Vol. VII: Vetamac’s Technician Training, Service Protocols, and Standards

In Volume 6, Issue 1 of Vapors, the FAQs section contained brief answers to two questions: 1) How do we know Vetamac technicians are qualified to service our machines and 2) How are Vetamac’s service protocols and standards established? This issue of Vapors will attempt to answer those questions with some depth and detail.

Comprehensive Training and Service Protocols for Vetamac Technicians

Vetamac’s service technicians are trained using our Van-Gard 7 ^© Service Manual which contains detailed information on the function of anesthetic machines and the delivery of anesthetic gas to the patient. Most anesthetists simply turn the oxygen flowmeter and vaporizer on without thought to how oxygen flow and inspired concentration are related and how the patient is affected. If our technicians are going to perform the proper service, they must have adequate knowledge of the function of the machine and how all of the components function separately and as a unit. This knowledge also helps them answer questions related to problems with the machine, such as “why won’t the bag stay full?”. The service manual also contains a detailed protocol for servicing a machine starting with the oxygen supply through every component to the waste gas evacuation system. Since Vetamac services many brands of machines, the service protocol provides further detail based on the brand and model of machine.

Experienced Technicians Backed by a Strong Support Network

Most of our technicians have performed anesthesia in practices or institutions and three of our technicians are members of the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists. After completing both the Van-Gard 7 ^© training and approximately one year in the field, the technicians will be given an exam by Vetamac. Upon passing the exam, they will be certified as Vetamac service technicians. As Vetamac’s number of technicians increases, the newer technicians have more experienced technicians they can call for assistance. This network of technicians is very important and provides over 75 years of experience to assist with questions and problems.

Ensuring Accuracy with Detailed, Accessible Service Records

The Van-Gard 7 ^© training also emphasizes the importance of accurate, timely, thorough and honest records of the service that is performed. These records are not only important for you the client, but also assist the service technicians when answering questions that might arise at a later date. These records are stored in a computerized database designed exclusively for Vetamac to give the technician the necessary information at the click of a mouse.

Establishing Rigorous Service Standards for Veterinary Anesthesia

The final part of the Van-Gard 7 ^© training is the standards used for service. This addresses the second question of how Vetamac’s standards are established. There are no established standards for veterinary anesthesia. The American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA) has a position statement on recommendations for the control of waste anesthetic gases.1 These recommendations are Vetamac’s standards. In fact, our standard is more rigorous in some cases. For example, the ACVA tolerable leak for a breathing system is 300cc/minute at 30cm H2O pressure. Vetamac’s is 200cc/ minute at 30cm H2O pressure. In human anesthesia, there are very rigorous and detailed standards for anesthetic machine service established by several groups including the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and a textbook, Understanding Anesthesia Equipment by Dorsch & Dorsch. Many of these standards can not be used or applied to veterinary machines since human machines have electronic equipment to monitor both the machine and patient. However, whenever applicable, these human standards are used to establish Vetamac’s standards. Consultation with board certified anesthesiologists is also used to help establish our standards.

Vetamac is committed to upholding these standards and to improving and updating them as needed. Your patients deserve the best.