Thank you for taking the time to visit our job posting. We’ve created this page to tell interested veterinarians just a bit more about our practice than what a standard employment ad allows. We all know the most important thing (and the most difficult to know about in advance) in a job situation is compatibility. The interview and job seeking process ultimately functions so that both parties can find out as much about each other in advance as possible. We hope that by elaborating just a bit more here we can augment this process.
Our Practice
Orchard Hills Animal Hospital was founded in the late 1960s. We were originally a mixed animal practice but have been dedicated solely to small, companion animal care since Dr. Bargar purchased the hospital in 2002. Since that time, the practice continues to evolve. More information about our practice can be found on the main website or our Facebook page.
Our foundational philosophy is simple:
- Educate clients about what they are faced with at any given time, whether that is wellness care or an ill or traumatized patient or involves end-of-life decisions, and provide clear options as to how to proceed, and offer advice and guidance.
- Manage all patients and their families with care, compassion, and empathy.
- Foster an open learning environment amongst staff that encourages and supports growth of all staff members.
- Stay current and continually strive to improve.
- Have fun while we work!
We are one of the larger non-corporate practices throughout the greater Portland/Vancouver area. We have an active social media presence through our Facebook page, Google Ads, e-mail, monthly newsletters and our VRX Pro app.
We are well equipped; fully computerized with comprehensive in-house lab, ultrasound, and more (see below). We have access to a wide variety of local referral hospitals, but also make use of mobile internal medicine consultation (a mobile service combined with ultrasound), echocardiography, and boarded anesthesiologists. Alternatively, we have great relationships with all local and regional referral hospitals and we consult with and send cases to them almost daily.
Finally, our doctor team works well as an interactive unit, consulting internally on cases on a daily basis. We value teamwork and open dialogue. If you need it or would like it, strong mentoring in medical case management, dentistry and surgery are immediately available. We would love to have a new grad in our mix!
Equipment & Facility
We are located in a brand new 6,000 square foot state of the art facility. We have eight exam rooms, a large treatment area, two surgery suites, a separate dental suite, a special procedures room, and, among many other things, an outdoor zen yard for euthanasia and grief management. Additionally, we have separated canine and feline patient locations in the lobby and we have dedicated feline exam rooms and a separate feline treatment and housing area.
Features and equipment in the hospital are listed below:
- Fully computerized – 30-35 terminals and VOIP phones throughout the facility.
- Practice Software is Avimark
- Firewalled Remote Access capability for all DVMs and management
- Direct digital standard radiography (Idexx, Cesium Plate)
- CR dental radiography (IM3 CR7)
- Brand new Fuji ultrasound machine
- Tonovet tonometry unit
- Philips Burton UV black light and derm light with magnifying lens
- Full in-hospital Idexx and Zoetis lab equipment.
- Doppler blood pressure – 3 units
- Brand new Leica DM750 microscope with built-in Hi-Res camera and networking capability
- 5 Life-Window multi-parameter vital sign anesthetic monitors
- Three portable Masimo pulse oximetry units
- Multiple Bair Hugger patient warming units
- Multiple water blankets for patient warming
- Companion Therapeutic laser
- Video Otoscope with Auri-Kleen Irrigation System
- 5 Isoflurane inhalation anesthetic machines with central oxygen & scavenging
- Oxygen cage unit
- Centralized surgical suction (no loud suction units in surgery!)
- Dental-Aire Prestige Dental Station
- Brand new Bovie 1250S Electrocautery
- Two full orthopedic surgical kits, including two multi-head Strykers and two full TPLO saw kits.
- All surgical packs have high-quality German instruments
- Multiple Heska Vet/I.V. 2.2 Infusion Pumps
Many of our equipment purchases have been driven by professional staff interest, expertise, and recommendations. We remain willing to discuss new opportunities to improve the quality of our practice through sound equipment investments.
The Position & Compensation
We are looking to bring in one full time or part time doctor. Interest in surgery and urgent care is preferred but not required. While someone advanced in soft tissue surgery would be ideal, Dr. Bargar can train a surgeon with any experience level. Our pricing, client base, support staff and management structure allows opportunity for high income commensurate with experience, production ability and/or special interests. As a non-corporate practice, we offer a very competitive production-based compensation package with a guaranteed base salary. Our compensation packages result in total net compensation (salary plus benefits) of 25-28%. We don’t use a tiered incentive structure for production, but rather start paying out incentivized bonus as soon as you reach your bi-weekly production goal.
- Guaranteed base salary with immediate ability to earn production pay above and beyond base salary. Salary base is determined by the number of days worked.
- Competitive signing bonus dispensed quarterly over the first year of employment.
