Are some people innately evil? I'm beginning to think so. Today started at 1am with one of those innately evil people; a client of mine whose husband went a little bonkers. She was scared he was going to harm her and her animals. She called me to try to find a place for the critters.
At 1am this obviously disturbed me. The scenario played out and ended in jailtime. My phone stopped ringing at 330 am and began again at 7am with the aftermath. Obviously I'm not getting the whole story (nor do I really want to). I just want the animals I've come to know and love to be safe. The whole day I've been on edge dealing with this. I guess this is one of the "perks" to practicing in a small town. Not only are you the veterinarian, the person who people rely on for animal health knowledge, but you become friends and part of their support system.
The whole situation is just incredibly sad and messed up. People can be so evil to eachother and to their animals. The whole day has been so heavy...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Taking the Leap
Ok. So I think I'm going to make the first big equipment purchase-- a digital radiography system. This is a leap, but I think it will pay off. Like a farrier once told me, "If you can't invest in yourself, why would anyone else invest in you?"
So true! Here goes nothing :)
So true! Here goes nothing :)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The horrible, emergency ear twitch
I recently received a phone call at around 7:30pm on an evening when I was not on call. These phone calls annoy me because I'm only not on call about 25% of all hours in the year. So the last thing I want to do when I'm off is answer the phone for veterinary related questions. However many people feel comfortable calling my personal cell phone for ALL their minute, emergency, and appointment making phone calls. I'm not sure how this happened, and I'm not sure how to change it. At any rate, the poor lady was exasperated.
Ms. Worried: Hi Dr. VetChick, uhh something really bad happened, and I just wanted to call to see what I should do.
Me: Ok, what's going on?
Ms. Worried: Well, my daughter was riding her horse at a canter and then all the sudden he started shaking his head and pinned his right ear FLAT TO HIS HEAD. We looked at there isn't a tick in his ear.
<pause>
Me: Uhh, ok. How long did this continue?
Ms. Worried: Only a few seconds.
Me: Well, I guess I would start looking for pieces of the bridle that may have shifted and caused him discomfort during the ride. Then I would try to re-create the behavior by palpating his head to see where the origin of the discomfort is.
Ms. Worried: Ok we will do that. Thank you! <Hangs up abruptly>
In retrospect, maybe I should have tried to tell her that this wasn't an emergency nor anything to be so anxiety-ridden about. I never heard anything back, so I guess they figured it out. (And I have no clue why she told me there were no ticks in the horses ears. It's not exactly tick season here. Weird.) It's funny what people think is pertinent to tell you. I once had a lady tell me she knew her horse wasn't colicing because it passed nice, relaxed farts. You know, not those mean, nervous farts.
It was hard to be mad at that interruption of my time. It was kind of funny...
Ms. Worried: Hi Dr. VetChick, uhh something really bad happened, and I just wanted to call to see what I should do.
Me: Ok, what's going on?
Ms. Worried: Well, my daughter was riding her horse at a canter and then all the sudden he started shaking his head and pinned his right ear FLAT TO HIS HEAD. We looked at there isn't a tick in his ear.
<pause>
Me: Uhh, ok. How long did this continue?
Ms. Worried: Only a few seconds.
Me: Well, I guess I would start looking for pieces of the bridle that may have shifted and caused him discomfort during the ride. Then I would try to re-create the behavior by palpating his head to see where the origin of the discomfort is.
Ms. Worried: Ok we will do that. Thank you! <Hangs up abruptly>
In retrospect, maybe I should have tried to tell her that this wasn't an emergency nor anything to be so anxiety-ridden about. I never heard anything back, so I guess they figured it out. (And I have no clue why she told me there were no ticks in the horses ears. It's not exactly tick season here. Weird.) It's funny what people think is pertinent to tell you. I once had a lady tell me she knew her horse wasn't colicing because it passed nice, relaxed farts. You know, not those mean, nervous farts.
It was hard to be mad at that interruption of my time. It was kind of funny...
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Professionalism
I think that professionalism, manners, and etiquette are all going extinct. What makes me the most infuriated is when another veterinarian can't extend any professional etiquette to me. IS IT REALLY THAT HARD?? Sometimes I blame myself; maybe they don't respect me because I'm young, maybe it's because I'm a lady, maybe it's because they think I'm a push over. However, the more it happens, the more I think it's not really my fault. Instead, I think they're just jerks.
Recent consult from local veterinarian VIA TEXT MESSAGE:
Dr. Classy: Hey, I think that CuteHorse with massive, slow healing wound needs some attention.
Me: Why what's going on?
I attempt to call to discuss the case like professionals. (No answer, no return call.)
Dr. Classy (14 hours later via text): Don't worry, it was a hard case.
