In an emergency, every second counts. Veterinary knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the ability to make rapid decisions are vital for saving pets’ lives when manning an urgent care hospital’s phones. Fortunately, our front desk team here at Urgent Pet Care Omaha embodies those traits, and they’re an essential part of ensuring your beloved companion receives prompt medical attention. When you call our hospital in a panic because your pet has been hit by a car or has eaten rat poison, our level-headed veterinary receptionists are highly trained in handling emergency situations, and will help get your pet the care they need. They not only care for your pet, but also offer a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to your worries, and comfortable companionship as you wait for your pet to be treated. 

We couldn’t manage without our superstar veterinary receptionists, so join us in celebrating National Veterinary Receptionist Week from April 18 to 24. Learn about all the tasks these incredible team members undertake each day. 

What are the job duties of a veterinary receptionist?

If asked whether you know what a veterinary receptionist does, you may respond that they answer phones all day. That task does take up a large portion of their workday, but veterinary receptionists do so much. At any point during the day, you may find our veterinary receptionists undertaking the following job duties:

  • Greeting clients, determining the nature and purpose of the visit, and directing or escorting them to specific destinations
  • Taking an initial medical history for the veterinary technician 
  • Corresponding with other hospitals regarding patient records, referrals, and insurance
  • Reconciling beginning and end-of-day transactions
  • Processing payments and handling collections
  • Answering, forwarding, and triaging phone calls, as needed
  • Giving patient updates and discharge instructions for hospitalized patients
  • Answering client inquiries 
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Ensuring medical records are maintained
  • Checking in and discharging patients
  • Acting as a liaison between clients and the veterinary team
  • Maintaining a clean, welcoming environment
  • Reiterating discharge and prescription instructions

Clearly, a veterinary receptionist wears many different hats throughout their typical day. They’re the first smiling face you see when you walk into our hospital, and the last person to say goodbye when you leave. They’re there to calm and comfort you in times of uncertainty and worry, and there to rejoice with you when your pet is healed. They’re the first source of information in an emergency, and can help triage your pet’s condition. Our veterinary receptionists do so much more than answer the phones—they’re an integral, valuable part of your pet’s care team. 

How do a veterinary receptionist’s duties differ at an urgent care hospital?

A veterinary receptionist’s responsibilities are relatively similar in any hospital, but an urgent care hospital receptionist needs a few different skills when manning the front lines. General practices see their share of emergencies, but triaging cases over the phone and as they come through our doors is a critical skill our receptionists must master. For example, what if three pets enter our hospital at the same time, all with situations their owners claim are extremely urgent. Who should be rushed to our veterinarian first? Our receptionists would quickly assess each pet’s breathing, pulse, and mentation, and find the most serious issues that require our veterinarian’s immediate attention. Although each pet deserves urgent care, some conditions are more life-threatening than others, and need attending to first. Our veterinary receptionists are exceptionally trained and skilled in making this assessment, or calling for backup from our veterinary technicians as needed. 

A veterinary receptionist in an urgent care hospital has a fast-paced job that requires quick thinking and compassion. The job is not for the faint of heart, but is truly rewarding, and offers plenty of room for growth. When you visit our hospital, thank our receptionists for all that they do, not only during National Veterinary Receptionist Week, but also year-round.

When your pet requires urgent care in Omaha, you can trust our veterinary receptionists to stay calm, cool, and collected, and ensure you receive help as soon as possible. Before heading to our hospital, contact our Urgent Pet Care Omaha team to allow us to prepare for your arrival.