10/31/2024 7:20:47 AM	VETT 161 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  VETT 161	Title:  VET OFFICE PROCEDURES
Full Title:  Veterinary Medical Office Procedures
Last Reviewed:5/8/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	2.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	2.00	Lab Scheduled	0		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	2.00			Contact Total	35.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  ANHLT 161

Catalog Description:

In this course students learn about the spectrum of skills utilized by veterinary office staff. Emphasis will be placed on client communication skills and medical office management, including medical record keeping and drug inventory control. Additional topics include emergency recognition, euthanasia and grieving, preventative health programs, common veterinary abbreviations, and relevant computer programs.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

In this course students learn about the spectrum of skills utilized by veterinary office staff. Emphasis will be placed on client communication skills and medical office management, including medical record keeping and drug inventory control. Additional topics include emergency recognition, euthanasia and grieving, preventative health programs, common veterinary abbreviations, and relevant computer programs.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Effectively communicate with clients regarding a variety of common veterinary conditions and circumstances.

2. Demonstrate proper medical office management techniques, including medical record keeping and drug inventory control.

3. Reflect on and determine next steps regarding their own personal strengths and weaknesses in interpersonal communication in the veterinary workplace.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify hospital protocols and explain them to clients.

2. Identify professional communications skills and office organization.

3. Communicate using transformational vocabulary and utilize basic conflict resolution strategies.

4. Discuss proper medical records protocol.

5. Discuss proper protocol for drug inventory, including mandated record keeping.

6. Define common veterinary acronyms and terms.

7. Compare veterinary computer software programs for potential office use.

8. Thoughtfully discuss euthanasia considerations and procedures and demonstrate understanding of the grieving process.

9. Evaluate, respond to, and prepare for emergencies.

Topics and Scope

I. The Art of Effective Communication in Person, Over the Phone, and in Writing

II. Common Veterinary Procedures and Communication Between Technical Staff and General Public

III. Proper Veterinary Record Keeping Including Computerized Veterinary Programs

IV. Common Veterinary Acronyms and Disease Definitions

V. Inventory Management

    A. Drug inventory control

     B. Mandated record keeping

VI. Prescription Labels and Dispensing Instructions

VII. Common Euthanasia Procedures and Protocols

VIII. Client Grieving Process

    A. Recognition

    B. Client assistance

    C. Stages of grief

IX. How to Cope with Stress and Compassion Fatigue

X. Conflict Management

    A. Transformational vocabulary

    B.  Verbal self-defense

XI. Public Health and Emergency Care Laws

XII. Post-Operative and Post Treatment Care and Discharge Instructions for Common Procedures

XIII. Common Preventative Care Concepts and Programs

Assignments:

1. Reading in text or other assigned materials (approx 30 pages per week).

2. Discussions and mock scenarios.

3. Class performances

4. Short reflective essays (up to 3).

5. Quizzes (up to 12) and examinations (up to 3).

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 25%
Short reflective essays
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 10%
Mock scenarios
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Class performances in discussion and mock scenarios
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 35 - 50%
Quizzes and examinations
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Front Office Management for the Veterinary Team. 3rd ed. Pendergast, Heather. Saunders. 2019

Veterinary Receptionist's Handbook. 3rd ed. McLister, MT and Midgley, Amy. Advanstar Communications. 2014 (classic).

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