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.