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Veterinary Medical Assistant

Category: Classified
Pay Grade: C19 
Job Code: 20056

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

JOB SUMMARY

The veterinary medical assistant supports and assists the veterinarian and certified veterinary technicians by providing medical care to shelter animals by assisting in surgery, laboratory duties, administering injections and medications, security of drugs, data entry, medical record keeping, customer service and euthanasia of animals.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (examples, not all inclusive)

• Assists certified veterinary technicians with restraint of animals;
• Ensures a comfortable and sanitary environment for all patients under medical treatment;
• Prepares animals for surgery by preparing surgical packs, assisting in surgical procedures, performing pre-surgical and post-surgical observations of animals and reporting condition changes, maintaining surgical records and records surgical data. Performs/assists with post-surgery examination;
• Administers medications, vaccines and performs intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous injections;
• Performs laboratory tasks by assisting with prepping slides for ear cytology, urinalysis, fecal, and operating in-house blood machines;
• Observes kennel population daily for injuries and/or illness and reports incidences to the CVTs or the veterinarian;
• Assists in radiology;
• Performs humane euthanasia on a variety of species;
• Enforces, controls, and maintains security of drugs and barbiturates, in accordance with federal laws, rules, and regulations. Logs, inventories, and manages controlled drugs stock;
• Participates in community events, adoption promotions, and vaccine clinics;
• Provides information and assistance to the public;
• Facilitates effective communication between veterinary professionals, animal representatives, caregivers and ACOs;
• Ensures compliance with medical regulations and laws pertaining to public health, welfare, and safety, as well as regulations pertinent to the health, welfare, and safety of animals;
• Maintains equipment such as clippers, anesthesia machines, and autoclaves;
• Supports the department in mandated ESF-17 (Emergency Support Function 17) responsibilities in the event of a disaster or during an activation of the County’s Emergency Operations Center. This includes, but is not limited to, transporting special needs pets, assisting at a pet friendly shelter, assisting at the Animal Services main shelter, or assisting at a post disaster animal collection site. Services may include set up, tear down, population management, husbandry, and emergency medical intervention as needed;
• Adapts to many different and difficult situations with limited history and communication;
• Provides communication and customer service to the public regarding medical issues post adoption and post reclaim;
• Assists higher level staff across multiple functional areas;
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Graduation from high school or possession of a GED Certificate; and, one year of experience in the treatment and care of small animals which included administering vaccinations, medications, and medical treatment to animals; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.

Special Qualifications (May be required depending on area of assignment):

• Florida Driver’s License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement, if any.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
• Physical strength and agility to lift heavy animals, equipment, and supplies.
• Exposure to personal risk during assignments causing periodic contact with hostile or diseased animals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of humane treatment, restraint, and handling of animals;
• Knowledge of veterinary medical/surgical practices, procedures, and laboratory procedures;
• Knowledge in animal mannerisms and behavior;
• Knowledge of computer systems, which includes personal computer workstations and laptops and maintain personal inventory of devices;
• Knowledge of routine computer troubleshooting techniques and maintenance programs;
• Knowledge of business English, spelling, arithmetic, and supervisory practices;
• Knowledge of zoonotic diseases and ability to recognize signs shown by animals brought into the facility;
• Knowledge of legal and medical terminology, grammar, and spelling;
• Knowledge of recordkeeping practices and procedures;
• Skill in applying medical and surgical procedures;
• Skill in the application of superior customer service;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions;
• Ability to handle and restrain all size animals;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors, and others;
• Ability to deal effectively, tactfully, and courteously with the public;
• Ability to make prompt, accurate decisions during emergency situations;
• Ability to simultaneously handle multiple calls/tasks.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS

The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
• Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device.
• Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in an environment where errors can lead to significant physical or mental consequences for self or others.