Career Opportunities

Position Overview:
Help to develop and maintain a high quality; efficient and effective medical team, by fostering an environment of trust, teamwork and accountability. Work in tandem with the Hospital Manager and reports directly to the Regional Manager.

Salary Range: $225,000 to $250,000, Options for sign on and relocation

Essential Position Functions:

• Comprehensive Patient Work-Ups
  • Obtain a complete history in conjunction with the technician.
  • Perform thorough physical exams, including temperature, pulse, respiration, and body condition score for each patient.
  • Make notes on the master health form with any problems and diagnosis.
  • Recommend all appropriate comprehensive diagnostic screenings.
  • Correctly interpret diagnostic results.
• Client Communication and Education
  • Communicate medical findings, recommended diagnostics, prognosis, and the recommended plan to the pet owner. Make notes in the chart to record all such conversations.
  • Note any recommendations declined by the pet owner in the medical record.
  • Provide status reports to the client on hospitalized patients' condition in a timely manner.
  • Perform timely discharge appointments and ask the pet owner if they have any questions.
  • Respond to client phone calls in a timely manner.
• Diagnostic Procedures & Surgery
  • Perform appropriate pre-op exams and diagnostics.
  • Practice good surgical techniques.
  • Ability to use and delegate appropriate surgical prep techniques with the technician.
  • Call back clients with results of diagnostic tests and provide a copy with interpretation for the pet owner.
  • Review discharge instructions with the technician or pet owner.
• Medical Record Responsibilities
  • Record patient exams in medical records using SOAP format.
  • Follow AAHA guidelines for medical records.
  • Complete records by the end of the business day. No records are permitted to leave the hospital.
  • Fully document all patient care to ensure good case management.
  • Complete medical records in a legible and complete manner.
• Pharmacy Duties
  • Prescribe appropriate medication for patient conditions with appropriate dosing.
  • Approve prescriptions and review labels for accuracy.
  • Maintain the security of controlled drugs.
  • Monitor inventory levels of controlled substances.
  • Log controlled substances consistently.
• Promotes Teamwork & Staff Efficiency
  • Assist in keeping appointments running on time.
  • Clearly communicate instructions to staff in a respectful manner.
  • Willingness to assist staff with their duties when needed.
  • Communicate pertinent information to colleagues for efficient case management.
  • Promote a positive attitude throughout the practice.
  • Answer the persistent ringing phone when necessary.
  • Be available to colleagues and management when off duty for matters that cannot wait until the next business day.
• Financial Responsibilities
  • Correctly estimate client invoices.
  • Clearly communicate costs to clients.
  • Follow hospital guidelines for client payment and credit policies.
  • Appropriately use and conserve clinic resources.
• Continuing Education Responsibilities
  • Share information gathered at continuing education meetings with colleagues.
  • Assist in teaching at staff meetings.
  • Assist with mentoring and training staff members.
  • Attend at least 80% of on-site staff training and meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Management.

Additional Position Functions: Assignment to the areas listed below may include the following additional essential job functions:

• Strategic Focus
  • Work with Medical staff to build an understanding and an appreciation of how behaviors impact revenue.
  • Provide feedback to Medical staff on weekly/monthly production performance and coach for improvement.
  • Participate in marketing efforts where appropriate and provide suggestions for improvement.
  • Work with the PetVet Support Center on staff contract and compensation issues.
  • Provide stability and leadership within the Hospital.
  • Work with the Hospital Manager on weekly priorities and expectations.
  • Participate in weekly operational conference calls.
  • Work with the Hospital Manager on Medical Staff Scheduling.
  • Utilize a one-on-one process for ongoing direct communication with Medical staff and other Hospital support staff.
• Tactical Focus
  • Resolve client issues where appropriate (when attending Medical staff or Hospital Manager have not been effective).
  • Receive and evaluate new product information.
  • Evaluate and monitor protocols for the daily running of the hospital from intake to discharge.
  • Monitor cases in the hospital and attend daily rounds when possible to be sure the highest standards are being upheld.
  • Recommend fees for new products and services.
  • Meet regularly with the Hospital Manager to review controllable costs:
    • Medical staff and Support payroll
    • Inventory
    • Other Medical related expenses
  • Participate in assistant and technician reviews.
  • Maintain availability to answer questions with regards to all aspects of the hospital.
  • Participate in practice management updates and training at all levels.