- Relocation re-imbursement if applicable.
• Highly competitive benefit package , meeting or exceeding current industry standards.
- Current industry standard CE allowance and days off.
- 12 days FTO to start
- 3% 401k retirement matching available after 12 months of employment
- 50% of employee dental/medical insurance premium – Group plan through – Kaiser Permanente
- Exceptional pet benefits – Goods are cost + 30%. Services are billed at client cost minus 70%. 3 pets per employee. One additional pet – Goods are client cost minus 20% and services are client cost minus 30%.
- Dues: VIN, DEA, AVMA, PVMA, State licensure
- Work days are tailored to your area of interest. Wellness and medicine? Urgent care? Surgery? Dentistry? We are flexible!
- Outpatient appointments at 2 per hour. One appointment slot in the morning and one slot in the afternoon are left un-booked, allowing for day-of scheduling of urgent appointments or catch-up time.
- We take the doctor team to dinner every 1-2 months to relax a bit outside of the hospital and to discuss cases, new products, policy updates, etc.
- The day’s surgical doctor is dedicated to surgery, sees some hospital drop-off appointments depending on case load and has no scheduled room appointments.
- 2 hour lunch break from Noon-2pm, allowing for lunch, phone calls, records catch-up.
- No emergency on-call
- No overnights
- We are a 7 day per week practice, so weekend shifts will be part of your work schedule.
Our Staff
A well-trained and efficient support staff is a critical component to the success of our practice. We pride ourselves on a stringent and structured training process and well-designed protocols for any and all newly hired support staff. Training programs are specifically designed and adapted for employees that come to us with previous experience.
- We currently employ roughly 30 support staff members and 6 veterinarians. Several have been with us for over 5 years, including stints of 7 and 11 and over 30 years!
- Each room doctor has a dedicated team of two assistants plus a float. All teams assist each other, so if one team is swamped, our culture is that everyone helps out.
- The surgical team has 3-4 assistants. One of these team members is a dedicated nurse anesthetist that never leaves the side of an anesthetized patient from induction through recovery.
- Staff is made up of well-trained, career-minded individuals.
- Our staff perform everything they are legally able and trained to do. It is our belief that support staff feel more challenged and rewarded if their skills and knowledge are put to good use. Doctors are welcome to do whatever technical procedure (venipuncture, catheter placement, etc.) they like to do, but it is our belief that doctors are best at being doctors and the technical staff finds their days more rewarding if they are allowed and expected to perform the technical and patient handling duties they are trained to do.
This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive description of our practice and the position. It is meant to give you an idea of some of the intangibles that are vitally important to a lasting employment relationship. Look around the rest of our website, our Facebook page, and most importantly, call or e-mail Dr. Bargar directly (503.730.5432, ohahdoctors@gmail.com) if you would like to discuss anything further. You are also invited to submit a resume and cover letter to the e-mail address above.
The Area
Washougal is nestled at the mouth of the stunning Columbia River Gorge. It started as a rural community outside of Portland, but has grown rapidly over the last decade to become an evolving suburban bedroom community of the greater Portland and Vancouver area. Around 50% of our clientele that call Camas and Washougal home actually work in professional capacities in Portland or Vancouver. Whether you prefer the fabulous small big-city feel of Portland, the more laid back but evolving and growing small city environment of Vancouver, or prefer to be out near the practice in the beautiful and scenic Columbia River Gorge with all of its outdoor offerings (hiking, biking, rock-climbing, wind-surfing, etc.), this area has a tremendous amount to offer.
Who We Are Looking For…
While we welcome all applicants, we will be moving to increase our urgent care offerings this year. We have a strong mentoring program in place to guide newly graduated doctors. New graduates will be mentored extensively in surgery, dentistry, urgent and emergent case management, and client communication and education. Applicants should exhibit thorough diagnostic capabilities, strong case-management abilities and strong communication skills with the ability and willingness to educate owners thoroughly. Basic skills in soft tissue surgery are a bonus. Advanced skills in soft tissue surgery (gastrotomy, cystotomy, enterotomy, enucleation are examples) would be an added benefit, but are by no means required. Also, Dr. Bargar is looking to mentor an associate in TPLO and MPL and other bone surgery. Our ideal candidate can handle multiple cases at once and is able to effectively delegate treatments and diagnostics to his or her technical team. Teamwork is important. At Orchard Hills Animal Hospital, we are looking for someone who can relate well one-on-one with technicians, and oversee several at once. Obviously, communication skills, especially with clients, are highly important. You are encouraged to apply even if you do not meet all of the listed criteria. We are mostly looking for associates that will be a fit for our culture and growing practice!