required. A team-based mentality, positive outlook, and good follow-through are a must.

Our hospital offers competitive benefits including:  health benefits with 80% paid by the hospital, dental benefits paid 50% by hospital, 2 weeks paid time off after 90 days, goal-based bonuses 4 times yearly, paid continuing education after 1 year, Simple IRA with up to 3% match after 2 years, and discounted veterinary care.

Compensation is based on experience with potential for increase within 90 days based on skills.

Veterinary Technician Job Description:

The Licensed Veterinary Technician has many important responsibilities and plays many roles within the hospital. They apply their professional skills in anesthesia, surgery, dentistry, laboratory testing, patient nursing, and client education and service. Technicians must share a firm belief in the quality of care we provide and communicate this sense of assurance to clients. It is important to know and understand our services and recommendations and be able to clearly convey the value of the services to clients. Excellent client communication skills and commitment to outstanding client service are essential.

Veterinary Technicians are responsible for:

Patient Care:

• Executing safe but effective animal restraint utilizing Fear Free protocols.
• Performs patient’s treatments, using routes such as IV, SQ, PO, and IM.
• Placing IV catheters in animals, assuring that they are maintained, and having complete knowledge of the infusion pumps.
• Monitoring and caring for hospitalized or surgical patients. Keeping animals comfortable and clean.
• Performing duties associated with anesthesia including: preparing animals for surgery, induction, intubation, maintenance of gas anesthesia, monitoring animals during and after anesthetic procedure using monitoring equipment, extubating, and recovery.
• Weighing every animal that comes in, each time they come in, and making sure the weight is updated in the computer.
• Taking accurate history and temperature, if needed, and entering it into the computer.

Client Service:

• Proper telephone skills, answering quickly, speaking professionally, entering conversations into the record, and take messages appropriately.
• Client education including: Parasites (internal/external, life cycle, treatment, clean up), vaccination (schedules, types, reasons to vaccinate), heartworm disease, puppy and kitten information, healthy weight, behavior, medications, and dental care.
• Updating client information in computer including email, cell number, correct address, and patient picture.
• Performing call backs in a timely manner and entering notes into the computer.
• Creating and explaining estimates to owners.
• Scheduling appointments
• Greeting clients when they walk in the door, checking them in, and checking them out.
• Going over forms and paperwork before and after surgery. Knowledge of discharge instructions and possible complications.
• Preparing discharge instructions for hospitalized patients, surgical patients, and CORE procedures.

Technical Skills:

• Understanding the types of medications kept in hospital and where they are located. Also, understanding of commonly used abbreviations like BID, OU, and q24h.
• Knowledge of anesthetic machines and lines.
• Prepping anesthetic machines and exhaust before surgery.
• Knowledge and understanding of sterile technique, ability to scrub in and assist doctor in surgery if needed.
• Preparing animals for surgery including clipping and scrubbing appropriately.
• Knowledge of surgery packs and proper identification of instruments for each pack.
• Knowledge and troubleshooting of ultrasonic cleaner, instrument milk, and autoclave.
• Performing proper dental cleaning, charting, and radiographs.
• Knowledge and utilization of the laser therapy machine.
• Performing proper and safe radiographic technique and positioning.
• Performing laboratory work including: Parasite screens, urinalysis, blood slides, skin and ear cytology’s, skin scrapings, ear mite id, and plating samples for incubation.
• Knowledge and utilization of Stance Analyzer.
• Complete knowledge of individual reference labs and what samples go to which lab and why.
• Knowledge of types & doses of anesthetic drugs.

General Duties:

• Performing maintenance and troubleshooting hospital equipment including: Anesthetic machines, laboratory equipment, dental machine, laser machine, and x-ray machines.
• Knowledge and utilization of the tag reorder system for inventory and supplies.
• Stocking exam rooms and treatment area as needed.
• Knowledge of computer program and uses.
• Keeping all areas of the hospital clean and tidy.
• Assist in maintenance of outside of hospital as needed.
• Help veterinarians or other staff members accomplish other tasks to make hospital run smoothly.
• Knowledge of other job descriptions and assist in training new staff members.

Head Technician Job Description:

The Head Technician is responsible for seeing that the administrative policies and decisions are accomplished. They work closely with the practice manager to develop policies and procedures to optimize hospital productivity. They should have full knowledge of the Veterinary Technician job description and will be expected to perform those duties along with the duties listed below, at a 60/40 break-up.

Personnel:

• Lead a team of technicians, assistants, and volunteers in their performance of a variety of technical and client education duties.
• Maintain a professional and safe environment in the practice and refrain from negative talk, gestures, or implied attitudes that reflect on the hospital.
• Always keep “team mentality” in mind, be prepared and willing to offer assistance and ask for assistance when needed, keep a positive professional outlook, and abstain from gossip or negative observation regarding clients/team members.
• Determine the strengths of staff and delegate responsibilities based on those strengths.
• Offer staff verbal constructive criticism and praise as needed, based on personal observation or as directed by practice manager or veterinarians.
• Assume responsibility & create positive solutions for mistakes made by support staff.
• Monitor compliance to job descriptions and ensure adherence to policies and procedures in accordance with the employee handbook.
• Assign projects during down time if all other work is completed.
• Review support staff applications, screen applicants, check references, and narrow the applicant choices before forwarding recommended applicants to the practice manager. Provide input on final candidates.
• Provide on-the-job training for new hires.
• Discuss disciplinary actions needed with the practice manager and assist with follow through.
• Resolve informal employee complaints and assist with conflict resolution.
• Maintain effective employee-management communication.
• Create and maintain monthly schedule according to hospital needs, while working within a budget.
• Help make decisions regarding time off requests, balancing needs of hospital and employees.

Inventory:

• Purchases supplies and food while working within a budget. Periodically checks pricing across different vendors to assure that optimal prices are obtained.
• Create & receive purchase orders. Ensure costs are updated in Impromed when products are received.
• Build friendly, professional relationships with vendor and sales representatives. Discuss new products with them and relay information to veterinarians and the practice manager.
• Maintain advanced knowledge of computer system with the ability to train other staff members, trouble shoot problems, and add/maintain inventory in system.
• Maintains and controls all logs, reports, and disposal of controlled substances in the hospital.
• Maintains outdated inventory and safe disposal of expired medications and supplies.