posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 in From the Mailbox of Dr. M
It was just a month and a half ago that I sat (impatiently I may add,) waiting for the doctor to come in with news about my mom’s surgery. It had been 4 hours since the start of the procedure, and with all that time on my hands, my mind was allowed to wander. The fears, uncertainties, and all the unknowns about what may be going on behind those doors, what certain procedures might mean, and ultimately the outcome of everything being performed had started to slip into my mind. Naturally “worst case” scenario started to outweigh the positive thoughts. And then it hit me. This may be how my clients feel at times when they are in need of a veterinarian for their pets or livestock. Whether you’re leaving your dog for a routine spay, leaving a calf with us for fluid therapy, or you call upon our services for more serious life threatening problems, the “unknown,” of what may happen is never far from a person’s mind. Emotional and financial consequences just feed into this “unknown” even more.
While the day’s events unfolded, I took the time to reevaluate how I want to be seen as a veterinarian, and if I were on the other side of the exam room door, how I would like to be treated as a client. I feel that communication is the key to success in so many different aspects of life, and this profession is no exception. Consideration should be given to ensure that things I’m relaying regarding diagnosis, treatment, outcome, etc. makes sense, and that the way things are worded can be easily understood by all parties involved. As your veterinarian, I want you, my clients, to feel comfortable and willing to ask questions about what is going on. I make it a goal to follow up on cases, and to check in on patients from time to time. I love hearing progress reports from my clients (good or bad,) so that if need be, we can tailor our treatment plan differently, or to know that we were successful in what we tried. In turn, it is my duty to make sure I keep you informed about how things are progressing with a case as outside diagnostic results are released or new research and development comes to light. I’m not promising to work magic every case, but I am promising that I will always work to keep the best interests of your pet, livestock, or operation at the top of my list.
I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to Audubon and the surrounding communities for the warm welcome I have received since joining the AMVC team. It has made the transition to the community quite easy. I enjoy the opportunity to work for a team that is truly that, a team. Similar values on teamwork, community service, animal care and husbandry, as well as strong family values are shared amongst us all, and these are things that are far above a measurable value.
Each month, I will put together an article for the paper. In these articles, I will talk about any new and upcoming information on veterinarian topics, as well as discuss season specific topics that we all can use refreshers in, and who knows, maybe along the way we can piece together some life advice that we can all relate to as I work my way through the ups and downs of life as a veterinarian! Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I look forward to assisting you with your veterinary services as the needs arise!
-Dr. Amanda Myers