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.

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.