Comments for VMDiva http://vmdiva.com Musings of a Veterinarian Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:33:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Appalling Case of Animal Abuse by myspace chips http://vmdiva.com/2010/01/appalling-case-of-animal-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-907 myspace chips Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:33:01 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1205#comment-907 omg quite a few of the opinions readers submit are just absurd, sometimes i ponder if they honestly read the posts and threads before writing a comment or if perhaps they pretty much read over the title of the post and submit the very first thing that pops into their heads. nevertheless, it's pleasurable to read keen commentary occasionally as opposed to the same, classic oppinion vomit that i usually discover on the internet omg quite a few of the opinions readers submit are just absurd, sometimes i ponder if they honestly read the posts and threads before writing a comment or if perhaps they pretty much read over the title of the post and submit the very first thing that pops into their heads. nevertheless, it’s pleasurable to read keen commentary occasionally as opposed to the same, classic oppinion vomit that i usually discover on the internet

]]> Comment on Know a Winning Practice When You See One by Teri and the cats of Furrydance http://vmdiva.com/2010/03/know-a-winning-practice-when-you-see-one/comment-page-1/#comment-906 Teri and the cats of Furrydance Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:37:06 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1371#comment-906 Great post and great reply, Brenda! Yep, lack of regular staff meetings IS a big red flag...sigh, it's a problem where I work now. One thing I looked for when job hunting (as a vet tech) was 1) whether the practice had a website and how updated it was and if they had staff bios and photos along with the Doctors. To me, that meant the staff was an important and valued part of the team! Great post and great reply, Brenda! Yep, lack of regular staff meetings IS a big red flag…sigh, it’s a problem where I work now. One thing I looked for when job hunting (as a vet tech) was 1) whether the practice had a website and how updated it was and if they had staff bios and photos along with the Doctors. To me, that meant the staff was an important and valued part of the team!

]]> Comment on Know a Winning Practice When You See One by Brenda Tassava, CVPM http://vmdiva.com/2010/03/know-a-winning-practice-when-you-see-one/comment-page-1/#comment-904 Brenda Tassava, CVPM Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:42:19 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1371#comment-904 These are excellent points! I would look at one other area: staff meetings. How often does the practice have staff meetings? I love to schedule interviews with potential veterinarians on our staff meeting day (held weekly). I want them to be able to sit in on a full staff meeting, so they know what they can expect, as well as observe the culture of our practice in action. A big, red flag would be lack of, or inconsistent staff meetings. These are excellent points! I would look at one other area: staff meetings. How often does the practice have staff meetings? I love to schedule interviews with potential veterinarians on our staff meeting day (held weekly). I want them to be able to sit in on a full staff meeting, so they know what they can expect, as well as observe the culture of our practice in action. A big, red flag would be lack of, or inconsistent staff meetings.

]]> Comment on The Slow Death of the On-Call Small Animal General Practioner by Valerie http://vmdiva.com/2010/02/the-slow-death-of-the-on-call-small-animal-general-practioner/comment-page-1/#comment-903 Valerie Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:56:43 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1331#comment-903 I'm very relieved to see I'm not the only one who resents on-call so much. When I'm on call I always have the option of calling our tech to assist me, but some of these animals need close minding after the procedure/tests are done. If I don't go home and get some rest, I'm scrambling to focus and do no harm the next day. If I do go home and get some rest, I feel I'm providing a half-#$$ed service and that eats away at me. Taking the animal home wouldn't change that (I'm only 5 minutes' walk from work) - I'm still working if it needs attention. On-call is one of the reasons I'm leaving my present job. The cat-exclusive clinic where I start in June has sky-high standards, a much smaller client base, with two emergency hospitals in the vicinity. The veterinarian welcomes after-hours calls from long-established clients with seriously or interestingly ill cats, and returns these calls till 10 pm. This I do not mind at all, and would be happy to provide this service. I's very different from being officially on duty, awakened at night and scrambling to understand what's going on with an animal I've never seen before. On the other hand, this veterinarian (my prospective boss) has chewed out one of the said emergency clinics for providing sub-standard care to one of her patients who was seen there on emergency at night. So an animal is not necessarily worse off in our weary hands than it would be in a 24-hour facility; but we're the ones who are worse off ;-) I’m very relieved to see I’m not the only one who resents on-call so much. When I’m on call I always have the option of calling our tech to assist me, but some of these animals need close minding after the procedure/tests are done. If I don’t go home and get some rest, I’m scrambling to focus and do no harm the next day. If I do go home and get some rest, I feel I’m providing a half-#$$ed service and that eats away at me. Taking the animal home wouldn’t change that (I’m only 5 minutes’ walk from work) – I’m still working if it needs attention. On-call is one of the reasons I’m leaving my present job.

