Switching vet -- need advise on how to do that

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alicia.1771

alicia.1771

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I ended up taking Beau to another vet for a 2nd opinion yesterday and I really like the new vet, so I want to continue his treatment with her moving forward.

I don't know how to go about letting the current vet know my decision so it's courteous and will not offend her. Here are a few of the reasons I'm switching which I think are pretty valid:

1. She only works 1.5 days a week so it's hard for me to get in touch with her when I have a question. They do have other doctors staffed the other days but I don't feel comfortable having multiple vets managing my cat in case some things gets missed in communication.

2. She was pretty insistent on switching Beau to SID on ProZinc which I disagreed but couldn't get her to be on the same page to do a reduced dose BID instead.

3. She had mentioned during our conversation that she hasn't treated many diabetic cats.

Also, how do I go about getting a copy of my cat's medical record? Do I just call and ask them to fax me a copy? Would they ask why I need them? What if they ask me to personally go in to pick-up because it's a "medical record" or it's "their policy"?

Thanks in advance for any advise. I like to get this done today if possible.
 
WRT records - many of us have a file or binder in which we keep all of our cat's test reports (blood, urine, ultrasound). There should not be a question about you wanting copies of these. Weight charts I'd put in the same group. Ditto vaccinations. I am not sure about the vet's notes in the file. Perhaps those who work in vet clinics can comment on this part.

If the vet only works 1.5 days a week, its not hard to see why you'd want to change. Does she call to check on your cat? I guess I'm wondering if you even need to say that you are going to another clinic.
 
You can just call and tell them that you'd like your cat's records faxed to you. You don't have to give them a reason why. You don't have to give your vet any explanation why you're leaving if you don't want to.

If you do want to explain to your vet why you're switching, or your vet asks why, just be honest. Say that they're a fine vet, but you need someone with more office hours and with a bit more experience treating diabetes. And thank them and move on. My old vet was great, but we disagreed on dosing once I got a hold of the protocol (she tried to SID and raised in whole units), and she charged an arm and a leg for a dental. And my new vet was closer to my house and Bandit hates to travel. So I told her she was great, but I needed someone closer to home and I couldn't afford the $1500 they were going to charge for Bandit's dental. (I left out the dosing part because that just seemed a bit too personal-attacky for me. If I had decided to stay with her, we would have had a conversation about it).
 
Alicia,

Your cat was just diagnosed in July? Is the new vet asking for the old records?

I think if the new vet feels she must have the old records -- then let her ask for them. You are not going to see the old vet again (unless you go to the same church, or something) so I don't think there is anything for you to feel uncomfortable about.

When you start using the new vet, ask for a copy of tests, blood work, every time it is done so that you always have your own history that you can share with any vet or specialist.

Lana
 
I think the suggestions you've been given are great. You don't have to explain anything if you don't want to.

As for the records, many vets will give you copies of the billing records, but will charge for copying all of the notes in the full file. It cost us $10. In the future you can ask for copies of all tests run as the results come in. I've never been charged for that.
 
Ann & Tess said:
I think the suggestions you've been given are great. You don't have to explain anything if you don't want to.

As for the records, many vets will give you copies of the billing records, but will charge for copying all of the notes in the full file. It cost us $10. In the future you can ask for copies of all tests run as the results come in. I've never been charged for that.
Click to expand...

Really? I've never been charged to fax Bandit's records, and I've had 3 different vets do it. Is charging for medical records common?
 
I would not worry about getting the vet's notes because they really don't matter as much as testing results for b/w and u/a as well as any Xrays, dentals, and u/s reports. I don't see why you would be charged for printouts of tests for which you paid. I think it's wise to keep a binder of all the results so that you can compare values in the past to now, and so you can do some of your own researching. Just tell the vet office you want copies as you are keeping a binder. Any vaccinations and such are also info you need.

I have recently changed vet offfice and do love the new place, but have said nothing to the old place. I still love one of the vets at the old office, but they are just too old fashioned and not up to date. They rx caninsulin but the new place rx Lantus. The old place is a block away but the other place takes 45min on transit. The new place may be a bit more expensive on some areas but for u/s and Xrays, they are cheaper because they have all eqpt onsite and are open 24/7.

