TVMA offers membership for Licensed Veterinary Technicians
The Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) is celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week, which runs from October 16-22, by promoting its new membership for Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT). TVMA created LVT membership because the state association recognized technicians' significant contributions to the veterinary team and believed it was necessary for LVTs to have a more influential voice in the profession. This expansion of membership to LVTs aligns with the motivation behind National Veterinary Technician Week, which was declared as the third week of October by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in American (NAVTA) in June 1993. NAVTA designates this week as an opportunity to acknowledge technicians' vital role in the veterinary profession.
This year's theme is "Veterinary Nursing in Action," which speaks to technicians' ability to care for all species of animals in a range of medical situations. Given their multi-faceted skill sets, technicians are prepared to support clinic operations in a variety of capacities. From conducting thorough patient assessments and assisting in surgery to managing anesthesia and giving medications, an LVT is a jack-of-all-trades. An LVT's list of duties also can include managing patient records, handling X-rays and performing laboratory procedures and other regulatory tasks.
"A clinic choosing to hire an LVT does not have to provide basic education of veterinary medicine, allowing an LVT to acclimate much faster to a veterinary clinic with less training," said J. David Sessum, LVT, program director of the Blinn College Veterinary Technology Program and immediate past president of the Veterinary Team Association of Texas (VTAT). "LVTs can discuss medication, disease processes and treatment plans with clients due to the education they receive to become licensed."
Discussing pet health information with clients can be one of the most influential job responsibilities for LVTs. For this reason, LVTs need to stay up-to-date on trends and changes that affect the veterinary profession. Through LVT membership, technicians receive the latest news on regulatory and legislative changes in the profession, gain access to the freshest source of government relations information and have the ability to call the regulatory hotline with questions. They also can contribute to the association by serving on TVMA committees, creating training and educational resources for hospital staff and voting on major decisions that shape the veterinary profession through a newly created LVT seat on the TVMA Board of Directors. This position on the TVMA Board of Directors offers LVTs a new means of having a voice in the association.
"LVTs will become an integrated part of the decision-making processes related to laws and the TVMA organization itself," Sessum said. "LVTs will be better represented in actions that directly affect the veterinary profession." LVTs can learn more about LVT membership by visiting TVMA's website at https://www.tvma.org/Join-TVMA/Who-Can-Join.
About the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,700 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit www.tvma.org.
