• Strengthen patient outcomes through effective cross-specialty veterinary team communication

    Veterinary medicine has grown increasingly fragmented, with communication gaps between general practice, emergency, and specialty teams compromising patient care. Collaborative Emergency Medicine for Veterinary Technicians addresses this challenge directly. Edited by Simone Conwell, a credentialed technician with eighteen years of experience spanning emergency, specialty, and general practices, this practical guide shows technicians how collaborative communication across departments and with veterinarians improves outcomes for critically ill patients.

    The book details what ER staff need during patient transfers from general practice, what specialty surgery technicians expect when receiving surgical cases, and how to share clinical insights effectively with veterinarians. Coverage includes the role of veterinary social workers in emergency settings, professional communication techniques from a certified veterinary practice manager, and the struggles of bilingual staff caught between owners and veterinarians.

    Readers will also find:

    • Practical guidance for general practice technicians on preparing transfer documentation and communicating patient history to emergency room staff effectively
    • Detailed protocols showing ER technicians what specialty surgery teams require when patients move to surgical intervention and recovery
    • Strategies for productive technician-veterinarian collaboration including when and how to share clinical observations and treatment suggestions
    • Insights from veterinary social workers on supporting patients, families, and team members during high-stress emergency situations
    • Communication frameworks from a certified practice manager for maintaining professionalism and resolving interpersonal conflicts among staff

    Designed primarily for emergency veterinary technicians, this resource also benefits those in general practice and specialty medicine who want to improve interdepartmental collaboration. By bridging communication divides, technicians can deliver more coordinated care and reduce errors during critical patient transitions.

  • List of Contributors

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    Abbreviations

    Part 1:

    1. What Defines Emergency by Simone Conwell, RVT VTS (ECC)

    2. Bloodwork Basics by Simone Conwell, RVT, VTS (ECC)

    3. Fluid Therapy Basics by Elizabeth Faux, RVT, VTS (ECC)

    Part 2:

    4. Transferring with Catheters by Simone Conwell, RVT, VTS (ECC)

    5. Stabilizing the Emergent Patient by Elizabeth Faux, RVT VTS (ECC)

    6. Better Living Through Pharmaceuticals by Puja Wright, RVT

    7. I Can’t Pee! – The Blocked Cat by Puja Wright, RVT

    8. Communicating and Supporting Clients While Supporting Yourself by Valerie Bogie, MSSW & Veterinary Social Work Certificate

    Part 3:

    9. Diabetes by Simone Conwell, RVT VTS (ECC)

    10. Searching for Red Blood Cells: IMHA by Dani Schuler, RVT

    11. Searching for Platelets: IMTP by Dani Schuler, RVT

    12. Not So Simple: AHDS by Simone Conwell, RVT, VTS (ECC)

    13. Gasping For Breath – Feline Asthma by Dani Schuler, RVT

    14. Communication Across Cultures: How Language Helps by Máriam Ordoñez, veterinary technician student

    Part 4:

    15. Forbidden Snackies: There’s No Way He Ate That! by Fernanda Flynn, veterinary assistant

    16. Don’t Flip Over a GDV by Puja Wright, RVT

    17. Trauma Llama by Allison Snow, RVT

    18. Managing Difficult Financial Discussions in Emergency Care by Ashley Salango, CVBL, Practice Manager

    19. Tail-End Tactics by Talia Sundstrom, CVPM, SHRM-CP

    Index

  • Simone Conwell, RVT, LVMT, VTS (ECC)

    Is a Registered Veterinary Technician with VeG ER for Pets at Veterinary Emergency Group with eighteen years’ experience, including nine in emergency medicine. A RECOVER Certified Instructor and Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, she has trained dozens of technicians and veterinarians in advanced procedures including feline urinary deobstruction, pericardiocentesis, and septic patient management. She previously served as a lead critical care technician and before that was the anesthetic trainer at her general practice in addition to aiding new graduate veterinarians in developing good communication habits with the techs and assistants.

Veterinary Clinics of North America
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