If you feel that you need to tell the old vet a reason, just make a list of all the pluses for the new place, and you could even get a card for the nice vet to thank her for all of her kind help. Bottom line is you want a vet who is the best for your cat.
 
Thank you all for your advise. I do have a copy of his blood work and urinalysis. Only lacking the urine culture result (was told it was negative) and vet's notes (we have visited 4 times so far so there probably won't be much notes). I record his body weight with each visit so I also have that on hand.

The reason I feel the need to notify her is that we are supposed to get in touch tomorrow by phone to see "how Beau's doing on SID" (no, he's not, he's still on BID). I don't want to bring up that I'm switching to another vet on the phone or that I'm still dosing BID despite her advise, and the other option is to not take her call but I feel that may be rude. So I was thinking of just sending her an email today to at least thank her for the diagnosis and initial treatment but will be seeking another vet who has more office hours and experience with diabetic cats.
 
i like the email idea and then maybe not take the call. hey, this is california and for all she knows, you went to the river for the weekend or something. LOL!!

fwiw, Dr. A does give a copy of labwork if you want it. just tell them whenever you get anything done and they will either hand it to you while there or mail it to you when it comes in. and for that matter, they also will give you a copy of anything they have in the computer which does include her notes typically. she jots while in the exam room right. but then everything is entered into the computer at some point. when i've done something before where i am in for whatever reason and i remember i forgot to get a copy of some labwork that was recently done, i just ask if i can get a copy of it and the receptionist pulls the appropriate cat's file right up on the computer right there and hits print and i get a copy of everything which includes any notes made.

oh and once, i forgot to request the notes from Fuji's cardiologist over in Lawndale and next time i was at Dr. A's clinic and i asked if they had received a copy from her and sure enough they did so they gave me a copy of that too so my file could be complete for him.

even like when i've had a cat there that had to stay a day or two, the printout will even show how many times the cat ate, what and how much, and even if they pee'd or pooped, etc.... it even notes when O (owner) calls and asks a question or whatever. :-) have to figure out some of the abbreviations but that's not too hard

if i'm in for something "simple" like having LePew's cyst drained, I just note on my receipt how many mls they drained that particular day, don't figure i need a big write up on that. not sure i need to but i tend to keep track of all that stuff :-D
 
Julia & Bandit said:
Ann & Tess said:
I think the suggestions you've been given are great. You don't have to explain anything if you don't want to.

As for the records, many vets will give you copies of the billing records, but will charge for copying all of the notes in the full file. It cost us $10. In the future you can ask for copies of all tests run as the results come in. I've never been charged for that.
Click to expand...

Really? I've never been charged to fax Bandit's records, and I've had 3 different vets do it. Is charging for medical records common?
Click to expand...

I have a feeling from what Ann said that the charge was for running copies, which they might have a standard dollar a page fee for like many other businesses do. If they fax them (as long as it's not a long-distance call), the faxing probably doesn't cost them anything, since it's some elses paper getting ink on it. Jeez, a buck a page, like they pay $500 dollars for a ream of printer paper!

I'd send her the email, and let your machine pick up and they can leave you a message, or let it go to your voicemail if they're calling your cell.

So glad you've found a vet that you can work with!

Carl
 
Yes it was a standard fee for copies and clerical time. I don't think it mattered how many pages it was as they quoted the price before looking at her records.
 
I'd get the records. Funny, I never do that with my own GP, but did for Midora! She had 3 different vets in her 13 years b/c we moved. cedric has had the same one for the past 5 years that I have had him.

As for the charges to copy, it can happen. When i moved here to FL, I got my medical records from my OB/GYN (I had surgery the year before & felt it was important) and they charged me $20. I got to read the dr's notes from my surgery and it was - interesting & more enlightening than our conversations. If your old vet can fax to your new for free, I'd ask for it to be done.
 
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