IMPORTANT INFO!!

Hi everyone,

Here are the changes we have made from receiving the results from our AAHA inspection:

*Wipe down the pill counters after each time.  There are baby wipes on the pill counter countertop to use to wipe them down.

*We have secured the Proin and Gabapentin.  They are now in the safe along with the other controlled drugs.

*There are CE Tracker forms in the hospital policy book under the Training/CE tab.  There is a CE Tracker form for each of you with your name on it.  It is your responsibility to log all your CE yourselves.  You need to log everything!  Conferences, lunch and learns, seminars, reading, etc.  I have logged everything up to the inspection.  Log anything that you have done after that point.

*Write down what the pet is eating at each appointment.

*Sarah has made an anesthetic machine maintenance log.  Please use that log for all maintenance, changing sodasorb, weighing f-air cannisters, etc.  It is in the Housekeeping Binder under the autoclave. Thank you Sarah!

*We no longer have to keep a radiology log!!  Yay! You can still print out the xray label and use that to input all your info into the xray software and stick the label on our sheets we have been using but you don’t need to write anything down.  When registering the pet’s info into the software please add your initials under comments.  Tht way our software will be our log from here on out.

*There are new safety posters hung in surgery and radiology.

*There is now a map of our emergency action plan hanging on the kennel door along with all the other posters.  A written version of our EAP is in our binder under workplace safety.

*Please initial every entry into the patient’s charts.  If you write in a chart….put your initials after what you have written.

*Buprenex and metacam need to go home in a 60 dram pill vial.  They can not go home in a plastic baggy!!  Preventatives can still go home in a baggy because they are still in their original packaging.

*Each patient needs their own admittance sheets, cage cards, treatment plans, etc. even if they are in the same family.  A client may have a dnr for one pet but not for the other, etc.

*Please be careful of your conversations with other team members.  Clients can hear all conversations that are happening in the lab and sometimes even in the back.  Please try to stop all idle conversations if we have all exam rooms full and people waiting up front.  If we are that busy please have your conversations with team members during lunch, after work or during down time.  Our first priority is getting our client and patients needs met!  Please also be conscious of interrupting or joining a conversation that you are not a part of.  Sometimes there are conversations going on and it can add confusion and/or frustration if another person takes part.

*We have been extremely busy!  We are still on the look out for another employee!  Please try to prioritize tasks and keep time management in mind!  If all rooms and lobby are full and you are doing a discharge in the kitchen then we are BUSY!!! Please try to be as quick as possible with discharges and appointment.  Here are a few helpful tips…………

Closures for discharges / Chatty Clients

• Politely take control of the conversation immediately.
• If the client keeps talking over you or interrupting you, stop talking, let them finish their thought, then say “I am going to go over all the important details real quick with you then when I’m finished I’ll answer any questions or concerns you have”.
• If you are stuck in a room when putting an appointment in, say “I think that everything you’re telling me is important for the doctor to hear so let me go see if I can get her in here as quickly as I can.”
• Know when you need to speed up and know when it’s ok to slow down.  If it’s the client’s first pet and first surgery then you will probably have to spend more time going over things but if it’s the client’s 10^th dog getting their 10^th dental then you will only have to hit on the important info and that’s it.
• Less is more. Everything is written down for the client so keep that in mind.
• If you get stuck in any situation say “I need to excuse myself.  Dr. _______ needs my help with a patient.
• If you are not crazy and you and the client have time, then go over all discharge instructions at the post-op phone call.  That way you can keep the actual discharge extremely brief.  You should only have to ask if there are any questions and explain those and all other important info.
• If children are in the appointment or at discharge and they keep persistently asking questions say “It is very important that I go over ________ instructions with your mom, dad, grandma, etc.” Ignore the child until you are fully through!  We are not being rude but sometimes parents do not intervene.  We all love kids but we need to be punctual, quick and get it done!  Tune the kids out if needed……..
• Give important info at discharge and that’s it.  Stop talking.  Ask the client what questions they have.  Finish by saying: Alright, I have gone over all the discharge info with you Mrs./Mr. _________.  Please call with any questions or concerns.  I will now take you to Beth/Laurel to have her finish up with you.  I will go and get ______ for you.  Thank you so much.
• If the client needs help to the car then do just that!!  Help the client/patient to the car and then turn back to the building saying Call with any questions. Thank you so much!!  Do not get stuck taking the patient to go potty, for a walk, or have a lengthy conversation, etc.
• There is a difference to being punctual and professional and being rude.  We are not being rude if following these protocols.  A lot of times there is an urgency to being as quick as possible.  This also helps with the flow of clients, wait time and cars in the parking lot!!!

That is all!!  I know that is a lot of info……..let me know if you have nay questions!

Erika