Get the most from your appointment time with your Veterinarian
When I started practice people were a little more flexible with time and manners. Of course at that time I had all the answers, my head was just plumb full of techniques waiting to treat, after intricate rule out diagnoses were resolved. Looking back those days were lots of fun and slightly hectic. I marvel how the farm calls, reproductive work of getting mares bred (completing next years dreams), and scurrying back for small animal exams and surgeries got done. Fortunately our clientele was friendly and tolerant of my tentative time table schedule. We still have the friendliest clients around. We do our best to stay on time since we went to an appointment system. While it seems like yesterday we have used an appointment system for 20 years now. It helps us to predict time usage with surgeries and well animal visits. There are times when an emergency surgical procedure needs to be done right away. There are things found during a surgical procedure or an advanced staged dental procedure that just need to be finished. These extra issues gobble up slack minutes before the next appointment. If we know there will be a time over run we try contacting and rescheduling appointments. This does not always work but we try to respect a client's time.
What should you do to make the most of your appointment?
Simple as it may be, pick a day and time you know you can be there. There are people that do not grasp this basic logic. Things come up we know. Some people do not understand you cannot leave work at 3:30 PM and be here for a 4:00 PM appointment. Only one working at home and in the same zip code as the practice can complete this algebra time and distance equation without a speeding ticket or bodily harm happening.
If you must cancel, please do so with at least 24 hours notice. This will give the practice a chance to get a sick pet in the time slot. Veterinary practices charge a fee if you cancel in less time, or if you don't show up at all.
This fee is for the time reserved just for you. You contracted for the time. When you are not there to fulfill your part of the commitment or don't cancel with enough time to fill that slot, time is lost. Time is money. You'll get a lot more for your money if you show up. When you no show you keep a patient who needed that time slot from being able to take it.
When make your appointment, tell us everything you want done. This helps the doctor and staff to plan enough time to fully work up the needs of your pet. A well pet vaccination appointment needs 20 to 30 minutes. If an appointment includes vaccinations, a skin problem, and or a limp that needs a work up, then more time must be set aside for each issue. If you show up for a vaccination appointment and a 2 week old limp that needs radiographs, it cannot be done in the same time slot. You make another client and pet wait, we admit your pet, or it may be worked in the schedule, time permitting, if not you make another appointment. Either way you will make another trip to pick your pet up or at a different appointment.
If you need to bring two or more pets at the same time, let us know when you make the appointment. This option either makes the person with the next appointment wait or we do a rush job on your animals problem. Neither is a good choice.
Veterinarians run real close to on time. Don't use a fudge factor when estimating your arrival time. Arriving 5 minutes early allows us to prepare specimens and review paperwork before your exam time.
Children are welcome with the pet. We do appreciate good social graces by all attendees.
Cell phone conversations are not really private in an exam room and take away the time we have alloted for you and your pet. It is appreciated if you leave them on vibrate while in with the Dr.
Grandma Blust was right. Good manners are always in style.
For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.