The Cost of STAT Bloodwork
I recently had the pleasure of discussing bloodwork prices with a former client who is thinking about coming back to our clinic. Seems the last time she was in with an emergency two years ago, we ran a battery of tests and made a diagnosis all within 20 minutes of her dog's arrival. Subsequently, though, we needed to run a confirmatory test as well as additional tests to find out the why behind the diagnosis (which helps us target our treatment better).
Due to the nature of her dog's condition, the dog needed to be transferred to a referral facility for 24-hour care. That larger, better-equipped hospital was able to do a few more diagnostics there, in-house, that we were not able to do.
The client then lodged a complaint that we should have been able to get all of the results instantly, because the referral hospital could.
I find this ironic. Today our conversation covered the costs of blood tests for her geriatric cats. Seems they're all getting on in years, and it's time to have some baseline bloodwork drawn. But gee, doc, the last time I was in, the cost of those tests was just outrageous! Why do they cost so much? Why can't I get them cheaper? She wants results now but doesn't want to pay for the convenience.
Convenience stores are cheaper than the grocery store for a reason.
Time for the clue gun:
CBC Machine: $18,000 (This thing guzzles gallons of various fluids to the tune of $100-200/gallon, and each gallon lasts less than a month)
Chemistry Machine: $12,000
Centrifuge: $350
Microhematocrit Centrifuge: $900 (All this thing does is spin blood).
Refractometer: $350
Reagents for the CBC and Chemistry machine: $8000 approx. per year
Binocular Microscope: $1500
Miscellaneous Lab Supplies: $4000 approx. per year
Getting blood results instantly so that we may institute proper treatment immediately? Priceless.
Yes, we could send out all of our blood, urine, and feces. But then you'd have to wait 24-48 hours or more for results.
And if your dog's life is hanging in the balance, which would you prefer: Instant results? Or cheaper results? You decide.
Due to the nature of her dog's condition, the dog needed to be transferred to a referral facility for 24-hour care. That larger, better-equipped hospital was able to do a few more diagnostics there, in-house, that we were not able to do.
The client then lodged a complaint that we should have been able to get all of the results instantly, because the referral hospital could.
I find this ironic. Today our conversation covered the costs of blood tests for her geriatric cats. Seems they're all getting on in years, and it's time to have some baseline bloodwork drawn. But gee, doc, the last time I was in, the cost of those tests was just outrageous! Why do they cost so much? Why can't I get them cheaper? She wants results now but doesn't want to pay for the convenience.
Convenience stores are cheaper than the grocery store for a reason.
Time for the clue gun:
CBC Machine: $18,000 (This thing guzzles gallons of various fluids to the tune of $100-200/gallon, and each gallon lasts less than a month)
Chemistry Machine: $12,000
Centrifuge: $350
Microhematocrit Centrifuge: $900 (All this thing does is spin blood).
Refractometer: $350
Reagents for the CBC and Chemistry machine: $8000 approx. per year
Binocular Microscope: $1500
Miscellaneous Lab Supplies: $4000 approx. per year
Getting blood results instantly so that we may institute proper treatment immediately? Priceless.
Yes, we could send out all of our blood, urine, and feces. But then you'd have to wait 24-48 hours or more for results.
And if your dog's life is hanging in the balance, which would you prefer: Instant results? Or cheaper results? You decide.
posted by Dr. Snark @ 3:09 PM
3 Comments:
At 3:40 PM,
Anonymous said…
What a crock!
So when your finished paying off all your equipment then the price should drop no?
You charge it because you can, life is on the line and that can easily be taken advantage of if someone isn't careful.
At 3:01 PM,
Lola's Mommy said…
I agree with Voice of the People on this one. Your prices wont drop when those machines are paid off. You do it because you can. You also do it because you like to make a profit like the rest of us. Most people dont mind paying for those tests, but sometimes times are super tight and a little compassion from your vet goes a longer way than low prices. take a pill would you. Your blog is one big bitchfest.
At 5:13 PM,
Anonymous said…
I understand that eqt is expensive and that both it and the tech need to be covered by the expense. However, as a doctor who has worked in the (immunology) lab, the prices quoted are both inflated and, like most aspects of medical eqt., purchased and paid for with loans over time.
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