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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  View Your Transcipts
  Online Resource Links
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  Class Bulletin Board System
  Unit Texts In Word Format

 

Veterinary Assistant DEMO - Unit 1 - Page 4

Veterinary Settings Veterinary practice is not limited to a single-vet office. Veterinarians practice in zoos, animal hospitals, and multiveterinarian clinics as well as single-vet offices. There are some veterinarians who make "house calls" to larger farms or ranches, when it is impractical for the animals to be brought to the office. Animal hospitals provide around the clock care for animals that need more attention than can be given at home, or are critically ill. Most animal hospitals also offer standard veterinary services as well as hospital care. Click to explore the website for the American Animal Hospital Association. The Role of the Veterinary Assistant in Practice Management: The veterinary assistant should be willing to perform any duties that the veterinarian requires within the scope of practice in the facility. Some veterinary offices will utilize the assistants as front office workers, and some will utilize them in the back office or clinical area. Still others will utilize the veterinary assistant in both the front and the back offices. The assistant should be open to learn and perform any duties that the veterinarian or practice manager requires. Time Management The veterinary assistant who possesses good time management skills is a valuable asset to the practice. The veterinary assistant must be conscious of time restraints and be able to get the maximum out of a day, accomplishing numerous tasks for the practice. It is important to develop skills in goal-setting and management of time and resources, both of which add to the veterinary assistant's value as an employee. The more familiar that the veterinary assistant is with the practice and its operations, the more smoothly its day-to-day activities will flow. The assistant must know the answer to many of the questions that the clients will ask and must have a good knowledge of the inner workings of the practice to insure that scheduling matters are handled efficiently. This means that the veterinarian will have ample time to spend with the clients and their animals.