twodoggies2001 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The topic started by Snook about her mum's little dog got me thinking about Vet receptionists. Some are great and some are downright awful. It brings me back to the time when my mini schnauzer Benson, who was all of 6 months at the time had trouble passing urine. At first, whilst we were out walking he was squatting constantly, and I thought he had a lot to pass. After a wile, I realised that he couldn't go, so when I came home, I rang my vet. Couldn't get past the b****y receptionist who told me surgery hours for morning consults were over and I could come in late afternoon because they were pretty much booked out. I wanted to talk to the vet and she wouldn't put me through. So, I packed my boy in the car and off I went to the surgery. It turned out that he couldn't pass urine because of a stone blocking his urethra and had to have a catheter inserted. I blew my stack at the receptionist and so did the vet. Had I waited for the late afternoon who knows what may have eventuated. As it turned out, my pup had a porto systemic shunt. After that episode, I was given the vet's mobile and home number if I needed. Sometimes the vets themselves just don't how the receptionists deal with the patients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Some people just shouldn't work in "helping" jobs such as receptionists; while I appreciate that vets are busy people and that they do set aside time to perform pre-booked surgery etc, sometimes emergencies happen and staff must be trained in how to deal with genuine emergencies and how to ask relevant questions to determine what's relevant. If the receptionist isn't sure, why not check with the vet while the caller holds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I had a receptionist at my regular vet try to persuade me to go elsewhere when I was trying to get in because my dog had eaten a glad wrap sandwich or chicken bones or both. I told her I was coming now. So they were great when I got there, I had to wait my turn so as not to start a fight with the customers already there - they were pretty busy and my dog did not look like she was in trouble - there is a time limit but it is fairly generous. Once she was in - it was all good and they fawned all over her which she loved. She even forgave them for making her vomit... I've had GP receptionists do the same thing - they can't win. The vet / gp complains they over book and then complains they stop the emergencies. One GP I had asked me why I only came in for "wimmins things" - I said because a check up is something you can book three weeks ahead and a sick certificate for a cold or flu has to be done today... and I couldn't ever get in. She was not happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Sometimes the clients are just too plain difficult to deal with too, but that's another story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullmastiff Addict Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Sometimes the clients are just too plain difficult to deal with too, but that's another story oh definatly!! But in situations like this, i used to still go and seek the vets advice before advising anything else over the phone, for my safetly, and the dog in question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbreedlover Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The vet clinic we used back home in NZ was just the best. If you needed to talk to them on the phone it wasnt a problem. The receptionists always knew who we were and would relay a message or the vet would take the call or phone back. When I worked at the same vet clinic, they were always ready to help. The vets were wonderful. I so wish I could of bundled my vets up in a suitcase LOL and brought them over too. Their table side manner surpasses any other vet I have ever had to take my dogs to over here. Not saying that the vets here havent been good. When our older vet moved back to his home town all the major clients were invited to his farewell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mortonplace Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The vet clinic we used back home in NZ was just the best. If you needed to talk to them on the phone it wasnt a problem. The receptionists always knew who we were and would relay a message or the vet would take the call or phone back.When I worked at the same vet clinic, they were always ready to help. The vets were wonderful. I so wish I could of bundled my vets up in a suitcase LOL and brought them over too. Their table side manner surpasses any other vet I have ever had to take my dogs to over here. Not saying that the vets here havent been good. When our older vet moved back to his home town all the major clients were invited to his farewell. lm a regular presents at the vets getting dogs checked,fixed getting suplies.. Also have a clinic that have 2 locations witch suits me.... lf i ring no matter what day time hr they get onto seeing my dogs when nessesary maybe time to look at just ringing vet if its a emergency. for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burkes Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I love my vet...and the receptionists.....and the assistants..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I have excellent receptionists at my vet. They put up with me quite well and are always accomodating to my sometimes odd requests (they have written notes for the vet so when my dad takes the dog in even if he forgets something the vet knows, they always put me through to the vet, ask the vet themselves or get the vet to call me). One of them even told me Toby is one of her faviroutes and most of them know my dogs and me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Everyone pitches in at our Vets, sometimes you see Vet nurses and other times receptionists...the ones that give me the s***s are the receptionists wanna be Vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The 'Receptionists' are actually probably Vet Nurses. Just a correction because Receptionists are people who answer and divert calls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTD Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I have also worked for a vet that insisted no more clients for the day and insisted you told people "no" . Didn't work for him for very long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The 