Careers

About Veterinary Hospital at the Lake

Welcome to Veterinary Hospital at the Lake, where everyone is special. We believe that each pet patient for whom we care and each pet family for whom we serve, are special. Veterinary Hospital, too, is special in that we offer two fully integrated service departments, the Comprehensive Pet Care Center, and the Carolinas Center for Small Animal Reproduction.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Veterinary Technician Team Leader and the Practice Manager, the Veterinary Assistant assists the veterinarians and technicians with patient care and treatment, monitors hospitalized pets, maintains inventory, prepares prescriptions, performs routine in-house laboratory work, educates clients regarding veterinary care and procedures, and assists with surgical procedures.

Veterinary Assistant Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making Doctors, teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented. Responding quickly and calmly to crises while maintaining a high standard of patient care.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with Doctors and practice team members. Providing feedback appropriately and in a timely manner. Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results. Sharing ideas and being open to others’ ideas.
• Communicating: Conveying instructions to clients and teammates to ensure successful patient care.
• Active Listening: Following the instructions of Doctors and sometimes patient owners. Picking up the needs of Doctors and teammates based on prior experiences and feedback.
• Organization Skills: Clear tracking of lab specimens, medications, patient instructions, workflow, and other job-related items while managing multiple patients and clients.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Reviews medical records and notes made by the Customer Service Representative and determine the nature of the visit and any tests or procedures needed.
• Ensures all procedures rendered during the visit are documented for proper billing; ensures all vaccinations, procedures, notes, etc. have been documented in the medical record.
• Demonstrates warmth, courtesy, and professionalism in all interactions with clients; exercises compassion and care in all interactions with patients.
• Communicates with clients regarding the medical status of the patient; provides accurate information to clients concerning fees, hospital policies, and procedures, etc.
• Prepares clients for patient procedures and provides post-procedure instructions including proper care of the patient, rest, diet, administering medication, etc.
• Educates clients regarding preventive medicine and vaccination requirements; provides handouts and educational materials to support recommendations.
• Recommends laboratory procedures including pre-anesthetic profiles, geriatric screening, fecal, urinalysis, heartworm checks, FeLV testing, etc.
• Uses a pre-exam checklist, lifestyle surgery, and any other applicable client educational pieces to ensure that all medical needs are covered.
• Prepares patients for exams including:
  • Greeting clients and providing escort to the exam room.
  • Placing the patient on the exam table and prepares for the Doctor’s entrance
  • Obtaining basic information (weight, temperature, etc.) on the pet.
  • Discussing the reason for the visit (chief complaint), symptoms or problems, and procedures that may need to be done (i.e., vaccinations, fecal or heartworm tests, etc.).
• Prepares Doctors for the exam including:
  • Notifying when the patient is ready to be seen.
  • Advising of the patient basic information and reason(s) for the visit including nature of the visit, preventive procedures due, tests that are to be run, etc.
  • Assisting with the exam by restraining the patient, preparing forms, obtaining instruments, etc.
• Conducts exam exit activities including:
  • Escorting the client to the front desk.
  • Providing the Customer Service Representative with the medical record and patient visit form.
  • Recapping continued care instructions.
  • Answering final client questions.
  • Cleans and prepares exam room for the next patient.
• Consults with Doctors daily to plan each day’s activities.
• Communicates with Doctors and practice team members including client discussions, patient plans, client concerns, etc.
• Properly restrains animals in a safe, efficient, and compassionate manner during examinations and procedures.
• Obtains laboratory samples; use a fecal loop when necessary.
• Anticipates and prepares medications or vaccines.
• Prepares specimens for outside laboratory; obtains results from the laboratory over the phone or fax.
• Monitors laboratory supplies and orders supplies, as needed.
• Takes, develops, and maintains radiographs following proper safety procedures.
• Performs routine suture removals, nail trims, and weight checks; applies bandages and splints under the direction of the attending Doctor.
• Provides injections, as directed by Doctor - intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous.
• Promotes the practice’s products, programs, and services using direct or passive marketing; makes appropriate suggestions to clients about products appropriate for the patient’s condition.
• Accurately dispenses medications as directed by Doctor; prepares prescription labels and packages medications; ensures medications are added to the patient’s record and appropriately charged to the client.
• Follows DEA and OSHA guidelines; documents controlled drug logs anytime a controlled drug is used; follows appropriate safety and handling of hazardous materials; follows established hospital safety guidelines regarding radiographs, controlled drugs, animal handling, etc.
• Cleans and straightens exam rooms, treatment, and lab areas; restocks exam rooms with supplies. Assists other team members to keep the public areas of the practice clean; cleans and maintains all medical equipment.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Full or part-time
• Ability to work on weekends
• Previous veterinary experience preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance
• Practices OSHA safety techniques including proper PPE
• Computer skills, MS Office applications, etc.

