Staffing technician roles

Workforce shortages are well documented for veterinarians. In a dvm360 interview, Megan Chadwick, CVT, academic director for Penn Foster, discusses how education addresses veterinary technician shortages and how inadequate staffing affects practices. In this video, the second in a series, Chadwick speaks with dvm360 Lead Editor Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA, about the importance of filling veterinary technician roles and how these animal care professionals can help alleviate the stress of veterinarian shortages.

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the video:

dvm360: What can you tell me about workforce shortages in the veterinary industry, and how does it affect technicians?

Megan Chadwick, CVT: We see a lot of turnover with the position. The demand for how many veterinary technicians we need is not there. There are not enough people coming into the field to meet that demand. On top of that, in the more recent years, we're also hearing there is a demand for more veterinarians, and I think that also plays into how important it is to make sure that those shortages for veterinary technicians [are met], because veterinary technicians have a really important role. They're learning these important skills, and they're able to help with a lot of those tasks, [allowing] veterinarians to concentrate on things that only veterinarians can do. So I think it's important that we help adjust the shortage of veterinary technicians, because that could hopefully alleviate some of the additional stress that's happening on the veterinary side. Utilizing veterinary technicians to the top of their license, focusing on keeping veterinary technicians in the field, and helping support schools like Penn Foster in getting their students prepared and accepting them [is important].

RELATED VIDEO: Retaining veterinary technicians