Veterinary Technicians are Backbone of Veterinary Clinics

CONTACT: CHRISTEE WILLIAMS, EXT. 1358

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/8/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- They've been called the backbone of veterinary clinics, and many veterinarians say they wouldn't dream of opening their practice on any given day without a veterinary technician who serves as an extra set of hands to handle many aspects of patient care, as well as laboratory procedures.

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. Tri-County Technical College joins the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America in proclaiming the third week in October as National Veterinary Technician Week. The week is designed to annually recognize veterinary technicians nationwide for their contributions as members of the veterinary medical team.

"Veterinary technicians allow me to be a doctor and to concentrate on the tasks of making a diagnosis, writing a treatment plan and performing surgery," said Dr. Nathan Craddock, owner of Tiger Town Animal Hospital in Clemson. "Many veterinarians do everything themselves. And they shouldn't have to. Technicians make our lives easier. By using the team concept, you can delegate tasks in an office."

Veterinary technicians work closely with veterinarians and other members of the veterinary team to deliver quality animal health care. Their primary responsibilities in a veterinary practice include animal nursing, administering medications, assisting in surgery, taking radiographs, inducing and monitoring anesthesia, client education, hospital management and laboratory duties.

"Veterinary technicians are an extra set of hands for the doctor," said Christee Williams, a licensed veterinary technician and Veterinary Technology instructor at Tri-County. Mrs. Williams, a 1982 graduate of Tri-County's Veterinary Technology curriculum, was named the South Carolina Association of Veterinarian's Technician of the Year in 1996.

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. Being knowledgeable in using practice management software is a must, she said.

Technicians must be trained in a wide variety of situations, such as restraining animals ranging in size from a bird to a cow, assisting in the foaling of a horse or assisting in everyday surgical procedures like the neutering of a dog or cat.

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

"If the creative Dr. Frankenstein were to put together a veterinary technician, he'd have to take parts from a nurse, a medical technologist, a radiology technician, a dental hygienist, a pharmacist, an anesthetist, an EKG technician, a surgery technician, a record keeper, a computer operator, an inventory specialist, and several different types of counselors," wrote certified veterinary technician Diane Smith in "Cats" magazine in January 1995. "But he'd have to get the heart from someone capable of unselfish love."

A passion for animals and nursing has kept Billie Walker in the profession for 20 years, she said. "I love what I do, and I want to make a difference in the lives of our patients in the animal kingdom." Since 1982, she has worked for various veterinary practices in the area. Her first job was working for the late Dr. Wayne L. McGee. "I was very fortunate in that he allowed me to perform the skills I was trained to do, even though I was his first experience with a licensed animal health technician," said Walker, who currently teaches part time at Tri-County and works part-time for Dr. Nathan Craddock. She also is a 1982 graduate of Tri-County's Veterinary Technology program.
Today's progressive veterinary practices cannot operate efficiently without the skills of a veterinary technician on staff, said Mrs. Walker.

"Technicians are a veterinarian's right hand. As an instructor, I desire to train the highest quality technicians so the profession can receive the respect it deserves. My focus now is on increasing the skills levels in our graduates."

The six licensed veterinary technicians currently working at Holly Tree Animal Hospital in Simpsonville allow Dr. Steven Shrum and his partner, Dr. Heather Gleaton, to see more patients than the two veterinarians would normally be able to. "We depend on the technicians' laboratory skills, so we aren't running the tests ourselves. They also perform all of the routine dental cleanings, and they take all of the radiographs, he said. We rely on them for client education to explain the process and treatment of a disease," said Dr. Shrum, who hired his first Tri-County graduate in 1997.

"Veterinary medicine changes slowly, and licensed technicians are often underutilized," said Dr. Shrum who serves on the College's Veterinary Technology advisory committee.

Both the practice and the animals benefit from technicians' varied skills, he said. "If technicians are allowed to use their skills, we can practice better medicine, and ultimately it prevents both doctors and technicians from burning out."

Mrs. Williams says technicians have more responsibility today than when she and Mrs. Walker entered the field, and the instrumentation is far more sophisticated. "When I was a student at Tri-County, we did manual blood cell counts; now there is a specific instrument that does it for you. Students have exposure to the latest in equipment in the Tri-County program. More than ever, technicians require updates in the field through continuing education classes. The field is constantly changing, and you must stay up to date. There is always new information, new procedures and new techniques to master.

"We teach our students to understand each disease and how to explain the situation in detail to the client. Good communication with the client is a must," she said. "If an animal has heartworms, a technician can explain to the client what the disease is, how it was contracted, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, its treatment and prevention of the disease," she said.

