Title: Maintain animal records and other files.
Course: Small Animal Care II (18102-II) > Section: Performing Office Functions

Maintenance should include

- explaining the types, purposes, organizational principles, and legal aspects of files commonly encountered in a small animal care facility
- setting up, updating, and maintaining an accurate written and/or electronic record, following file management principles and facility-specific procedures
- listing types of information generally included in an animal’s records (e.g., services performed, products used, medications prescribed, issues that may require veterinary care)
- explaining the importance of confidentiality
- providing a copy of records to the owner.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are some potential consequences of misfiling or misplacing a file?
- Why is it important to update a client's records after each visit?
- What environmental factors should be considered when storing paper files? Why?
- What could be possible consequences of not maintaining the confidentiality of a client's records?
- How should an error in a client's record be corrected?
- How long should a client's records be kept?