Overview

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts provides 24-hour care for pets 365 days of the year. Since 1985 we have offered high quality medical care, consultation, referral, and emergency veterinary services for the care of dogs, cats and exotic pets. The Diagnostic Imaging service provides clinical support to the Foster Hospital for Small Animals and the Hospital for Large Animals.  The service also supports the teaching mission of the Department of Clinical Sciences.  Modalities covered by the diagnostic imaging service include small animal and large animal radiology, small animal ultrasound, fluoroscopy and interventional radiology, CT, MRI and nuclear medicine.

What You'll Do

The Diagnostic Imaging technician IV provides exceptional level imaging quality for all diagnostic imaging modalities. This position requires the ability to multitask and excellent prioritization of cases to manage a varying caseload with the ability to also support different sections daily or multiple modalities within the day depending on caseload and expertise needs. The DI Veterinary Technician has exceptional communication skills to be able to teach students, interns, residents and other fellow technicians in safe handling, positioning, imaging technique and safe sedation practices.

At the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, the Veterinary Technician IV; provides high level technical support for all clinical facets of caring for the animals entrusted to our care and is responsible for providing advanced veterinary patient nursing care and performing highly advanced specialized technical procedures on general direction from the attending veterinarian, but without direct supervision. Working independently and relying on extensive experience, the Veterinary technician IV demonstrates strong leadership skills and uses independent clinical judgement regarding nursing care and technical tasks and reports the result to the attending veterinarian.

Essential functions in this role will be:

Technical Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality diagnostic imaging for all modalities in a timely manner as ordered by clinicians to insure prompt delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Collaborate with colleagues, co-workers, faculty, house officers and students to effectively manage a high-volume clinical workflow without direct supervisory oversight.
• Provide care to patients and support to co-workers and students that are consistent with hospital standards of minimizing fear, anxiety, stress and pain in our patients.
• Safely administer IV sedation to patients and monitor sedated patients throughout procedures
• Position and restrain patients in a calm, professional and compassionate manner
  Work with clinicians to perform specialty examinations .
  Provide care to patients and support to co-workers and students that are consistent with hospital standards of minimizing fear, anxiety, stress and pain in our patients.
  Monitor, manage and implement treatment plans as ordered by clinicians to insure prompt delivery of high-quality patient care.
  Independently perform advanced technical tasks without supervision
• Collaborate with administrative and clinical care team members throughout the hospital to coordinate and prioritize patient care.
• Provide technical assistance for clinical, academic and research functions/activities.
• Assist clinicians in maintaining complete medical records for all patients
  Maintain IACUC and Radiation Safety certifications as needed.
• Participate in emergency on call coverage for CT and MRI modalities as needed

Teaching – Teaching responsibilities include:

• Contributes to the teaching and instruction of veterinary and technician students performing diagnostic imaging skills.
• Clinical instruction of basic procedures for veterinary students, interns, residents and student technicians throughout anesthesia rotation.
• Assist in training, orienting, and mentoring new veterinary technicians in all aspects of the service
• Engage students to ensure they are receiving a successful and fulfilling education in the department
• Develop and maintain a service SOP binder so that others can function in the service adequately in your absence.
• Participate in providing formal CE training to technicians, students and support staff

Leadership:

• Serve as a mentor for newly hired veterinary technicians and facilitate the on-boarding process in collaboration with supervisor.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership skills, resourcefulness, and self-accountability.

Departmental and Additional Responsibilities:

• Cleaning and stocking of supplies and equipment in all areas of diagnostic imaging
• Maintain adequate inventory of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
• Ensure all treatment areas are maintained in good condition, submit requests for improvements or work orders as needed or scheduling service.
• Research
• Assist faculty and house officers with ongoing research projects.

Other:

• Provide coverage for other services as needed.
• Participate in Departmental and Hospital-wide initiatives as required

As a part of our highly competitive benefits package, we offer a liberal continuing education allowance and tuition reimbursement program provided to all technicians employed in Foster Hospital for Small Animals to promote personal and professional growth.The minimum rate of pay for this position is $35 per hour with a 35-hour budgeted work week. Compensation above this rate will vary based on education, experience, and credentials.

The Diagnostic Imaging Veterinary Technician is considered an essential employee within the hospital and the schedule may include providing University and calendar holiday coverage on a rotating basis. A substantial holiday premium pay is applied to any University designated holiday. The University observes a minimum of thirteen holidays throughout the calendar year. Once trained, this position will participate in a rotating holiday coverage schedule and may participate in a rotating on-call emergency schedule for advanced imaging which includes weeknights, weekends, and holidays with generous shift differentials for hours outside of standard business hours as well as pager and emergency call in stipends and emergency hourly rates.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

• Certified Veterinary Technician in good standing
• Veterinary Technician Specialist Certification
  OR
• Certified veterinary technician in good standing, 6 years as a certified veterinary technician in a large specialty hospital, demonstrated mastery of specialist technical and procedural skills
  OR
• Certified veterinary technician in good standing, 6 years as a certified veterinary technician in a large specialty hospital AND Registered Radiologic Technologist
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively as a member of a diverse team of clinical and administrative professionals.
• Expert understanding of medical terminology and veterinary pharmacology and the ability to effectively share that knowledge
• Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers, and to work collegially as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to provide mentorship and leadership to other technicians.
• Demonstrated ability to instruct students, as determined by student feedback.
• Able to work well independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to work in a busy, stressful environment with diverse personalities while maintaining a calm, professional demeanor.
• Expertise with Microsoft Office and electronic medical records.

Required technical skills include: Sedation and Anesthesia trained, IV catheter placement, Advanced Radiology trained, Advanced Imaging trained,

• RECOVER certified and be able to independently initiate and carry out CPR
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology preferred
• VTS in Diagnostic Imaging or tracking
• Registered Radiologic Technologist
• Advanced education in Radiology or Veterinary Science
• Experience working in an academic environment or teaching hospital
• Experience with advanced imaging (CT, MRI)
• Experience with or willingness to train in large animal radiology and nuclear medicine
• Demonstrated ability teaching other technicians, veterinary students, veterinary technician students

Pay Range

Minimum $32.40, Midpoint $38.50, Maximum $44.70
 

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.