Paraprofessional Staff

At VSCHV we have five levels of paraprofessional staff. The first, the Animal Caretaker, provides for the comfort of all our patients, and are able to advance to nursing after undertaking training. The Animal Caretaker is competent at basic patient monitoring, housekeeping, and assisting the doctors and nurses. Level One Nurses are familiar with various tasks performed throughout the hospital. The Level One Nurse is responsible for the basic care of the patients as well as for some fundamental treatments and diagnostic tests ordered by the specialists or staff doctors. Level Two nurses are proficient with tasks performed in the treatment room, radiology, medicine, ward, and laboratory. The Level Two Nurse is trained and able to work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Level Three Nurse of our Paraprofessional Staff is at the level of a Licensed Veterinary Technician. They are fully trained and able to work in any area throughout the hospital, including monitoring critical anesthesia and administering chemotherapeutics.

Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) are licensed through the Department of Education in the State of New York and regulated to administer advanced medical services, such as anesthesia and catheter placement.  They are employed by VSCHV to provide superior care to our patients. LVTs are supervised by our Medical Director, and must complete a rigorous academic training program in order to obtain their credentials.

Staff Members

Amy Pacchiana, LVT

Amy has extensive experience in gaining intravenous access in critical animals, monitoring and caring for intensive care unit patients, and administering and monitoring anesthesia in dogs and cats.

Externs

The Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley participates in a highly competitive externship training program with Vassar College, Marist College and the SUNY Ulster Techician Program. Many of these students contribute with research projects and many of them go on to veterinary school. We are glad to have them as part of our team.