People of Veterinary Medicine

Do you ever wonder about which types of people the veterinary medicine profession attracts?  I have the time line to make a few observations.   The "big" picture view is they are the animal lovers, this is a given.  It includes young women aged three to infinity.  Interestingly enough there are fewer males entering the profession.  I am not sure why the major gender shift has occurred.  It maybe young men are financial rewards orientated more than my generation.  This is not wrong; men are still welcomed.  To last in veterinary medicine you need to have a passion and focus for long-term staying power.   You need the drive to get up and go after disease and pestilence everyday.  You can make a reasonable living in Veterinary Medicine.  Those that end up rich, well that money tree grows outside the arena of Veterinary Medicine.
 
We use money for the payment of goods and services needed to support a practice.  Things such as mortgage, lease rent, heat, lights, insurances of all kinds, payroll for support staff; expensive equipment and the medications used and prescribed for patient care are examples of needed expenditures.  People in the Veterinary Medicine field have big hearts supported by wallets that are thinner than the public thinks.  It is about care not the need for money.  This is a constant struggle issue with veterinarians and their support personnel.  Balancing expenses with income revenue can become very interesting.   The current economy with layoffs, company downsizing, permanent job terminations and all of the ripple effects makes this a more challenging subject all the time.   We in Veterinary Medicine all have a great inner need to help animals and their people.  

One of a veterinarian's greatest assets is a great support team.  I am happy to tell you our staff is one you can fall in love with.  They focus on the animal's needs, client comfort and the information needed so an owner can make an informed best-case decision.  One of their greatest strengths is the teamwork utilized to make it happen during the hectic chaos called practice.  Unless you are involved with veterinary medicine, you may miss the subtlety portrayed in Dr DoLittle or Disney's version of an animal story. 
Mundane tasks done to help ease an animal's pain and suffering mean a lot on the care team.  The general cleaning and sweeping for housekeeping reduces dirt and clutter and keeps things neat.   Animal caregivers are dedicated and even will do corners and windows without complaint.  It takes a completely different skill set to handle all the different job tasks in a general or a veterinary specialty practice.   Using some equipment requires a tactile proficiency gained only by years of repetitive usage.  There is an art form to placement of both peripheral (leg) and central (jugular) intravenous catheters.  Looking at pictures or even watching a video demonstration misses the essence of "just put it in the middle of the blood vessel".  Placing a catheter in a traumatized hit by a car-thrashing dog with the owner present and people yelling commands at a loud volume is a real joy.  If you get it, started relief is available for the injured animal.  Delaying or getting it in may mean case failure.  These skillful people have my admiration, well earned, and deserved respect.  Those that have done it understand what attention to detail, a steady hand and a job well done feeling is all about.  Being able to function in the chaos of a trauma situation in general practice or Animal Emergency Clinic setting takes teamwork and devotion to duty.  If on my shift a procedure is successful, it was the "A" team working with me that made it happen.  I take responsibility for those that do not make it.  Those that have a big list of problems make it a tougher case.  I know you can do everything right and still get a bad outcome but I play to win every time.  I will play on a caring team any day.  Good care and good people are hand and glove to the soul of the Veterinary Medicine support team. 

There is a camaraderie in keeping a pet well that is bonded by the "heat of the battle" if you will.  I personally strive for State of the Heart Care.  With a focused team, you are able to utilize the abilities, talents, and love put into cases by these good heart warming people.  These behind the scenes activities are a daily played out in practices through out the state and nation.  Do not get me wrong, I have found passionate people will give their all, they also get tired and frustrated.  This may lead to a very direct passionate statement of opinion.   When tired, opinions are delivered at a high voice volume and most remarkably; the message is on target or extremely close to the mark. 

Teamwork also includes a willingness to give up a scheduled day off to cover for a coworker that needs to attend a funeral, is sick or has a sick kid.  It may or may not include covering so a lady can get ready for "the" date.   This may have strings including first telling of all the details.  Negotiations are a learned skill. 

There is a shared sadness saying good-bye to a beloved pet.  The joy of a new puppy, kitten, foal or newborn critter offsets passing of old or sick pets.   Successful surgery or other procedures that increase the length and enhance the quality of life are mutual points of team bonding.  Combining enough positive points of interest helps to build a good team concept.  There are those in veterinary medicine that need separation from the herd.    They lack the ability to play good reindeer games.  Luckily, these people are very small in number and Lansing deals with them on a case-by-case matter.

I work better in small groups.  I have no aspirations of national glory.  I love working with a small caring animal health focused team unit.  There is no drug that can match the endorphin high you get when you are able to pull one back from the brink of death.   We mark improvement of nonresolvable cases with the knowledge we did everything possible to maintain a beating heart and a living creature.

I have the privilege of working with people that embody the essence of the Caring Profession.  These people personally make my almost 37 years as a veterinarian seem like play.  It is because of their devotion and concern for the best care that nurtures my need to learn more about the best profession, Veterinary Medicine. 

For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.                   
The outside of a pet is good for the inside of a human.