Patient Care Assistant

About the role

The Pet Care Assistant works with the veterinary medical team to provide and prepare for the best medical care of pets.

Responsibilities

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Prepare the treatment room for examination of pets and all necessary medical items and supplies (e.g., vaccinations, fecal loops, slides, etc.) for the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician; set up fecals, smears, and skin scrapings as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Serve as support to the Client Services Coordinator, Veterinary Assistant, and Veterinary Technician.
• Hold or restrain pets during examination, treatment, or inoculation.
• Prepare routine in-house laboratory tests (e.g., canine heartworm, feline leukemia, FIV, and canine parvovirus) as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Monitor the comfort of hospitalized patients by walking, exercising, feeding, and cleaning cages and pets (when approved by the veterinarian or veterinary technician).
• Bathe and dip pets when necessary to treat dermatological conditions (when advised by veterinarian or veterinary technician).
• Clean the surgical suite and instruments.
• Ensure cleanliness of the hospital including housekeeping tasks such as laundry, dishes, mopping, cage cleaning, trash collection and removal, and instrument cleaning as outlined by hospital protocols.
• Perform other job duties as assigned.

Capabilities and Experience

• Multi-tasking: Manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
• Communication skills: Reads, writes, and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style, and vocabulary; correctly spells commonly used English words and job-specific terms; demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational ability: Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments; is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem solving skills: Demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems; unusually decisive in handling difficult problems; translates problems into practical solutions.
• Client service skills: Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous, and informative service; gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering great service.
• Intellectual ability: Accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in oral, written, or diagram format; can provide directions.
• Mathematical ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide; computes rate, ratio, and percent; converts units of measurement.
• Computer skills: Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards, and medication/controlled substances.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $15.00 – $16.44 hourly. The specific rate is determined based on the candidate’s experience, skill level, and education, and may vary depending on location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match
• Best-in-Class Student Debt Relief Program (for Full-Time DVMs)
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Top-Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources including free coaching and counseling sessions
• Associate Life Insurance (company-paid) & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Company-Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption
• Continuing Education Allowance (for eligible positions)
• Back-Up Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources
• Fertility and Family Building Support
• Digital Exercise Therapy
• Voluntary Protection Benefits (hospital stays, critical illness, accidents)
• Legal Plan
• Identity Protection
• Commuter Benefits
• Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets
• Exclusive Discounts on products and services

Benefits eligibility is based on employment status. Full-time Associates are eligible for all benefit programs (Student Debt Program available for Full-Time DVMs only); Part-time Associates are eligible for those benefits marked with an asterisk (*).