The Wagging Tail

On one of my very first days in practice, I faced a challenge that no classroom had prepared me for – unfriendly feedback from a colleague who did not extend professional courtesy.  I was mentally prepared to face my first surgeries, to recommend and perform diagnostics to treat a myriad of illnesses; I was not prepared for the shock of a nearby veterinarian stating in several instances to mutual clients that I performed unnecessary diagnostics and prescribed the wrong medications. (Since when are blood work and diphenhydramine not recommended for snake bite wounds?) When philosophies of practice differ greatly among two vets, maintaining professionalism can be very difficult. However, professional integrity must be maintained – not only between two general practitioners, but among specialists and referral hospitals – because we fulfill different niches and working together is best for the Pets we treat. Even if your name is being dragged through the mud unfairly and dishonestly, it’s best for our profession – and for the Pets – when we take the high road.

Differences in philosophy of practice are not always so well demarcated, and Pet owners are able to pick up on even your most subtle of facial expressions and word choices. So, it is extremely important to be aware of how you speak about your competition in front of your clients.

Never forget that towns, no matter how large, can retain a bit of the small town syndrome – everyone eventually hears about you through the grapevine. If you are positive and honest, word will travel fast – your actions will be your best referral source. Conversely, if you have the opposite reputation, new client numbers could eventually dwindle. It’s truly amazing how many clients know each other. 

Most of the time, speaking positively about my veterinary colleagues makes absolutely perfect sense.  However, what about those instances that may not be so obvious? Recently, I saw a client for the first time on a Saturday because her regular veterinarian wasn’t able to fit her in to their schedule. The client was very worried about her Pet because he had a piece of tissue hanging out of his leg! Her regular vet wanted to wait until Monday to see them. Very upset, the client emphatically stated that she would never go back to them. It would have been easy to fall into the trap of agreeing with the owner that her vet should have worked her into their schedule. Even saying something to the fact that you always work in emergencies no matter the day of the week, which may be true, is still straddling the line of professionalism. The fact is you don’t know why that vet was not able to see the Pet. What if they had a rush of emergencies already? Or the staff had the flu? We should always try to be positive about our colleagues. We can sympathize with the client about having to look for an alternative solution. The client is upset with her regular vet now, but she may forgive them, go back to them, and remember how negative you were – and then state she would never go back to you.

I actually look forward to consulting with nearby specialists. Their grasp of the newest medications from pimobendand to gabapentin usually occurs much sooner than my ability to learn about the latest meds. Research into pharmaceuticals as well as better surgical techniques creates such a huge amount of information that no one person could possibly learn it all and still practice full-time general medicine. Conversely, if specialists had to spend time performing preventive care in addition to their area of expertise, they wouldn’t be able to see nearly as many patients who desperately need them. Instead of being competition, referral practices and general practitioners work best in cooperation. 

My philosophy of medicine includes providing the best possible care for my patients, and that means cooperating with my small-animal colleagues, local specialists and referral hospitals. It also means that I will respect my colleagues’ reputations in front of my clients (and I hope they’ll do the same for me!). When we show professional integrity, we raise our profession to a higher standard and ensure the best quality of life for the Pets we treat.

Most of us came to this profession as a calling, not as a result of a measured analytical decision process. Veterinary professionals share a sincere, idealistic, and passionate desire to give back by helping Pets and families.  We are excited by the opportunity to participate in that magic bond between Pets and their Pet parents.  It turns out that our choice of profession was not only a sound emotional decision, but also a good rational choice given today’s uncertain and changing economy.

Since 1972, the U.S. economy has suffered through six major recessions.  Through the previous five the overall gross domestic product (GDP) shrank while the veterinary profession grew.  The current sixth recession is once again proving to be kind to our profession.  According to Fritz Wood CPA, CFP and noted veterinary accountant, eighty percent of small animal veterinary practices are continuing to grow despite the current economic climate.

The Pet care industry (of which veterinary medicine makes up the lion’s share) accounted for $23 billion in 2008.  This is projected to grow to $34 billion by 2013.  Currently the second fastest growing segment of consumer spending is Pet care (second only to consumer electronics).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Certified Veterinary Technician as the second fastest growing profession and Veterinarian as the ninth fastest growing profession.  New graduate veterinarians and technicians continue to entertain multiple job offers.

Veterinarians continue to be ranked as one of the most admired professions. In fact, Money Magazine (November 2009) just listed veterinarian as one of the top 25 “Best Jobs” in America. Veterinarians were ranked as an “A” in benefiting society and scored near the top of all careers in job security, personal satisfaction and future growth. 

And it just keeps getting better!  The bond between Pets and families continues to grow stronger.  Technology is allowing us to do things we couldn’t even imagine a generation ago, and a huge number of Pets remain in need of quality veterinary care.

