Specialty Surgery Technician (Veterinary)

Position Overview

The purpose of this position is to assist the RVT Tech 1’s in the surgery department to ensure that all clients and patients are cared for with efficiency, compassion, and care. The primary focus of the Tech 2 will be client communication, schedule efficiency, and assisting with patient surgery and recovery.

Major Duties

Surgery days

• Review surgery schedule in Cornerstone the day before and discuss flow of patient load with Tech 1. Determine the order of patients and how dismissals and appointments will be scheduled.
• Update surgery board with surgery coordinator; ensure surgery coordinator knows the order of patient surgery; alert surgery coordinator of any client communication that needs to happen before, during, or after surgery
• Immediately upon arrival, round with ICU technician on any surgery patients in ICU with the goal of updating DVM when they arrive for the day;
• Immediately upon arrival, determine any dismissals for the day; review dismissal instructions with DVM to ensure no changes are needed; ensure medications are made up and ready to go; ensure appropriate dismissal appointment is scheduled in Cornerstone and matches surgery dismissal board
• Set up surgery suite for first surgery before induction; ensure all necessary instrumentation is present and set up, including arthroscopy, laparoscopy, ortho packs, laptop, and digital radiology computer; if rDVM films are necessary, ensure that they are loaded and ready to go for surgery
• Assist Tech 1 with patient prep; must be able to place IV catheters, perform peripheral venipuncture; give SQ and IM injections of pain meds/ pre-meds
• Must be able to perform drug dosage calculations (must be signed off by Tech 1)
• Assist doctor with surgical procedures (Scrub nurse); ability to monitor Grade 1 and 2 patients safely during anesthesia(must be checked off by Tech 1)
• While Tech 1 recovers patient in ICU, assist 2^nd Tech 1 with 2^nd patient prep OR
• Enter all charges for surgery to Cornerstone from the surgical flow sheet and tracking form; write/ finish homecare instructions according to DVM instructions; make up prescription medications or call in to pharmacy (must be checked off by Tech 1)

Appointment days (first 4 tasks of the day are the same)

• Review appointment schedule in Cornerstone the day before and discuss flow of patient load with Tech 1. Determine the order of patients and how dismissals and surgeries will be scheduled.
• Update surgery board with surgery coordinator; ensure surgery coordinator knows the order of patient surgery; alert surgery coordinator of any client communication that needs to happen before, during, or after surgery
• Immediately upon arrival, round with ICU technician on any surgery patients in ICU with the goal of updating DVM when they arrive for the day;
• Immediately upon arrival, determine any dismissals for the day; review dismissal instructions with DVM to ensure no changes are needed; ensure medications are made up and ready to go; ensure appropriate dismissal appointment is scheduled in Cornerstone and matches surgery dismissal board
• Before appointments begin, thoroughly clean and stock both surgery exam rooms; ensure that surgery CT area and hallway (anything a client will see) are clean and free from clutter
• Begin Cornerstone reports for every patient being seen each day
• Before seeing pet, load rDVM radiographs and/or ensure films from rDVM are available for review
• Check in patients and clients for rechecks/ consults; take a brief history in the exam room and relay to DVM
• Assist doctors with consultations; educate and answer client questions regarding surgery and aftercare of patients
• Assist with radiographs, labs, etc during exam
• Use travel sheet to enter all exam charges
• Schedule next recheck appointment with client before they leave the hospital if possible- this can be done in the exam room
• Walk client to front desk
• Clean room and make ready for next appointment

Other Duties

• Clean and sterilize all instruments, gloves, drapes and equipment used, so that it will be ready the next time they are needed.
• Keep log of all surgeries done
• Take surgery department inventory on a bi-weekly basis and provide list to inventory manager
• Review sterilization dates on bone instruments and orthopedic implants and inventory/ re-sterilize as needed
• Maintain all anesthetic machines, autoclave, and any other equipment used in surgery
• Thoroughly clean surgery room and area weekly

Knowledge and Skills

The qualified applicant will possess the following knowledge and skills:

Required

• Knowledge of basic veterinary practices, procedures and terminology with willingness to pursue further education leading to Registered Veterinary Technician status
• Ability to appropriately handle animals up to 70 lbs., and perform routine veterinary medical procedures (i.e. collect samples, draw blood, administer vaccines, etc)
• Education equivalent to two years of college or technical school
• At least one year of recent experience in veterinary practice or medical environment with increasing responsibilities
• Internal applicants must have a meets expectation or better in their current position and approval of current supervisor prior to applying for position
• Excellent client communication skills
• Organizational and time management skills

Preferred

• Education equivalent to two years college (pre-veterinary curriculum) or Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
• Three years of recent experience in veterinary practice with increasing responsibilities