Benefits Offered

• Paid time off
• Health insurance; dental insurance; vision insurance
• Retirement benefits or accounts
• Bonus incentive
• Flexible work schedules
• Career and professional development

About Veterinary Hospital at the Lake

If you live in Sherrills Ford or the surrounding areas and need a trusted veterinarian to care for your pets – look no further. Our doctors are licensed veterinarians and are open to treating all types of pets! Your pets’ health and well-being are very important to us, and we take every possible measure to give your animals the care they deserve. Veterinary Hospital at the Lake is a full-service animal hospital and welcomes both emergency treatment cases as well as pets in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental care.

Position Purpose
Reporting into the Practice Manager/Managing Doctor (DVM), the Head Veterinary Technician performs a critical role in providing high quality care for patients. Technicians directly impact Doctor’s efficiency and client service. Technicians are key partners to the Doctor’s providing the appropriate support to ensure each client interaction and procedure is seamless and successful. Technicians apply their professional skills in anesthesia, surgery, dentistry, laboratory testing, patient nursing, and client education.

Technician Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making Doctors, teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented. Responding quickly and calmly to crisis while maintaining a high standard of patient care.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with Doctors and practice team members. Providing feedback appropriately and in a timely manner. Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results. Sharing ideas and being open to other’s ideas.
• Communicating: Conveying instructions to clients and teammates to ensure successful patient care.
• Active Listening: Following the instructions of Doctors and sometimes patient owners. Picking up the needs of Doctors and teammates based on prior experiences and feedback.
• Organization Skills: Clear tracking of lab specimens, medications, patient instructions, workflow, and other job-related items while managing multiple patients and clients.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery and other tasks as needed.
• Assist veterinarians in outpatient exams by taking histories, vital signs and weights as well as providing client education.
• Monitor vital signs.
• Collect and prepare samples; obtain blood, stool, and other samples.
• Perform in-hospital lab testing and prepare specimens for outside labs.
• Accurately position patients for radiographs; take x-rays.
• Prepare animals for surgery.
• Perform dental procedures.
• Provide emergency first aid.
• Provide basic animal handling and restrain animals during exams.
• Administer and monitor medications, anesthesia, vaccines, and treatments prescribed by a veterinarian.
• Assist in the maintenance of practice equipment.
• Maintain cleanliness of surgery suite, treatment area, and exam rooms for all surfaces.
• Support DEA compliance as it relates to the veterinary technician role.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Associate’s degree in applied science, veterinary technology is preferred
• State license to work as a certified/licensed/registered veterinary technician in the state of Texas is preferred
• Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance
• Practices OSHA safety techniques including proper PPE

Benefits Offered

• Paid time off
• Health insurance; dental insurance; vision insurance
• Retirement benefits or accounts
• Bonus incentive
• Flexible work schedules
• Career and professional development

About Veterinary Hospital at the Lake

If you live in Sherrills Ford or the surrounding areas and need a trusted veterinarian to care for your pets – look no further. Our doctors are licensed veterinarians and are open to treating all types of pets! Your pets’ health and well-being are very important to us, and we take every possible measure to give your animals the care they deserve. Veterinary Hospital at the Lake is a full-service animal hospital and welcomes both emergency treatment cases as well as pets in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental care.