I'm Not a Martyr

I had a client call the other day requesting that their records be sent back to their previous vet. "No offense, Doc. It's just that a couple of times we needed you, you weren't here. We like you and all, but we want someone who is more available."

Yes, veterinary medicine is a 24/7/365 job. And in prehistoric times, as we've all read in James Herriot's books, before the advent of emergency clinics, yes, the noble veterinarian was available no matter what the hour, to answer the call of duty.

We've come a long way, baby! Veterinary medicine is a whole new ballgame. With malpractice claims rising (Did ya hear that vets are the new targets of the lawyers? It's true.), advances in emergency and critical care for our patients, no longer is the GP capable of doing it all. I'm not talking about those vets out in the boonies, whose clients have no other option but to call them at 3 am. I live in a fairly large city. Within a 20 mile radius, we have more than 10 emergency and specialty practices that are open 24/7/365. That means that there is no lack of available care for my patients.

Factor in that in this day and age it's not a good idea, man or woman, to arrive at an expensively equipped, drug-laden practice, in the middle of the night to meet someone you don't know. It's just not that safe any more.

Second, if I have to perform a caesarian section at midnight, who is going to help me? I'm just a solo doc with a staff of 4. The two receptionists can't help me. The technician could, but will she be able to work the next day? The kennel assistant, maybe. While surgery time isn't that long in an uncomplicated case, what about aftercare? Who is going to watch the dog overnight on her IV pain med drip? Who is going to make sure the puppies don't strangle themselves in the bars of the cage? Me? If I sit up all night, what about the sick cat I'm supposed to see promptly at 8 am, if I haven't had a lick of sleep?

Trust me, you're far better off taking your pet to a brightly lit, well-staffed emergency facility in the dead of night. Really. Would I send you off to a place I thought would do you wrong? NO. In fact, if my own pet suffered a severe emergency I'd be taking my pet there too.

Third, it's a quality of life issue. I have a wife. I have three sons. There's church and scouts and soccer and baseball. Choir. I'm not about to make my wife a veterinary widow. Did that in the early days of practice, building my clientele. Then the boys came along. My kids need to know their dad. I'm not going to miss their childhoods. Sorry, but my family is far more important to me than your dog.

Does this mean I'm uncaring? Uncompassionate? Hardly. It means that for me and mine, I've chosen balance. After nearly 19 years in practice, I've learned that I can't be all to all people. I close at 6 pm. The person who calls at 6:03 is mad because we refer them to the emergency clinic. I could stay open until 7 pm. then what about the person who calls at 8?

I'm no longer open on Saturdays, either. I can hear the collective gasps from the peanut gallery. "But Doc, every vet is open on Saturdays! It's the busiest day! You could make a killing being open on Saturdays!"

Maybe. What I found that when I was open on Saturdays, sure we were bombarded with business. But Monday through Friday were slower. Factor in a lot of non-client emergencies begging to be seen in the chaos. Forgotten appointments by those who slept in. Employees fighting over whose turn it was to work. I missed many of my boys' games during those times. I missed my eldest son's first home run. No more.

So, dear client, I'm sorry I have a life. I can't be available all the time. Good luck with the new place. Their extended hours are convenient, I'm sure, but they're split up amongst FIVE doctors, not one. And, bet you didn't know that they, too, are not available at midnight. Seems their docs need a life, too.