The economy will rise and fall, recessions will come and go, but the bond between Pets and families continues to grow, and the need for great veterinary care is stronger than ever.  There has never been a better time to be a veterinary professional!

My husband is crazy about fly fishing.  I, on the other hand, am not.  Until recently, the discrepancy hadn’t been much of an issue.  A combination of luck and cleverness on my part had helped me successfully dodge the fly-fishing bullet since our nuptials, 19 years ago. We had kids soon after getting married, which meant there was little time together, early on…coupled with the fact that we live far away from extended family, and you can see why “together time” was next to impossible.  Lucky for me, as soon as my son was old enough to hold a fishing pole, fly-fishing became synonymous with father/son bonding time, which, conveniently, got me “off the hook.”

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a girly-girl who’s afraid of getting dirty or wet or waking up at 4:30 a.m.    I’ve avoided fly-fishing for one reason and one reason only:  It didn’t sound like fun.  I don’t care how beautiful the surroundings, the mere thought of casting over and over again all day made my eyelids droop.  

But as it is with everything in life, circumstances change. My children are grown-up and my son prefers to do things other than fish with Dad.  He’s now 18 and my daughter is 16, which means we can leave them safely home alone. As soon as this revelation hit, another one rapidly followed . . . my jig was up!   My husband’s long-standing fishing partner was no longer a given.  I knew it was time to face the inevitable.

I really didn’t want to go, but I made up my mind to do something I didn’t want to for the right reasons. So I put on a pair of my yuckiest sneakers and my best happy face and joined my husband on his next fly-fishing adventure. And you know what? It wasn’t horrible.  The anxiety that once surrounded the “thought of fly-fishing” is gone because I understand what’s involved, and I gained new insight into the world and who my husband is now. I’m actually open to going again! In the end, I showed my husband that the second half of our lives together didn’t have to be all about me.  I’ve matured and I’ve proved it to both of us! 

Why do we recoil at the thought of attempting new things?  And why is it we can find a hundred reasons to support our inclination to leave life as it is and not venture out? 

The unfamiliar is fertile ground for growth. Maybe it’s time to consider going to a VMA meeting, speaking at a conference, giving a presentation to future veterinarians  or organizing a fund raising event for a local shelter.  Or maybe it’s time to try fly-fishing.  I have found that when I pause to allow myself to be open to a new experience, I’m always happy I did.  There is something to be said about taking a risk, creating a little internal friction, and allowing yourself to be open to learning something new.  Moving outside your proverbial “comfort zone” isn’t always comfortable, but it can push you to a higher level of success in your personal and professional life.

It is definitely beginning to look and feel like fall.  The air is crisper, the leaves are beginning to turn, store shelves are lined with holiday decorations, and most importantly in my world, it is time to start visiting veterinary colleges to speak with students about gaining hands-on experience that will enable them to ease their way into the veterinary profession.  This fall will be my eighth consecutive year of having the privilege of speaking with those of you who are the future of veterinary medicine.  While the dynamics of veterinary medicine have changed over the course of those years, it is clear that the common themes that are on the minds of veterinary students have stayed generally consistent.

Two common topics present themselves when I am speaking with students.  Students are looking to find a summer job that will enable them to work side by side with a veterinary team where they will gain real-world experience in an environment that is conducive to learning practical knowledge, and they want to ensure that they are working in a hospital that will be similar to the type of medicine they want to practice once they join the profession.  I encourage these students to find an opportunity that will allow them to function not just as a technician, but one to work directly under the mentorship of an experienced veterinarian.  During clinical rotations at school, the student is exposed to many complex cases, but not necessarily the typical caseload of general small-animal practice. Externships give the student an opportunity to work more closely with a mentor doctor while experiencing the caseload of a typical practice. A good summer job or externship should allow students to focus on perfecting physical exam skills, develop client communication skills, learn and understand the proper use of diagnostic tools, and work as part of a team.

As I am speaking with today’s students, I encourage them to think of summer jobs and externships as an extended interview and I ask them to create a checklist of items that are important to them when looking at working in a hospital either while in school or upon graduation.  I believe there are some universal issues students should consider.  First and foremost, the student should determine if the practice encourages a mentoring and learning environment.  Secondly, the student should ensure that the hospital practices the type of medicine that they would want to practice as a veterinarian.  Additionally, the student should know that the practice has a healthy and supportive management structure.  Lastly, the student should determine if this is a practice they would want to join after graduation.  Important things to look for include opportunities for professional and personal growth, a focus on healthy work-life balance, advanced career tracks, and a fair compensation plan that rewards them for their contributions.

Selecting a first job out of veterinary school is most likely the hardest and most important decision a student makes their entire career.  It can be the determing factor in the type of veterinarian they will become.  Participating in a summer job or externship program will enable the student to have a head start when looking for the practice that is the perfect fit.