Veterinary Surgery Appointment Assistant/VA

Ethos Veterinary Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health is seeking a full-time Surgery Appointment Assistant/VA for our Surgery team in San Diego. The role focuses on welcoming patients, handling appointment intake, obtaining histories and vitals, and supporting the Surgery team with documentation and flow.

You will work closely with surgeons, technicians and Client Care to ensure smooth appointments, prepare rooms, and present estimates and plans as directed.

Qualifications

• Strong client service skills for front-line intake and scheduling.
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple appointments.
• Clear, compassionate communication with pet owners and teams.
• Ability to collaborate with doctors, technicians and care staff.
• Willingness to provide basic veterinary assistant support when needed.

Responsibilities

• Receive and check in scheduled Surgery appointments and patients.
• Serve as primary contact for clients during intake.
• Obtain patient histories and reason for visit.
• Document vitals and intake information accurately.
• Ensure records, imaging and lab results are available for the team.
• Coordinate efficient patient flow between lobby, exam rooms, and Surgery.

Skills

Client service

Organization

Communication

Team collaboration

Vet assistant basics

Job description

Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VSH) is looking for a full-time Surgery Appointment Assistant/VA to join our Surgery team.

About Veterinary Specialty Hospital:

At VSH our mission is to advance the veterinary profession through our leadership in medicine, education, business and promotion of the human-animal bond. We strive to bring together caring, warm and intelligent people who love to serve and help and are among the best in their field.

About the Job:

As a Surgery Appointment Assistant/VA, you will play an important role in creating a smooth and welcoming experience for our Surgery patients and clients. The primary focus of this position is receiving scheduled appointments and supporting the intake and flow of patients into the Surgery department. This role works closely with our surgeons, technicians, assistants, Client Care team, and clients to ensure patients are received efficiently and the Surgery team has the information needed to begin each appointment.

Responsibilities include:

• Receive and check in scheduled Surgery appointments and patients

• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients during the appointment intake process

• Obtain patient histories and confirm the reason for the scheduled visit

• Obtain and document patient vitals and other basic intake information

• Confirm that appropriate medical records, imaging, laboratory results, and referral information are available for the Surgery team

• Assist with coordinating efficient patient flow between the lobby, exam rooms, treatment areas, and Surgery department

• Help prepare patients and exam rooms for scheduled consultations, rechecks, and surgical appointments

• Review and confirm client contact information and other required documentation

• Present estimates, treatment plans, and client paperwork as directed by the Surgery team

• Communicate anticipated wait times, appointment flow, and next steps to clients

• Support medication preparation, and client education as needed

• Provide basic veterinary assistant support, including assisting with xrays, sedation monitoring, holding for blood draws, etc to the Surgery team when appointment intake responsibilities allow

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the patient medical record

• Help create an organized, compassionate, and efficient experience for clients and patients from the moment they arrive

Shift Information:

• Full Time - Monday through Friday; schedule may consist of either five 8-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts.

• Must work a minimum of 2 of the 8 recognized holidays in patient care or with the client care team.

About You:

• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience working in a veterinary hospital setting preferred; specialty or surgical experience is a plus

• Comfortable obtaining patient histories, vitals, and basic veterinary intake information

• Strong client service skills with the ability to communicate clearly and compassionately with pet owners

• Highly organized and able to manage multiple scheduled appointments and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to anticipate the needs of the Surgery team and proactively keep appointments moving

• Strong attention to detail, particularly with medical records, patient identification, documentation, and client communication

• Ability to work collaboratively with doctors, technicians, assistants, and Client Care team members

• Positive, professional, and calm demeanor

• Excellent communicator who is compassionate, empathetic, dependable, and detail-oriented

• Able to provide basic veterinary assistant skills as needed

Compensation:

VA: $24-$35/hour

Compensation is negotiable based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials.

Other:

• This position is intended to be a long-term role focused on appointment intake and patient flow within the Surgery service.

• Candidates should be prepared to remain in this role for a minimum of one year before being considered for transfer into more advanced technical or specialty-specific positions.

• We are seeking team members who are excited about building expertise in client communication, patient intake, and surgical appointment coordination.

Benefits

• Highly competitive and comparable wages based on experience and skill set
• Partnership with various educational programs/scholarships
• Competitive VAand RVT CE allowance annually
• VetBloom access: Race approved continuing education, training and curriculum library
• License application and renewal reimbursement for RVT's
• Financial support and onsite mentorship toward pursuit of VTS
• Health and wellness programs including access to League wellness app
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• 75% Employee Pet discount
• Full-time benefits include health, dental, vision, disability and life insurances, flex-spending accounts, 401(k), Employee Assistance Program, 3 weeks accrued paid time off, and uniforms
  • Benefits available the first of the month following 30 days

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.

NVA Compassion-First is now Ethos Veterinary Health

We are excited to announce Ethos Veterinary Health as our new name. Ethos is the new, industry-leading community of legacy Ethos Veterinary Health, Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, SAGE Veterinary Centers, and legacy NVA Specialty and Emergency hospitals. This powerful new community brings together a dynamic network of ~145 hospitals, an unmatched team of experts, cutting-edge technology, and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of the animal health profession and better patient outcomes.
Ethos Veterinary Health offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process.