Battle Ground, Ind. | October 1, 2003
Technology is making inroads into all of the aspects of our society. The animal hospital is no exception. New technology provides advanced diagnostics and treatment options for today’s pets.
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| Veterinary technician Lisa Chase, RVT, uses a wireless computer notepad to create a Health Map for her canine patient. |
Veterinary technicians are now using a high-tech tool to manage every aspect of a pet’s care while they are in the hospital. The wireless computer notepad which looks like a giant palm pilot is carried with the veterinary technician wherever they go in the hospital. The new device with state-of-the-art technology allows the veterinary technician to record vast amounts of information as they interact with the pet and provide for its care and treatments.
As the veterinary technician takes the history from the pet’s owner and performs an initial physical examination, all information is entered into a database via the wireless notepad. It is then a part of the animal’s permanent medical record. This includes information such as temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and any other symptoms that the veterinary technician wants the veterinarian to know about. Laboratory results are entered as they are received. Pictures taken with a digital camera of diagnostic procedures, surgery, or to document the animal’s progress are entered and become a part of the permanent file.
The veterinarian is able to review all of the data collected by the technician prior to their own exam. Once a diagnosis is made, a report card and recommendations are immediately printed for the owner. The veterinary technician goes over the recommendations and gives the owner a Health Map. This is a detailed report, complete with the pet’s picture, with explanations of what that pet needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle and why each item is important. Each recommendation is written in an easy to understand and standardized format, thus providing the owner with a clear description of what their pet needs. No matter why the pet came to the hospital, a report about that visit, the need for future visits, or instructions to follow after a procedure will be given by the veterinary technician to the pet’s owner.
Technology has made it possible for all procedures performed to be quickly added to the pet’s permanent record and stored in a centrally located, easily accessible place. The information becomes a valuable source of information for the veterinary health care team members in providing state-of-the-art health care for today’s pets.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, NAVTA, was organized to represent and promote the profession of veterinary technology. Founded in 1981, the association provides direction, education, support and coordination for its members and works with other allied professional organizations for the competent care and humane treatment of animals. The association is headquartered in Battle Ground, Ind.