Theme of National Veterinary Technician Week is
"Veterinary Technicians: Educated, Skilled Professionals"

CONTACT: CHRISTEE WILLIAMS, EXT. 1358

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/13/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- In the last four decades, the role of the veterinary technician has undergone a major metamorphosis, evolving in name, skills and reputation, to become an invaluable professional technical support for providing patient care in today's veterinary clinics.

It wasn't uncommon in the 1950's and 60's to see an office assistant who performed routine tasks, such as scheduling appointments and restraining the animal -- all under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Veterinarians trained their own employees to meet the needs of individual practices, and these on-the-job trained individuals were designated veterinary assistants.

As the trend in veterinary medicine has moved toward multi-doctor practices and high technology, a greater need for well-trained technicians has been created.

Today, the title of "veterinary technician" is held by individuals who have earned an associate degree in Veterinary Technology from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited program. These individuals work closely with veterinarians and other members of the veterinary team to deliver quality animal health care. Today's profession requires advanced knowledge and skills in the areas of animal nursing and critical care, inducing and monitoring anesthesia, assisting in surgery, postoperative care and recovery, diagnostic imaging, client education, hospital management and laboratory duties.

"It's an entirely different ballgame," said Christee Williams, a licensed animal health technician (LAHT) and a 1982 graduate of Tri-County Technical College's Veterinary Technology curriculum, where today she is an instructor. (The title LAHT is synonymous with veterinary technician.) Williams, who began working in 1974 as an assistant at a veterinarian's office when she was a senior in high school, has witnessed the transformation of the profession. "Today the veterinary technician's responsibilities are endless. Veterinary technicians are an extra set of hands for the doctor and allow him or her to concentrate on the tasks of making a diagnosis, writing a treatment plan and performing surgery," said Williams.

"If we are allowed to perform our technical skills, it frees the doctor up to practice veterinary medicine and leaves more time for him or her to run the business," said Williams. "The best-run hospital is one where the entire team is utilized to its potential," she added.

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Inc. has proclaimed October 12 – 18 as National Veterinary Technician Week to recognize veterinary technicians for their contributions to the veterinary health care team. This year's theme is "Veterinary Technicians: Educated, Skilled Professionals" and focuses on the education and skills required to care for today's pets.

Technicians can take radiographs, administer treatments, perform blood tests, assist in surgery, clean teeth, anesthetize patients and give post-operative care. They also perform many tasks in the front office to include answering the phones, scheduling appointments, managing patient records and maintaining drug and supply inventories. Technicians can legally do everything in a practice except make a diagnosis or prognosis, prescribe drugs and perform surgery.

With the ever-evolving technology used by veterinarians to diagnose illnesses, the veterinary technician must continue his or her education and master new skills to provide treatment for animals in their care.

The newly formed South Carolina Association of Veterinary Technicians (SCAVT) gives veterinary technicians a voice to promote and represent their profession and focuses on providing a high level of continuing education for the state's LAHT's, said Williams, who is a member and serves as treasurer on the Executive Board.

Licensed animal health technicians are required to enroll in five hours of continuing education classes per year to maintain their license.

Billie Walker, president of SCAVT and an adjunct Veterinary Technology instructor for Tri-County, and Williams worked this year to coordinate speakers for continuing education classes for the Small Animal Academy meetings for the SC Association of Veterinarians. "We plan the agenda and locate speakers for the two academy meetings held in March and September," she said. Two of the speakers were LAHT's, and their topics ranged from animal behavior (canine aggression) to avian techniques. Other speaker's topics were anesthesia protocols with Sevoflurane and Grief Counseling. "Technicians must deal with a variety of clients who are struggling with difficult situations, such as the loss of a beloved pet. Pet bereavement is an important topic because having those communication skills is critical," Williams said.

Williams said attendance at the SCAVT meeting was high – 98 in March and 66 in September. She added there are more than 100 LAHT's in the state, and "our goal is to have all SC licensed technicians enrolled as members. We also encourage students to attend these sessions. This instills in them the sense of importance of continuing education in their careers," she said.

"This profession requires a constant learning process. Medicine is ever changing, and there are always new ideas in technology and techniques. Without the continuing education classes, you can become stagnant. We stress the importance of lifelong learning in our classes here at Tri-County. There are lots of seminar opportunities throughout the state. We tell our students to go with the attitude to learn something new to bring home to the practice where you are working," said Williams.

Another important achievement for today's veterinary technicians is the licensure exam. Graduates cannot be licensed in South Carolina unless they pass this National Veterinary Technician Exam and the SC rules and regulations exam. Tri-County's Veterinary Technology Class of 2003 reported a 100 percent pass rate on a national credentialing exam. They were among the 2,207 across the United States and Canada who took the exam in June. The national pass rate is 77 percent. Many states, including South Carolina, use the national exam as their written examination for credentialing veterinary technicians.

"I entered the field because I love what I'm doing," said Williams, who has been a technician for two decades. "I've worked in private practice, at Clemson's research facility, and I've been teaching since 1988. It's definitely a viable and rewarding career."

Tri-County's program, launched in the 1970's and the first technical college in the state to offer an associate degree program in Veterinary Technology, is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and is endorsed by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians. It offers training in large and small animal clinical and surgical nursing, various laboratory skills, as well as courses in lab animal technology, office management and computer skills.
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