Referral

Re: Referral

Freckle — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:13:02 GMT

the problem here is not cost, but the vets point blank refusal to refer - even though they are blatantley clutching at straws at the moment!

having worked in referral practice in the past, and having seen the referral vets moan about 'botch jobs', it is really quite infuriating to watch a vet with no idea what is wrong with an animal (openly admitted in the prep room!), refuse to refer for no good reason!

Re: Referral

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:09:52 GMT

[quote user="Sarah GG"]

I have seen a couple of patients who should have gone for referral however cost was an issue but in one of the cases the vet did contact the referral practice and got some fantastic advise and support!

[/quote]

that's what were here for

Re: Referral

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:08:10 GMT

Re: Referral

Freckle — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:04:19 GMT

[quote user="twindy"]

I was under the impresion that it is their duty of care to offer every option to the client, so the client should be made aware that referral is an option , whether insured or not. Maybe you could point that out to them. Or even be very cheeky and research some referral practices that would be suitable, get some estimates on cost etc??

[/quote]

I have tried giving them referral info to no avail!

Has anyone ever suggested it to the client directly? If so how did you go about it without getting in lots of trouble with the vet!!?

Re: Referral

Tracy Windler RVN — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:51:53 GMT

Re: Referral

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:06:33 GMT

I have worked with qiute a few 1st opinion vets that think referral is a waste of time(!!??!!).... they tend to be what I call 'old-style' vets but not always..... alot comes down to their levels of arrogance .... probably abit of a strong word but...........

I have alot more respect for vets that ask for advice/opinions etc from others with experience/ knowledge in that field than for ones that just dismiss referrals/ specialists instantly. There is definately arrogance involved.... no other way of putting it........... and I have seen some pretty dire results

I currently work with one of each!!! Who do I let look at my animals I wonder..............?

How do you learn if you don't ask for advice???

Re: Referral

Snowb — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:03:09 GMT

if its a complicated case i always check with the owner re insurance, and then if imo i think it would be better of referred i drop a few hints to the vet in charge of the case, i'm to old now to care if they take offence, and i want whats best for the animal. specially after i've worked at a few referal places and how annoying it is to listen to the vets moan about fixing the botch jobs that are done. if they dont listen then thats up to them i suppose.

Re: Referral

Freckle — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:29:52 GMT

[quote user="SaskiaVN"]

Unfortuately, the boss of the same practice seemed to think they were above all referral practices and would have tried anything once - with disastrous consequences

[/quote]

This is exactly the scenario I was getting at! Both surgical and medical cases - our vets don't give hoot if they are insured or not - they are so resistant to referral it is unreal!

Its like they consider it a slight on their intelligence ...... but not every vet can be ace at everything- just like not every nurse can be ace at everything - we all have our professional interests.

Re: Referral

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:18:14 GMT

Or they see that patient is insured and spend all of the insurance and then expect referral practices to sort things out when things go wrong!

Re: Referral

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:12:24 GMT

exactly Nick!! I am with you on this one!! A vet I worked with for many years never had any qualms about phoning a referral surgeon for a difficult case - she referred a lot of cases to same vet so I guess wasnt shy in asking for advice.

If she found the procedure would be over her head or too risky, she wouldnt have done it which unfortunately would have seen the pet either pts or limb amputation - if that was an option.

Unfortuately, the boss of the same practice seemed to think they were above all referral practices and would have tried anything once - with disastrous consequences

Re: Referral

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08:40 GMT

You know the guys in referral practices are quite approachable to ask for advice etc. rather than peeps in GP just festering to get thru difficult cases alone! Think owners need it drummed into them insurance insurance insurance!!! Then no one has to suffer ie the patient, the owner or the vet dealing with the complexed case!

Re: Referral

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:02:04 GMT

yes, I have seen such cases on numerous occassions! Referral wasnt an option due to cost if the pet wasnt insured, and sometimes the vet/s had a go at whatever the problem was, for example, a difficult orthopaedic operation which they had never done before.

The pet owner would have been charged a reduced rate, due to the surgeon not having done such a procedure, However, the operating vet would have consulted with numerous other vet colleagues, both in and outside the practice, before carrying out such procedure.

Other than that, never really had a issue with such things