Disclaimer: I like our vet and the most important thing is the care that my pets receive, not how much I like the staff or the paperwork side of things. But sometimes ya gotta let it out!
Garfunkel is having urinary issues again. We were able to catch it pretty early and he got treated at the e-vet, and went to the regular vet today for a urinalysis. Of course he was empty, as always, so he's having to stay several hours until they can get a sample.
Now on the ranty part. I do a pretty good job of keeping things organized and since we moved I have had ALL the animals' records faxed over to the new vet. They were all seen for a checkup and vaccine update last month, so the previous urinary issues were reported on his history then. Also, when he saw the e-vet Saturday, I had them fax the stuff over, and then I called the e-vet he saw last year and had them fax THAT over, too! Just to make sure they had all the background info on how this issue has been handled so far.
When I brought him in today you would think he had never been seen before. The vet asst asked if there were other cats in the house (yeah, the two you have on file!), if he was indoor-only, if he was on flea treatment (yes, the stuff the doctor recommended that I bought from you a month ago!!!!), etc. She then asked how many litterboxes there were and some other things. She asked if he had ever had this issue before. Well, gee, I reported that on his history AND faxed over paperwork from an e-vet he saw for the exact same issue, so the answer to that would be yes, correct? Urgh! Then she asked what antibiotic he was taking. Now, maybe I should have brought the bottle to be safe, but I thought the point of faxing over the treatment record was so the vet would have an understanding of prior treatment, including any rx medication. So she had to go check.
Then the doctor came in. Unbelievably, he started asking the exact same questions! Other cats in the house? Indoor only? How many litterboxes? Has he had this problem before? OMG, seriously????????? Yes, he has had this problem before, I just told this to your asst 45 seconds ago, and you have paperwork showing how he was treated!!!!
I have never worked in a vet's office, but isn't there some kind of protocol for reviewing your patient's file first? Like, oh I see we have Garfunkel today, let's take a look at the history. And if the vet asst. is going to take 10 minutes to ask questions and write the answers down, why can't the doctor look that over before he comes in? Or do you somehow get better results by coming in with a blank piece of paper and starting from scratch?
I'm probably overreacting due to stress from Garfunkel's issue, as well as low sleep last night, but it really ticked me off today. GRRRR.
Thanks for listening!
Garfunkel is having urinary issues again. We were able to catch it pretty early and he got treated at the e-vet, and went to the regular vet today for a urinalysis. Of course he was empty, as always, so he's having to stay several hours until they can get a sample.
Now on the ranty part. I do a pretty good job of keeping things organized and since we moved I have had ALL the animals' records faxed over to the new vet. They were all seen for a checkup and vaccine update last month, so the previous urinary issues were reported on his history then. Also, when he saw the e-vet Saturday, I had them fax the stuff over, and then I called the e-vet he saw last year and had them fax THAT over, too! Just to make sure they had all the background info on how this issue has been handled so far.
When I brought him in today you would think he had never been seen before. The vet asst asked if there were other cats in the house (yeah, the two you have on file!), if he was indoor-only, if he was on flea treatment (yes, the stuff the doctor recommended that I bought from you a month ago!!!!), etc. She then asked how many litterboxes there were and some other things. She asked if he had ever had this issue before. Well, gee, I reported that on his history AND faxed over paperwork from an e-vet he saw for the exact same issue, so the answer to that would be yes, correct? Urgh! Then she asked what antibiotic he was taking. Now, maybe I should have brought the bottle to be safe, but I thought the point of faxing over the treatment record was so the vet would have an understanding of prior treatment, including any rx medication. So she had to go check.
Then the doctor came in. Unbelievably, he started asking the exact same questions! Other cats in the house? Indoor only? How many litterboxes? Has he had this problem before? OMG, seriously????????? Yes, he has had this problem before, I just told this to your asst 45 seconds ago, and you have paperwork showing how he was treated!!!!
I have never worked in a vet's office, but isn't there some kind of protocol for reviewing your patient's file first? Like, oh I see we have Garfunkel today, let's take a look at the history. And if the vet asst. is going to take 10 minutes to ask questions and write the answers down, why can't the doctor look that over before he comes in? Or do you somehow get better results by coming in with a blank piece of paper and starting from scratch?
I'm probably overreacting due to stress from Garfunkel's issue, as well as low sleep last night, but it really ticked me off today. GRRRR.
Thanks for listening!
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