The doctor at my practice doesn't believe in pain management. When he performs major surgeries, like orthopedic or large exploratory
surgeries, he doesn't even use pain management drugs before or after the operation. As the practice manager, what should I
do? I feel this is unfair and cruel to our patients.
—PAINED
Shawn McVey
|
DEAR PAINED:
I am so sorry that you are in this situation. It's sad that we must still witness 1970s medicine in today's veterinary market.
Let's operate under the assumption that, as Maya Angelou says, when we know better, we do better.
I recommend requesting a meeting where you ask the veterinarian to provide a script for how he wants to handle clients who
ask about pain management. If you have a current mission statement that talks about providing excellent medicine, use this
as the reason to broach the discussion. You want to offer clients everything possible for their pets. You might even point
out how the practice could generate more revenue if you implement a pain management program.
If he's unwilling or doesn't understand why you're asking, I think you should risk a statement, such as this: "I'd like to
spearhead the effort to reach out to clients and tell them about our improved levels of patient care and our new standards
for pain management. Would you allow me to do that for the practice?" It's very important to maintain a vibe of respect and
service during this discussion. You're not there to place blame or to judge, but rather to understand and educate yourself
and clients better. —SHAWN
Shawn McVey, MA, MSW, is a member of the Firstline and Veterinary Economics editorial advisory boards and is CEO of McVey Management Solutions in Chicago. For videos and articles containing more of
McVey's tips and tricks on issues relating to veterinary personnel management, conflict, and communication, visit
http://dvm360.com/mcvey
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