The cat-exclusive clinic where I start in June has sky-high standards, a much smaller client base, with two emergency hospitals in the vicinity. The veterinarian welcomes after-hours calls from long-established clients with seriously or interestingly ill cats, and returns these calls till 10 pm. This I do not mind at all, and would be happy to provide this service. I’s very different from being officially on duty, awakened at night and scrambling to understand what’s going on with an animal I’ve never seen before. On the other hand, this veterinarian (my prospective boss) has chewed out one of the said emergency clinics for providing sub-standard care to one of her patients who was seen there on emergency at night. So an animal is not necessarily worse off in our weary hands than it would be in a 24-hour facility; but we’re the ones who are worse off ;-)

]]> Comment on About VMDiva by Burton Haynes http://vmdiva.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-902 Burton Haynes Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:54:42 +0000 http://vmdiva.f10w.com/?page_id=2#comment-902 Thank you for another great story. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a report due next week, and I am in need of such information. Thank you for another great story. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a report due next week, and I am in need of such information.

]]> Comment on My Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Committment: I Need Your Help! by Tammy http://vmdiva.com/2010/02/my-leukemia-lymphoma-society-committment-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-901 Tammy Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:45:44 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1357#comment-901 Wow! Shanna sounds like an amazing person, to go through so much, and still be cheerful! Good on you for commiting to the run!! Wow! Shanna sounds like an amazing person, to go through so much, and still be cheerful! Good on you for commiting to the run!!

]]> Comment on My Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Committment: I Need Your Help! by Elizabeth & The Lab Crew http://vmdiva.com/2010/02/my-leukemia-lymphoma-society-committment-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-900 Elizabeth & The Lab Crew Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:23:42 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1357#comment-900 A nice poster with what you are doing on it and your picture in running gear on the clinic wall where everyone can see it and a can for donations... or a sponsor sheet.. Sell tickets on a free checkup/vaccination. I am betting the clinic staff won't mind helping with this part. A nice poster with what you are doing on it and your picture in running gear on the clinic wall where everyone can see it and a can for donations… or a sponsor sheet..

Sell tickets on a free checkup/vaccination. I am betting the clinic staff won’t mind helping with this part.

]]> Comment on Dealing With Burnout by Susan Trafford CVT http://vmdiva.com/2010/01/dealing-with-burnout/comment-page-1/#comment-899 Susan Trafford CVT Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:03:53 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=990#comment-899 Amen to utilizing your staff!! I have been teching for 11 going on 12 yrs. and find I can do alot more than I am being used for,, My Vet (owner) could walk away and trust that whatever the task is, it will be done correctly and safely. USE US WE LOVE IT! Amen to utilizing your staff!! I have been teching for 11 going on 12 yrs. and find I can do alot more than I am being used for,, My Vet (owner) could walk away and trust that whatever the task is, it will be done correctly and safely. USE US WE LOVE IT!

]]> Comment on Exam Room Etiquette: How NOT to Behave at Your Vet’s Office by Dr. K http://vmdiva.com/2010/02/exam-room-etiquette-how-not-to-behave-at-your-vets-office/comment-page-1/#comment-898 Dr. K Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:22:28 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1342#comment-898 Mandy: Maybe I should qualify my statement, as I am prone to hyperbole. Realisitcally, most dogs are walked on the veterinary grounds prior to their appointment to get all the scents and smells. And, ideally, you're not going to wait more than 15-20 minutes to be seen. Most dogs don't actually have to go to the bathroom while they are in a room. They pace and act anxious, usually to escape and not because duty calls. Fluffy should be able to "hold it" for an hour. If not, I'm going to want a urine sample anyway! Mandy: Maybe I should qualify my statement, as I am prone to hyperbole. Realisitcally, most dogs are walked on the veterinary grounds prior to their appointment to get all the scents and smells. And, ideally, you’re not going to wait more than 15-20 minutes to be seen. Most dogs don’t actually have to go to the bathroom while they are in a room. They pace and act anxious, usually to escape and not because duty calls. Fluffy should be able to “hold it” for an hour. If not, I’m going to want a urine sample anyway!

]]> Comment on Exam Room Etiquette: How NOT to Behave at Your Vet’s Office by Mandy http://vmdiva.com/2010/02/exam-room-etiquette-how-not-to-behave-at-your-vets-office/comment-page-1/#comment-896 Mandy Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:55:09 +0000 http://vmdiva.com/?p=1342#comment-896 I think these are great. I'm nitpicky here but - it would cause my lab great distress to be forced to urinate indoors. And I've worked so darn hard housetraining my terrier that I'm not going to let her think it's OK to go in the vet's office! I think these are great. I’m nitpicky here but – it would cause my lab great distress to be forced to urinate indoors. And I’ve worked so darn hard housetraining my terrier that I’m not going to let her think it’s OK to go in the vet’s office!

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