Veterinary Assistant

**JOB SCOPE**

As a veterinary assistant, you are required to:
**General Tasks**
- Always be in position and prepared to work by the start of each scheduled shift.
- Ensure accurate personal time records are made via the practice management software system.
- Be aware of cleanliness of clinic and grounds. Routinely pick up trash or faeces from the parking lot, sidewalks, or entryways.
- Maintain a professional appearance while at work, including clean and pressed uniforms or clothes. Change clothes daily as necessary to look professional and avoid carrying odours.
- Smile and maintain an even, friendly demeanour while on the job.
- Perform job tasks efficiently without rushing.
- Promote a positive attitude among staff.
- Handle stress and pressure with poise and tact.
- Be willing and available to stay late or through breaks, when needed, to assist with emergency or critical-care patients.
- Show respect for clients, team members, and animals (alive or deceased) at all times.
- Support what fellow staff members have said to clients.
- Have the physical strength and ability to stand for an entire shift when needed and be able to lift pets and objects weighing up to 25 kg without assistance. Assist in lifting patients weighing more than 25kg.
- Maintain a list of tasks and engage in productive work during slow periods.
- Assist other employees as needed. Avoid waiting for co-workers to ask for assistance.
- Stock hospital supplies and pharmaceutical, pet-food, and over-the-counter products.
- Ensure that medical supplies are always available. Add new items to the list of depleted supplies.
- Regularly check for outdated supplies. Remove and replace them as directed by the office manager.
- Participate in your performance appraisal, and as requested, in those of others.
- Participate in all staff and training meetings.
- Maintain constant vigilance regarding open doorways that could allow pets to escape from the facility.
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding clients and patients for whom the practice provides veterinary services.
- Be prepared to handle any pet or facility emergency that may arise, including dog or cat fights, choking or strangulating animals, and facility fire or weather-related emergencies. Follow contingency plans.
- Follow established closing procedures to ensure the security of patients, staff, data, revenue, inventory, and the facility.
- Always employ proper use of personal protective gear when handling medical or biological waste.
- Participate in daily housekeeping or facility maintenance activities as directed.

Front-Office Tasks
- Know phone functions, including hold, intercom, transfer, forward, and three-way calling.
- Answer the phone by the third ring when receptionists are preoccupied or unavailable.
- Assist receptionists in keeping the facility’s reception area and room(s) clean and tidy. Replace older issues of magazines with current ones, placed neatly in holders or on tables.
- When assisting at the reception desk, know names of clients and patients that are scheduled to arrive before they appear.
- Access client information within the practice-management software system. Enter and retrieve client and patient data in the computer.
- Assist receptionists with clients’ payments and provide clients with receipts that detail their transactions.

**Client-Interaction Tasks**

Patient-Admittance Tasks
- Cordially greet incoming clients and patients, addressing each by name.
- Check clients in. Update clients’ or patients’ records as needed.
- Use clients’ and patients’ names during conversations.
- Inform clients of recommended services for their pets and obedience training or special health care programs offered by the practice.
- Explain delays that affect clients. Ensure the comfort of clients and patients during their waits. Offer refreshments to clients or water to patients in need (when medically appropriate). Reschedule appointments as needed.
- Call for waiting clients using pets’ names and clients’ last names. Lead them to exam rooms.
- Transfer incoming patients to appropriate wards and ensure the comfort of clients and patients. Identify patients with cage cards and/or neck bands. Add patients to each day’s census, procedure list, or surgery schedule.
- Assist clients with unruly or unrestrained pets. When assisting receptionists, ensure that all dogs are leashed immediately after arrival and that cats and smaller pets are caged. Isolate aggressive pets. Request assistance if needed.

**Pet-Identification Tasks**
- Assist clients in registering pet-identification information in the practice’s computer system and in the appropriate national database.

**Patient-Discharge Tasks**
- Coordinate patient transfers with front desk, kennel and/or veterinarians.
- Accurately invoice clients from charges on travel or circle sheets or medical records.
- Receive and record client payments.
- Discharge patients. Instruct clients on the care of patients