Unit Menu

  Introduction

  Unit 1 - The Basics of Veterinary Practice
  Unit 2 - Administrative Duties
  Unit 3 - Computers in the Veterinary Practice
  Unit 4 - The Vet Assistant as a Communicator
  Unit 5 - Ethics and Law in the Office
  Unit 6 - Billing / Collecting in the Office
  Unit 7 - Assisting the Vet and Grooming Basics
  Unit 8 - Preparing for Employment
  Final Exam

  Topics in this Unit

  Basics of Veterinary Practice

  Staffing the Practice
  Veterinary Settings
  Time Management
  Cross-Training
  Office Policies and Procedures
  Maintaining a Safe Facility
  Safety Hazards
  Preventing Accidental Injury
  Controlling Infection and Disease
  OSHA Guidelines
  Right-to-know Station
  Office Equipment and Maintenance
  Materials and Supplies
  Want Lists
  Inventory Management
  Activities and Unit Exam

  Student Resources

  Table Of Contents
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  Online Resource Links
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  Class Bulletin Board System
  Unit Texts In Word Format

 

Veterinary Assistant DEMO - Unit 1 - Page 14

Inventory Management Computers can be useful in ordering supplies, and there are numerous software programs available for keeping up with the equipment and supplies in the practice. However, simple programs like Microsoft Excel may be used to create a customized worksheet that can be used to track the needs of the practice. All employees should assist with tracking items that are running low in the facility. The veterinary assistant may be asked to check incoming packages to be sure that the materials ordered are the ones that actually arrived in the package. All of the materials and items inside the package should be checked against both the packing slip and the original order. Once these have been verified, the packing slip and/or invoice should be marked as "ready to pay" or forwarded to the appropriate staff member for payment. Be sure to check the expiration dates of products to be sure that the manufacturer or supplier did not "short-date" them; in other words, that they were not sent to the practice with a minimum amount of time left before they expire. If there is only a short shelf-life because of the expiration date, contact the supplier about an exchange. Even when an excellent computerized inventory system is used, periodically a physical inventory should be conducted. Each item in the practice is hand-counted and a record kept of the available products. This physical inventory will assist in maintaining accuracy and provides an opportunity to determine if the computerized system is working adequately.