Under-utilizing credentialed/licensed veterinary technicians continues to be a hurdle many practices have yet to overcome. Several barriers to full utilization currently exist including:
- A lack of knowledge
Veterinarians may not be aware of the education, knowledge, and technical skills necessary to earn a degree in veterinary technology. Many are also unaware of credentialing requirements, including continuing education requirements, for credentialed veterinary technicians or the process for obtaining and maintaining a veterinary technician specialty (VTS).
Owners and practice managers may hire non-credentialed individuals at a lower wage without taking into consideration this is contributing to the larger issue or credentialed veterinary technicians, if allowed to perform at the top of their license, can significantly increase practice revenue.
- Liability
Some veterinarians express concern for their own liability should an error or accident occur while a veterinary nurse/technician is performing a procedure. Some may say they can perform the procedure more quickly themselves rather than delegating this to a veterinary technician/nurse, not taking into consideration the potential long-term financial benefit to the practice and themselves.
- Negative past experiences
Past negative experiences should not be a barrier to utilization. However, negative experiences often are roadblocks to implementation. Assessing past events by talking about what went wrong, how it could have been avoided, and training and practice under direct supervision can build trust and allow for proper utilization.
- A lack of trust
This is perhaps the most significant barrier to utilization. Veterinarians who do not trust a veterinary technician are unlikely to delegate to that individual. Technicians who do not trust a veterinarian are unlikely to ask for more responsibility.
AVMA Task Force status and Tech Talk recap |
| In my first article in this series, I discussed the AVMA Task Force on Veterinary Technician Utilization that was formed in May 2019 to help address the ongoing issue of underutilization of veterinary technicians. The task force was directed "to develop a plan to improve veterinary technician utilization while recognizing the profession's challenges of financial and career sustainability, effective task delegation, and the wellbeing of both the veterinary technician and the practice." The task force provided a 22-page report to the AVMA Board of Directors at the end of December 2019. The report has not been made available to the public as of February 2021, however, a summary of recommendations was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) January 2020 issue.1
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