Uhhh? What?! It took 3 phone calls to the owners and a subsequent visit to CuteHorse to determine that the wound was actually healing quickly and extremely well. Dr. Classy just hadn't seen it before and thought it looked "weird" because it was an open wound. Wouldn't have a professionally placed phone call the asking proper questions cleared up this misunderstanding easily?
If you can't offer professionalism and etiquette to your colleagues, who do you offer it to? I hear it all the time from seasoned vets: "But Vetchick, I'm just too burnt out, too tired to do that." Perhaps I'm just intolerant, but if you're too burnt-out to treat people with respect, then you need to find another profession, or at least take a LONG sabbatical. Being burnt out is NEVER an excuse for poor service, poor medicine, or just plain laziness. Take care of yourself and do your job.
*Step down from soapbox.*
Recent consult from local veterinarian VIA TEXT MESSAGE:
Dr. Classy: Hey, I think that CuteHorse with massive, slow healing wound needs some attention.
Me: Why what's going on?
I attempt to call to discuss the case like professionals. (No answer, no return call.)
Dr. Classy (14 hours later via text): Don't worry, it was a hard case.
Uhhh? What?! It took 3 phone calls to the owners and a subsequent visit to CuteHorse to determine that the wound was actually healing quickly and extremely well. Dr. Classy just hadn't seen it before and thought it looked "weird" because it was an open wound. Wouldn't have a professionally placed phone call the asking proper questions cleared up this misunderstanding easily?
If you can't offer professionalism and etiquette to your colleagues, who do you offer it to? I hear it all the time from seasoned vets: "But Vetchick, I'm just too burnt out, too tired to do that." Perhaps I'm just intolerant, but if you're too burnt-out to treat people with respect, then you need to find another profession, or at least take a LONG sabbatical. Being burnt out is NEVER an excuse for poor service, poor medicine, or just plain laziness. Take care of yourself and do your job.
*Step down from soapbox.*
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Emergency Coverage
It's been a while since I posted. I think it's mostly because the last few days have been enjoyable, and I've had little to complain about. The weather has been good, there hasn't been an insane amount of calls, nothing crazy weird, or unexpected. I guess that means that my karma is coming. Oy.
I would like to bring up a subject that has been bothering me though and see what you all think. A nearby all equine veterinary clinic decided last fall that they would no longer see emergencies. I understand this-- it's VERY easy to get burnt out quickly with emergencies, and sometimes you just have to put yourself and your family first.
As far as I can tell, the decision was arbitrarily made and none of the clientele were informed. In fact, if you call the office one minute after 5:00pm, the phone just rings and rings. There's no message, no notification that they will not be calling you back, no name and phone number of a veterinarian that will see emergencies, nothing. Many times, our clinic has received emergency calls from these clients who are downright enraged by the situation. We have even picked up a few clients who have made the switch to us because of the lack of emergency coverage and poor communication about the decision to stop providing it.
My hunch is that this clinic did not inform their clients because they do not want to lose any business to us (the only people in the area that see 24 hour equine emergencies) or to anyone else. Do you think it is unethical to leave your clients high and dry like this? Does not providing the name of an emergency clinic count as "failing to provide emergency service" as it says in our licensure rules and requirements? I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts. The whole situation irks me to no end.
I would like to bring up a subject that has been bothering me though and see what you all think. A nearby all equine veterinary clinic decided last fall that they would no longer see emergencies. I understand this-- it's VERY easy to get burnt out quickly with emergencies, and sometimes you just have to put yourself and your family first.
As far as I can tell, the decision was arbitrarily made and none of the clientele were informed. In fact, if you call the office one minute after 5:00pm, the phone just rings and rings. There's no message, no notification that they will not be calling you back, no name and phone number of a veterinarian that will see emergencies, nothing. Many times, our clinic has received emergency calls from these clients who are downright enraged by the situation. We have even picked up a few clients who have made the switch to us because of the lack of emergency coverage and poor communication about the decision to stop providing it.
My hunch is that this clinic did not inform their clients because they do not want to lose any business to us (the only people in the area that see 24 hour equine emergencies) or to anyone else. Do you think it is unethical to leave your clients high and dry like this? Does not providing the name of an emergency clinic count as "failing to provide emergency service" as it says in our licensure rules and requirements? I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts. The whole situation irks me to no end.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Woohoo!
Hooray! This morning I called back to check up on a laminitis flare up. The lady loves this poor gelding and has literally gotten gray hairs over this 4 week lameness. Last week he was doing well on his 2g Bute, so we are steadily decreasing the dose to test his pain threshold. Today we are at 0.5g with no increased pain. The lady is so happy and I am too. I love when something actually goes to plan. Fingers crossed nothing changes over the weekend! I'm on call...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
"But I want more!"
So the area of our practice isn't the most affluent in the country. Most of our clientele have horses as pets to enjoy the countryside with; not as prize winning hunter/jumpers or dressage horses. Most equine veterinarians hate these type of practices. Don't we all want to work on movie star's horses and Olympic athletes?? However, I don't think there are enough high-profile horses to employ every equine veterinarian. Instead of being sad about the situation, I chose to embrace it.
