Pulse - October 2024 - 40

FROM THE SCVMA OFFICE
JENNIFER HAWKINS, DVM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JENNIFER HA
HAWKINS, DVM,
CUTIVE DIRE
JHAWKINS@SCVMA.ORG
@
Celebrating Veterinary Technicians
I
n the first practice I ever worked as a newly minted veterinarian, there was an amazing
lead RVT named Lauren. Like many RVTs, she juggled a lot. She crafted employee schedules
and managed inventory, she prompted doctors and advocated for patients, and she delivered
excellent care to patients and owners. She even acted as a sort of social worker with some
of our most challenging clients. One such client was a dear woman who called almost daily
with questions about her beloved pet. This owner did not want to speak to the doctor, she only
wanted " Auntie Lauren. " While this owner could tax one's patience, Lauren always calmly and
patiently listened to this owner's pet stories and gently answered her burning questions.
When I first started working at the
Orange County Shelter, it was the RVTs
who showed me how to examine animals
I had never previously worked with, like
opossums, ducks, and raccoons. These
same RVTs came up with creative solutions
to helping pet owners keep pets
homed and for alternative housing for pets
when the shelter was overflowing. They
even worked all night (after having been
on duty all day) while we performed exams
and delivered care to over 150 dogs from a
large-scale hoarding case. (For the record, I
don't condone working around the clock-
this was essentially a disaster scene!)
At the state and local association level, I
see RVTs advocating for their colleagues in
practice and in RVT schools. They know
they're a critical part of the veterinary
team and want to ensure they are utilized
to their full abilities. RVTs also volunteer
their time to help at our monthly Downtown
Dog Wellness Clinics where they
assist veterinarians and train veterinary
students, RVT students, and veterinary
assistants how to restrain and deliver vaccines
and oral medications. They truly
care about helping pet owners in need and
training the next generation of veterinary
team members.
RVTs comfort clients in their time of
need, they carefully position patients on
the X-ray table for the optimal image...
and then they take the image again, they
place IV catheters in teeny tiny dehydrated
critters, they grab the DVM by
the shoulders and direct them to the next
exam room, they triage incoming patients,
they advocate for animals and their owners,
they make that $&*# fluid pump stop
beeping, and so much more.
In addition to their role in ensuring the
health and welfare of animals, RVTs are
40
crucial to elevating operational efficiencies
and practice wellbeing. Without RVTs,
veterinarians could not provide the quality
of animal care and serve nearly as many pet
owners as they do successfully every day.
This year marks 31 years since NAVTA
passed a resolution to make celebrate
National Vet Tech Week. The third week
of October is Vet Tech Appreciation Week
when we recognize the commitment, care,
and compassion of RVTs in our hospitals
and in the community.
With an SCVMA membership fee of
just $45/year, RVTs and other veterinary
team members can attend SCVMA CE
events for free, thanks to our generous
sponsors! This includes our regular webinars
and live events, and the annual Conti
Symposium which has a specific RVT
OCTOBER 2024
PULSE
track (open to all veterinary team members).
And let's not forget the Veterinary
Team Members chapter of the SCVMA!
This has historically been one of our more
active chapters.
Though veterinary technicians are officially
celebrated in October, we wish to
thank veterinary technicians for the great
work they do every day of the year. And
I personally wish to thank those who've
taught me so much throughout my career.
You know who you are!

Pulse - October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pulse - October 2024