'Receptionists' are actually probably Vet Nurses.Just a correction because Receptionists are people who answer and divert calls. No we definately have receptionists and Vet nurses....because when they arent at the desk they are in the file room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The topic started by Snook about her mum's little dog got me thinking about Vet receptionists. Some are great and some are downright awful. It brings me back to the time when my mini schnauzer Benson, who was all of 6 months at the time had trouble passing urine. At first, whilst we were out walking he was squatting constantly, and I thought he had a lot to pass. After a wile, I realised that he couldn't go, so when I came home, I rang my vet. Couldn't get past the b****y receptionist who told me surgery hours for morning consults were over and I could come in late afternoon because they were pretty much booked out. I wanted to talk to the vet and she wouldn't put me through. So, I packed my boy in the car and off I went to the surgery. It turned out that he couldn't pass urine because of a stone blocking his urethra and had to have a catheter inserted. I blew my stack at the receptionist and so did the vet. Had I waited for the late afternoon who knows what may have eventuated. As it turned out, my pup had a porto systemic shunt. After that episode, I was given the vet's mobile and home number if I needed. Sometimes the vets themselves just don't how the receptionists deal with the patients. BTW, for interest, did the vet advise that mini schnauzer's are predisposed to this problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I LOVE My receptionist at our vets! There is one who is there most of the time, and a few nurses who relieve her when needed, they are all great, know me when i say just my first name and also know what animal see what vet. (3 different vets, i only use 2 of them, Sumo and Fanta go to one, the others to the other - no idea why, it just worked out that way ) Also love most of the vets, and most of the vet nurses, (one i have a personal problem with for reasons not relating to the vets! - saying that, she always does her job well and treats my pets fine, but i usually try to go when she isnt working ) I have no problems getting through to the vets when needed, they call me back if they are busy when I call - I wouldnt go to any other vet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 My local vet staff know my voice... even though I don't call them often. They do have one woman who isn't very pleasant over the phone, but when I mention that I'm "Trouble's Mum" she gets a whole lot less frosty... *grin* The regular clinic manager is the best ever - she always can find time to get one of my furkids in to be seen if they need it... considering that I tend to foster pups, and go down for weigh-ins on them, all the staff love having puppy cuddles... hehe! Don't need to bribe with money... *grin* T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paptacular! Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The vet nurses/receptionists at my vets are great. We are regulars, our guys go once a month for tick injections and the nurses do it instead of the vet. They loooooove our fluffs and are very excited that Portia is going to be having pups. One of the newest vet nurses there is actually the daughter of an old boss of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I would say that at the majority of clinics, the Receptionists are actually Nurses. It might be that they do a rotating shift, so one day they're nursing, another day they're receptionists. Or maybe like us, they do reception duties during consult hours, but do nursey stuff during surgery hours. I know there are some shocker nurses/receptionists out there. But there are also some really awesome ones. I'm probably one of those 'wannabe vets', because I strive to learn as much as I can from my boss, so I can confidently handle most calls and know I'm giving the right answer. We have one vet who is usually busy treating people's pets, so it's important for us to try and see if we can answer the call so as to not need to interrupt surgery/treatments etc. More often than not, those who ask to speak to the vet, usually have a question easily dealt with by the nurse. I've had a person call me up and lie to me, saying they need to speak to the vet about their pet and refuse to give me details. When I put the call through, it was actually a member of the public calling about some wildlife that came in earlier - something I could easily have answered particularly seeing wildlife cases are generally my responsibility. Sales reps also do similar things to try and get onto the Vet/Boss so it's important we screen calls first. Sometimes, the vet just can't see you. Perhaps they're dealing with another emergency? Imagine if your dog was at the vet's getting emergency treatment and didn't survuve and you found out it was because they left them to go and see another animal/do a house call etc? Surely it's better to be honest and tell you they're too busy? They can only do so much. As for Snook's mum's dog, what a terrible situation to be in. It's a real shame you don't have Emergency Centres like us. Our Specialist Centres are generally all 24hr emergency centres too, so it doesn't matter what time it is, you can go and they will do whatever needs to be done, there and then. That's what the equipment is for! I can't believe you'd have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment to have them use their equipment. Just sounds completely ridiculous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 (edited) I'm probably one of those 'wannabe vets', because I strive to learn as much as I can from my boss, so I can confidently handle most calls and know I'm giving the right answer. Well you get a gold star from me, Stormie, because from the quality of your informative posts I thought you were a Vet. Edited January 4, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'm probably one of those 'wannabe vets', because I strive to learn as much as I can from my boss, so I can confidently handle most calls and know I'm giving the right answer. Well you get a gold star from me, Stormie, because from the quality of your informative posts I thought you were a Vet. thanks Erny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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