Some of my extended family and friends have recently had a series of intense health issues. My experience in communicating with the medical teams has given me a renewed appreciation for the trust that you, our clients, have in our care of your pets.
The medical system for humans has an impressive capacity for diagnosis and treatment and some incredibly dedicated and compassionate individuals. A limitation however, is that care is so specialized that flow of information and therapeutic plans to the family can be a slow and often confusing process. Further, the patient/parent/relative who is advocating for proper care can sometimes feel left off of the health care team.
In veterinary medicine, we function more as generalists. Even at the specialty level, the specialties are fairly broad. This allows us to have an overall view of a patient's health and clients relationship with their companion that allows us to efficiently carry out medical plans. Further, although predetermined algorithms are very helpful in working through rule outs for certain symptoms, we often must adapt our plans to the specific circumstances (medical, emotional, and financial) of client and pet.
Even so, it still is an act of faith for our clients to let us take their friend away from them for a surgical procedure or medical treatment in another area of the hospital. This level of trust is usually unspoken, but next to the satisfaction of healing, is the most satisfying part of our profession. When a client trusts our recommendations, we know they have confidence in not only our medical knowledge and skills, but in our personal integrity. We take that trust very seriously and respond through our best efforts on behalf of their pet. This happens dozens of times each day, but it is never taken for granted.
To all our clients, thank you for trusting us with the care of your companions!