"You also must deal with a variety of clients who are struggling with difficult situations, such as the loss of a beloved pet. Pet bereavement is another important topic we cover extensively in class because having those communication skills is critical."

For someone interested in entering the profession, Mrs. Williams says technicians must possess a love of working with animals and a desire to work in the medical field. "A willingness to work hard and a determination to do a good job are two very important qualifications," she said.

Students must be proficient in math and science, she said. "These prerequisites are real. Algebra, biology, chemistry and keyboarding are essential to the curriculum. You must be strong in those areas."

Graduates may pursue careers in a variety of areas, not just private practice. Although many graduates seek employment in veterinary clinics, there are positions available in research, specialty practices, emergency clinics, and zoos or pharmaceutical sales companies and nutrition companies. There is also the opportunity to transfer to a four-year institution to acquire a bachelor of arts degree in veterinary technology which increases the opportunities for them.

Although Justin Hiller, of Clemson, holds a B. S. animal science from Clemson University, he entered the Veterinary Technology program at Tri-County, which includes an internship, to get hands-on, practical experience. He says this, coupled with his bachelor's degree, will give him a better chance of obtaining a position in academic research.

Benji Lookadoo, a 1996 graduate of Tri-County's program, worked as a licensed veterinary technician in a private practice for a year and half in Lexington, SC, after graduating. He then sold pharmaceuticals for Merritt Veterinary Supply for two years before accepting a job as a Veterinary Technology instructor at Trident Technical College in Charleston. "I've found my niche," said Lookadoo, who says technicians are often the unsung heroes of the profession.

He says when Trident was initiating its program, the area veterinarians were asking for trained technicians because they see their tremendous benefit to veterinary practice. "Having a technician on staff makes for a well-oiled machine. Everybody has a position and a place, and the office runs much smoother. Technicians save veterinarians a tremendous amount of time."

"I have the best of both worlds," said Mr. Lookadoo. "I get to teach, and I have hands-on interaction with animals on a daily basis. My instructors at Tri-County did a great job of preparing me for any avenue of the profession."

Janet Barto, of Goose Creek, has worked primarily in research since her graduation in 1981. "I love animals, and I love taking care of animals," said Barto, who was raised on a dairy and swine farm, and for the last 16 years has been a research specialist in the comparative medicine department at MUSC. She also holds a degree in zoology from Clemson University.

She says her interest in and respect for the research area of the profession intensified when her father was diagnosed with cancer. "My father survived cancer for 19 years because of research and chemotherapy. There is no way he would have lived 19 years without research," she said.

She entered Tri-County's program and found that it prepared her for all aspects of the job, including handling animals, surgery, anatomy and dealing with clients.

"Often, the technician serves as the mediator between the clients and the doctors," she said. "With our background in pharmacology and anatomy, we can help the clients to understand the diagnosis and treatment."

Technicians are an integral part of the practice, said Mrs. Barto, who was named Technician of the Year by the Southeastern Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science in 1998. "Many times veterinarians don't have time for the little details -- and that's where we come in. We are another set of eyes, ears and nose for the clients to help them to understand what needs to be done.

Mrs. Barto, who is an adjunct instructor for Trident, is a certified lab animal technologist along with being a licensed animal health technician. "I have not one, but two jobs that I enjoy. How many people can say that?"

"I entered the field because I love what I'm doing," said Mrs. 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."

She continued: "National Veterinary Technology Week is a chance to encourage technicians to do for themselves and their bosses to do for them and to recognize the value of the team. Just as in human medicine, pet owners demand skilled professionals who are knowledgeable about their animals."

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM
"We're not a young profession anymore," said Mrs. Williams. "We've been around since the 1970's. Technicians are here to stay."

Through the 1950s, veterinarians trained their own employees, delegating routine tasks and procedures as they saw fit. These on-the-job trained individuals were designated veterinary assistants and were trained to meet the needs of an individual practice.

More than 100 years after the first college of veterinary medicine was established, the first formal educational program for veterinary technicians (called animal health technicians at that time) was established in the late 1960's at Delhi College in Upstate New York.

Today there are more than 80 accredited veterinary technology programs in the United States. Tri-County is the first technical college in the state to offer an associate degree program in Veterinary Technology.

Tri-County's program, which is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and is endorsed by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, offers, besides the traditional training in clinical and surgical nursing, the various laboratory skills, courses in laboratory animal technology, office management and computer skills.
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