Description

Veterinary Triage Assistant

Department: Veterinary Assistants

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Compensation: $16.00 - $18.00 / hour

Description

Are you interested in emergency medicine and looking for a position with room to grow? Do you want to work with an amazing team, state-of-the-art equipment, and cutting-edge veterinary care? If so, Animal Emergency & Specialty Center - Chattanooga may be the perfect next step in your career.

Animal Emergency & Specialty Center of Chattanooga is East Tennessee's premier provider of emergency and specialty veterinary services. Our highly trained and compassionate team offers advanced care including:

• 24-hour Emergency & Critical Care
• Surgery
• Oncology
• Internal Medicine

We invest in our team-your success is our success. We are currently seeking a full-time Veterinary Triage Assistant to join our daytime emergency team, Monday-Thursday, 7am-5pm.

The Veterinary Triage Assistant plays a vital role in supporting our emergency department by gathering essential patient information, facilitating efficient triage, and ensuring exceptional client communication. This role will also be cross-trained in reception duties to help maintain seamless coverage and client support throughout the hospital.

Ideal candidates are compassionate, quick-thinking, and eager to learn in a fast-paced ER environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Triage incoming emergency cases, documenting presenting complaints and assessing urgency.
• Gather patient histories, record vitals, and help prepare patients for diagnostic or treatment procedures.
• Provide safe restraint for examinations, treatments, and diagnostic imaging.
• Assist veterinarians and technicians with procedures, treatments, and patient monitoring.
• Dispense medications as directed and accurately document all patient care.
• Support patient flow and communicate effectively with the medical team.

• Greet clients with professionalism, empathy, and clear communication.
• Manage a multi-line phone system, assist with scheduling, and efficiently route inquiries.
• Check clients in/out, generate invoices, process payments, and review hospital policies or estimates.
• Maintain accurate patient and client records within the practice management system.
• Provide compassionate updates to clients regarding patient status and wait times.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming lobby environment.

• Assist with stocking, inventory needs, and maintaining triage area readiness.
• Uphold hospital safety, confidentiality standards, and client service expectations.
• Contribute to a positive, team-oriented culture.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of one year of experience in veterinary care, human healthcare, animal handling, emergency dispatch, or a customer service-focused environment preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-urgency setting, with strong situational awareness and the ability to adapt quickly as patient needs change.
• Strong customer service acumen with the ability to remain calm, compassionate, and clear when communicating with clients-especially during emergency or emotionally charged situations.
• Willingness to learn and develop technical skills, including triage procedures, patient handling, basic medical terminology, and practice management software. Candidates with limited veterinary experience but strong communication skills and a desire to grow will receive full training.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including accurate documentation and efficient information-sharing with medical staff.
• Strong multitasking and organizational abilities, with the capacity to prioritize effectively while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-centered environment, maintaining professionalism and contributing positively to hospital culture.
• Comfortable working with animals of all sizes, species, and temperaments, including fractious or critically ill patients, using safe handling techniques.
• Dependable, punctual, and committed to maintaining consistent attendance-critical for emergency and specialty operations.
• Ability to work occasional holidays or additional shifts based on department needs within a 24-hour hospital.

What We Offer

As part of the Innovetive Petcare network, we are committed to supporting our team members with a robust, competitive, and people-focused compensation package. We believe in investing in your professional growth, well-being, and long-term career success.

Our benefits include:

• Competitive pay with opportunities for advancement as your skills grow.
• Generous medical, dental, and vision insurance options to support you and your family.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match to help you build a secure financial future.
• Paid time off (PTO) to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
• Continuing education, mentorship, and hands-on training, including pathways to develop advanced technical skills in emergency and specialty medicine.
• The opportunity to work alongside one of the most experienced and respected emergency & specialty teams in Tennessee, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and innovative medicine.
• Employee pet care discounts for your own furry family members.
• A supportive, team-oriented culture that values collaboration, communication, and personal growth-where your contributions are recognized, and your development is truly encouraged.
• A stable, reputable hospital backed by Innovetive Petcare's network-wide resources, leadership support, and commitment to creating excellent workplaces for veterinary teams.
• Opportunities to participate in community partnerships, hospital initiatives, and team-building events that strengthen connection and engagement.