VETTECH U 2024 / HOUSTON, TX
HOW VETERINARY TECHNICIANS CAN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR UTILIZATION AMY JOHNSON, BS, LVT, RLATG, CVJ SENIOR MANAGER CE, VETGIRL
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SUNDAY PM • SEPTEMBER 22 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Veterinary technician utilization has been a big topic in the veterinary industry over the last few years and is likely part of the solution to the veterinarian and veterinary technician shortage. Utilization has become a big enough issue that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has taken note, formed a task force to investigate the problem, and appointed a committee to work on utilization. The American Animal Hospital Association has also released the 2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines. It is essential for everyone in the industry to understand what an important issue this is, not just for veterinary technicians but for everyone in veterinary practice and beyond. THE TRUTH IN DATA We know utilization is one of the reasons technicians either leave a job or leave the industry altogether. The most recent demographic study done by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) in 2022 found that 19% of respondents did not feel utilized to their fullest potential at their workplace, 41% stated they did feel utilized but not to their fullest potential, while the remaining 40% said they did feel fully utilized1. These numbers are better than what was found in the 2016 NAVTA Demographic Survey but show we still have room for growth. The top 3 barriers given by the survey participants to better utilization were: 1 • Lack of trust/confidence by the DVM in the veterinary technician skillset • Training uncredentialed staff to do veterinary technician tasks • Not allowing veterinary technicians to handle tasks that they are licensed to perform, control issues on the part of the veterinarian The other important statistic is that 1 in 5 technicians who answered the survey said nothing is being done to improve veterinary utilization. 1
Another barrier to utilization that needs highlighting is the lack of consistent (or any) scope of practice for veterinary technicians. According to a 2022 report by James Penrod with the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) presented at the 2022 Veterinary Hospital Managers (VHMA) Conference: • 39 states currently regulate veterinary technicians • 2 states are working on legislation that passed in 2022 and will go into effect in 2023 • 4 states are in the process of trying to pass legislation to regulate technicians The following numbers reported at the same conference by Ashli Selke, immediate past president of the NAVTA executive board, put a light on the problem: • 31 states have nothing in their State Practice Act that defines scope of practice for veterinary technicians • 10 states have very little scope of practice for veterinary technicians in their State Practice Act This creates a lot of ambiguity, which can be a big barrier. Veterinarians, practice owners, and practice managers may be hesitant to let technicians practice at their full potential because they don’t know what is legal and what is not. WHO BENEFITS FROM UTILIZATION? It is a common misconception that utilizing veterinary technicians to their full potential only benefits veterinary technicians, when in actuality everyone in the practice benefits from utilization. Here are just a few of the benefits that we see for all stakeholders
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SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2024 | PROCEEDINGS | VETGIRLONTHERUN.COM
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