Competencies:

• Clinical Knowledge and Skills: Demonstrate clinical knowledge and skill in examining and  assessing animals. Perform cardiovascular, respiratory, orthopedic, neurological and other  necessary examinations. Diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to develop solutions to challenges relating to the management of a high-quality veterinary hospital.
• Communication Skills: Demonstrate effective communication of diagnostic and therapeutic options to clients. Display effective communication with internal medical and hospital staff.
• Professionalism: Work as part of a high-quality, professional veterinary team with the ability to provide and receive appropriate constructive criticism, suggestions, and feedback.
• Business Acumen: Ability to understand the management and finances of the veterinary hospital practice.
• Ethics: Knowledge and understanding of ethical principles that guide decisions affecting patients.
• Commitment to Continuing Education: Commitment to utilize available resources of continuing education and to facilitate learning of others.

Qualifications:

• Veterinarian degree (DVM) from an accredited college or university.
• Current State Veterinary License.
• DEA registration must be obtained and maintained.
• Five plus years of experience in a veterinary practice.
• Experience overseeing Veterinary Technicians and Assistants as well as other hospital or practice staff.
• Must demonstrate a desire to continue learning in veterinary care and participate in leading staff training.

Position Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Excellent Communication Skills and the ability to communicate effectively, efficiently, and in a timely manner with all members of the Medical and Hospital staff.
• Client communication skills, must be able to elicit information, establish rapport, offer explanations with pet owners.
• Display confidence and reassurance when dealing with pets experiencing severe stress, illness, or pain.
• May include some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work.
• Position does require the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Additional Information:

The list of essential functions and additional functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this position. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a required assignment for the position.

Position Overview: The Medical Director (MD) is responsible for providing strong leadership for the hospital, managing and mentoring associate veterinarians, and assuring regulatory compliance relating to the practice of veterinary medicine. The MD is also responsible for maintaining an environment of teamwork in which the highest quality veterinary medicine is delivered. In partnership with the hospital leadership team, the MD holds shared responsibility for the financial health of the hospital, directing staff and the overall management of practice operations. The MD also serves as a staff veterinarian in addition to the administrative and leadership duties of the MD role. Effective MDs demonstrate strong work and professional ethics, a positive attitude, and uphold a high standard of patient care. They are part of the foundation upon which successful veterinary practices are built and directly impact and influence hospital culture and morale.

Salary Range: $295,000 to $300,000, Options for sign on and relocation

Essential Functions:

• Maintaining a high quality of progressive veterinary care
  • Oversees and gives directives regarding medical standards and quality of care
  • Sets policies as they pertain to the practice of medicine
  • Works toward making various services work as one team
  • In conjunction with appropriate leadership team members, recommends additions to the hospital inventory
  • Budgets for new equipment and provides a reasonable cost estimate and return on investment
  • Sees patients and handles clinical practice
  • Ensures positive communication with clients and between doctors, including the proper transfer of patient care responsibilities
  • Reviews patient records for completeness and accuracy and uses them to promote medical excellence
  • Appropriately manages controlled drugs
  • Reviews and approves requests for alternatives to additional drugs and medical supplies
  • Conducts regular doctor meetings
  • Performs other duties as assigned by Manager

Administration duties:

• Handles patient care problems, client complaints, and referral partner issues
• Manages veterinary, client, and board complaints and recommends resolutions
• Schedules staff at the hospital to meet practice needs
• Develops medical policies
• Assists in ensuring practice compliance with the State Veterinary Medical Practice Act, OSHA, and AAHA standards

Leading by example:

• Holds licensure in good standing to practice and maintains all required licenses with timely renewals
• Monitors DVM performance and production, provides coaching when appropriate
• Serves as a mentor and role model for all staff veterinarians

Development of the practice:

• Leads candidate interviews of potential DVMs
• Identifies new service opportunities that do not currently exist in the hospital
• Holds ownership for the revenue and success of the practice through monitoring key performance indicators and works with the Hospital Manager to make adjustments to achieve positive results
• Helps identify and plan for upcoming challenges in maintaining hospital operations and possible temporary solutions (locum)
• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager

Competencies:

• Conflict resolution
• Leadership
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Ethics
• Positivity

Qualifications: Education/Experience:

• Doctor in Veterinary Medicine Degree
• 3-5 years of clinical experience, preferred

Skills:

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent time-management and delegation abilities
• Exercises sound judgment and demonstrates exemplary decision-making skills
• Professionalism and courtesy in all interactions with others
• Well-developed interpersonal skills

The list of essential functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.