More Responsiblity For Vet Techs
Because of the shortage of veterinarians, it appears that vet techs might be given more responsibilities. Like performing certain procedures or administering certain substance we could have done before.
In Washington State there is a bill that could all vet techs to administer controlled substance, and in Illinois they are thinking about allowing vet techs to join their veterinarian association.
I think this is great because vet techs are very under utilized the way it is. Veterinarians don’t seem to want to allow vet techs to do certain things, even when it is legal. Either vets have a hard time giving up control, they don’t know how to fully utilize a vet tech, or both. I think it is both, but younger vets seem to realize that a well trained vet tech can be a huge asset.
Of course with more responsibility, like administering controlled substance, us vet techs will be legally responsible for our actions, so there would have to be much more oversight of the profession, which could be a good thing.
Hopefully vet techs will legally be able to do more things in the clinic, that way we can command a higher salary.
As always, it comes back to what type of business training the practice owners have had. If they are clueless about how to run a vet clinic as a business, then it still does not matter how many things vet techs are legally able to do.