As a service to our youth clients who are often strapped for cash, (I see many 'a 4-H families making many sacrifices just so their kids can have horses) I created a one day event to serve as a "vaccine clinic" for horses that was targeted to those 4-H and FFA kids. People can bring their horses on a Saturday, and we will vaccinate them at a reduced cost from the normal for one day only, and they have to bring them to us.
Today I get two phone calls regarding the vaccine clinic: one guy who was so excited about it, he had to call to confirm it was actually occuring, and then a lady. Oh lady...you are exactly what infuriates me. This lady calls to see if we could sell her additional vaccines so that she could take them home to vaccinate her own horses. After telling her that that was not the purpose of the vaccine clinic, she attempted to negotiate with me, "If I bring 3 horses in person, can you sell me 2 sets of vaccines for horses at home?" "If I bring all 5 horses will you give me a quantity discount?"
Let me make this easy for you. NO. Bring the horses or don't get any vaccines.
You try to do something nice, and people just want more and more. Ugh. Note to self: don't do nice things anymore.
As a service to our youth clients who are often strapped for cash, (I see many 'a 4-H families making many sacrifices just so their kids can have horses) I created a one day event to serve as a "vaccine clinic" for horses that was targeted to those 4-H and FFA kids. People can bring their horses on a Saturday, and we will vaccinate them at a reduced cost from the normal for one day only, and they have to bring them to us.
Today I get two phone calls regarding the vaccine clinic: one guy who was so excited about it, he had to call to confirm it was actually occuring, and then a lady. Oh lady...you are exactly what infuriates me. This lady calls to see if we could sell her additional vaccines so that she could take them home to vaccinate her own horses. After telling her that that was not the purpose of the vaccine clinic, she attempted to negotiate with me, "If I bring 3 horses in person, can you sell me 2 sets of vaccines for horses at home?" "If I bring all 5 horses will you give me a quantity discount?"
Let me make this easy for you. NO. Bring the horses or don't get any vaccines.
You try to do something nice, and people just want more and more. Ugh. Note to self: don't do nice things anymore.
Valentine's Day. I'm going to pay for that one!
Yesterday I finished my mostly office related duties and went to ride my horse. I was on call for Valentines Day and my husband was making the one and a half hour trip back from his job in order to eat dinner. The evening had all the makings for being called.
I cautiously rode my horse, answered a few phone client calls, and headed to the grocery. I checked my phone every 5 minutes with no calls. I get home, clean up some animal puke from the ground, help cook dinner, still fervently checking my phone. I sit down to eat with my husband, eat, and even clean up. Still no calls. Was my phone broken? This is just unheard of! Am I really attending a planned event that is not ruined by an emergency call at the most inopportune moment? SUCCESS!
I got through the entire evening without a call. Take that universe! Ok maybe I shouldn't taunt it too much. It will pay me back, I'm sure.
I cautiously rode my horse, answered a few phone client calls, and headed to the grocery. I checked my phone every 5 minutes with no calls. I get home, clean up some animal puke from the ground, help cook dinner, still fervently checking my phone. I sit down to eat with my husband, eat, and even clean up. Still no calls. Was my phone broken? This is just unheard of! Am I really attending a planned event that is not ruined by an emergency call at the most inopportune moment? SUCCESS!
I got through the entire evening without a call. Take that universe! Ok maybe I shouldn't taunt it too much. It will pay me back, I'm sure.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Welcome! Now don't waste my time!
Alright! I finally can knock this off my bucket list: starting a blog. After spending 4-5 intense days of researching, reading, and following several medicine related blogs (a few from ER doctors, one from a vet), I decided that I could also add to the internet blog-issphere. I have plenty of sarcastic remarks, funny stories, complaints that I could input. So here we go. What the world desperately needs: a blog from an equine veterinarian, finding her way through the world.
I'm going to start with a story that happened today. A message was left for me regarding someone seeking a personal reference. Occasionally we get calls from rescue organizations wanting references for people seeking to adopt a new horse. I called the place back expecting this. After some awkward questions, the caller explained that the reference was for a dietician position for someone who isn't one of our clients. Hmmmm...that's weird. I'll ask Bossman about this. I'll remember that for my next job; put name of someone I don't even know as reference. Recipe for success! Why do people insist on wasting my time??
I'm going to start with a story that happened today. A message was left for me regarding someone seeking a personal reference. Occasionally we get calls from rescue organizations wanting references for people seeking to adopt a new horse. I called the place back expecting this. After some awkward questions, the caller explained that the reference was for a dietician position for someone who isn't one of our clients. Hmmmm...that's weird. I'll ask Bossman about this. I'll remember that for my next job; put name of someone I don't even know as reference. Recipe for success! Why do people insist on wasting my time??
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