While telehealth has long been a part of veterinary medicine, the pandemic accelerated remote pet care in ways no one could have imagined. Today, words like \u201cteletriage\u201d are commonplace in veterinary offices nationwide, and this new approach to veterinary practice is likely here to stay.<\/p>\n
Such megatrends have a surprising impact on one often-overlooked role: veterinary technician. Over the past 18 months, veterinary technicians have emerged as critical players in the fight to keep clinics operational and provide efficient and effective care. In teletriage situations, for instance, they are often able to make the snap judgments needed to determine whether an animal requires urgent care or could wait for an appointment.<\/p>\n
But despite their critical role, veterinary technicians are not always recognized for their impact on the pet care industry. It\u2019s time for that to change.<\/p>\n
Most, if not all, veterinary technicians undergo training through a rigorous curriculum, including externships and credentialing exams. However, for many in the field, their job doesn\u2019t use that training. Rather, veterinary technicians are often treated as if they walked in off the street with no educational experience, leaving them not just undervalued but also under utilized. It\u2019s the difference between giving veterinary technicians the chance to work at the top of their capabilities (which, depending on the state, could include complex procedures like dentistry or anesthesia) and having them simply bring a patient into a room and weigh the pet.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, a growing number of veterinary care providers recognize the potential of veterinary technicians not just as near-term supporters for doctors but as a pipeline of future talent to ensure the continuing growth of the field. For example, at networks like Banfield Pet Hospital, veterinary technicians increasingly take on more complex tasks like administering medications, which frees up time for doctors to focus on more complex tasks. Banfield even organizes specific appointments to be led by technicians rather than veterinarians. This has been particularly critical in the age of telehealth as veterinarians juggle an increasingly complex and remote patient load and as pet owners start scheduling more appointments in the post-pandemic era.<\/p>\n
How can more providers recognize the veterinary technician\u2019s role and build a more effective and equitable system for all involved? Here are three concrete recommendations:<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s one thing we\u2019ve learned from the pandemic, it\u2019s that veterinary technicians play a vital role in keeping hospitals running and pets healthy. As we navigate our new normal, let\u2019s not forget the critical importance of support staff in the age of telemedicine. Let\u2019s invest in providing those workers with the resources they need to make the most of their training in ways that can help build a stronger and more resilient veterinary workforce.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While telehealth has long been a part of veterinary medicine, the pandemic accelerated remote pet care in ways no one could have imagined.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":21577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[360],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-april-may-2022","column-viewpoints","clinical_topics-veterinary-nursing"],"acf":{"hide_sidebar":false,"hide_sidebar_ad":false,"hide_all_ads":false},"yoast_head":"\n