Veterinary technicians play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of veterinary hospitals.
They’re skilled and knowledgeable professionals who assist veterinarians in providing top-notch care to patients.
Veterinary technicians are well known for being the “heart” of the practice. Their superpower is their ability to wear many hats like:
Reception and kennel assistant
Patient caretaker and monitor
Trusted surgical assistant
Exam room and appointment traffic controller
Empathetic companion to peers and clients
However, their potential could be more utilized, with many technicians limited to basic tasks like drawing blood, taking X-rays, and administering medications.
Let’s examine one of the easiest ways to grow hospital revenue, empower our veterinary technicians, and expand their role within the veterinary hospital.
Let’s jump to the point by offering technician-driven laser therapy appointments!
Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that can help reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing in veterinary patients.
By allowing technicians to perform these appointments, veterinarians can free up time to focus on other appointments, surgeries, in-patient care, or catching up on charts
Veterinary technicians are more than capable of performing laser therapy treatments. They can confidently and safely administer these treatments to patients with the proper training and support.
There are limited risks to using laser therapy, however, on the off chance a patient experiences an abnormal response, potential adverse reaction, or there’s an equipment malfunction, a veterinarian should always be close by to assist.
What type of laser therapy training is available for veterinary technicians?
I’m glad you asked!
In order to perform laser therapy on veterinary patients, specialized training is needed to ensure they can confidently and safely administer treatments.
Training programs typically cover topics such as laser safety, proper use of equipment, treatment protocols, and monitoring patient response.
Here are some key components of training that veterinary technicians can expect:
1. Laser Safety: One of the most important aspects of training is understanding laser safety protocols. Veterinary technicians learn about the potential risks associated with laser therapy and how to mitigate them to ensure the safety of both the patient and themselves.
2. Equipment Operation: They’re trained on how to properly operate and handle laser therapy equipment. This includes understanding the different types of lasers used in veterinary medicine, how to adjust settings for different treatments, and basic troubleshooting.
3. Treatment Protocols: They can expect to learn various treatment protocols used in laser therapy for different conditions and patient populations. This includes understanding the appropriate laser parameters, treatment durations, and techniques for delivering laser therapy to achieve optimal results.
4. Patient Assessment: Veterinary technicians are trained to assess patients and understand the indications and contraindications for laser therapy, as well as how to evaluate patient response to treatment.
5. Hands-On Practice: Hands-on training is an essential component of learning how to perform laser therapy. They may undergo practical training sessions to practice administering laser therapy treatments under the supervision of experienced professionals.
Overall, these trainings are designed to equip your team with the knowledge and skills necessary to confidently and safely perform treatments on patients.
By receiving comprehensive training in laser therapy, our veterinary technicians can expand their scope of practice, enhance their value within the hospital, and provide high-quality care to the patients in their care.
Enabling veterinary technicians to perform laser therapy appointments can have a significant positive impact on a veterinary hospital in a number of ways.
Let’s look at some key benefits:
1. Improve Efficiency: Improve the overall efficiency by streamlining the workflow and optimizing the use of resources. By allowing veterinary technicians to handle laser therapy appointments, veterinarians can free up valuable time to focus on other appointments, surgeries, in-patient care, or administrative tasks.
2. Increase Revenue: Laser therapy appointments are billable services that can generate additional revenue for your hospital. By expanding the services offered by veterinary technicians, the hospital can increase its revenue stream and profitability.
3. Enhance Patient Care: Patients can receive timely and consistent treatments to help manage pain, inflammation, and promote healing with their trusted technicians, enhancing the overall quality of care provided by the hospital.
4. Skill Development: Allowing your technician team to perform laser therapy appointments provides them the opportunity to develop new skills and expand their knowledge in the field. This can help boost their confidence, job satisfaction, and professional growth.
5. Competitive Advantage: Offering technician-driven laser therapy appointments can give the veterinary hospital a competitive edge in the market. By providing a wider range of services and utilizing the expertise of veterinary technicians, the hospital can attract more clients and differentiate itself from competitors.
Offering technician-driven laser therapy appointments is a win-win for both veterinary technicians and your veterinary practice.
It allows technicians to expand their skill set and take on more responsibility while also freeing up valuable time for veterinarians to focus on other business and patient needs.
With the proper training and support, your team of technicians can confidently and safely perform laser therapy treatments, leading to improved efficiency, increased revenue, enhanced patient care, skill development, and a competitive advantage in the market.
Looking to find the best laser therapy unit for your practice?
Check out this article: Veterinary Laser Therapy Equipment: Selecting the Best Option for Your Practice
