tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933637578314436528.post3673856849611838143..comments2023-08-02T08:49:30.498-05:00Comments on Can't Spell, DVM: The Day of RudenessCan'tSpell, DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442940435326645871noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933637578314436528.post-8977127557651689062011-09-29T02:04:33.678-05:002011-09-29T02:04:33.678-05:00Yes, that's exactly why I won't refer to r...Yes, that's exactly why I won't refer to rude specialists - their behavior also reflects poorly on ME. Clients can't judge competence, but they certainly remember rudeness. If it's their decision to see someone local and rude, though, that's fine, because it's their decision, not my recommendation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933637578314436528.post-68712161775633734312011-09-28T16:35:46.494-05:002011-09-28T16:35:46.494-05:00My guess is, in academics, practitioners suffer no...My guess is, in academics, practitioners suffer no financial cost for being a butt. While there are butts in private practice, there is strong financial incentive to BE NICE! <br />My worry would be that if you refer a client to someone who is rude to you, they would be rude to the client as well.<br />Which exists independent of the competence question.foffmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933637578314436528.post-41517392370543813462011-09-28T09:34:54.715-05:002011-09-28T09:34:54.715-05:00After a decade of general practice, I simply won&#...After a decade of general practice, I simply won't refer to specialists who behave like that. IME, they seem to populate the local veterinary school vs. the private specialty hospitals. I don't know if this is a phenomenon of veterinary school (vs. private hospital) specialists in general or just this veterinary school's culture, because I attended school in a different state.<br /><br />When a client asks why I'm sending the patient to a far-away specialist I say: "Most of my clients have had good experiences with Dr. Nice 'N' Smart. Dr. NNS is an excellent specialist and treats my clients well." I don't say anything else, and if a client decides to visit Dr. Local 'N' Nasty, oh well. Often, to help ensure a good experience, I tell the staff at Dr. Nice 'N' Smart's practice "I always like to refer my clients here. I know my patients receive excellent care, and I get such good feedback about Dr. NNS and your staff." Most people respond well to positive reinforcement, especially when it's true! :-)<br /><br />If the veterinary school sends out a questionnaire to local referring veterinarians asking why you refer/don't refer patients, let fly with your comments and name names. If something really terrible happens, don't hesitate to go straight to the top. Veterinary schools are currently competing for a shrinking pool of patients, and want to hear why they may be losing revenue to the private hospitals. I did this on one occasion when the behavior and care was particularly outrageous, and the director of the hospital was very interested in my comments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933637578314436528.post-7728420764585059382011-09-28T09:21:48.968-05:002011-09-28T09:21:48.968-05:0090% of my clients yesterday were rude or mean too!...90% of my clients yesterday were rude or mean too! Odd. I checked to see if it was a full moon--it wasn't. After dealing with rude PAYING clients all day, the straw that broke the camel's back was the rude lady from the rescue group who is rude every single time she comes in. She was rude to my techs, again, and then demanded to speak to me even though she was told I was in appointments. She got to talk to me alright! I apologized to my boss for losing my cool but I don't want me or my staff to be walked all over. Especially not for a client we lose money on. <br /><br />I'm sorry for your day, but it does make me feel a little better that I wasn't the only one.Dr. Hnoreply@blogger.com