Waiting Room Enlightenment
The air conditioner in my car recently decided that it didn't want to work in 90 degree heat, so I had the pleasure of hanging around another waiting room.
Waiting rooms can be interesting places. Some good, some bad. Furnishings are important, but their 'grade' hinges on their library—a.k.a. selection of magazines. Best go lightly on the cosmopolitan Madison Avenue crap, and keep the dates within the last three months.
Being a dog guy, the subtitle "50 Things Your Veterinarian Won’t Tell You" on the cover of the May issue of Readers Digest caught my eye.
The issue of health care has been a hot topic recently and the philosophical and economic comparison between MD and DVM has led to some interesting discussion.
Writer, Michelle Crouch, had "asked veterinarians and vet technicians to reveal pet vet tips and cautionary tales, which can save time, trouble, and trauma for everyone in the family."
The commentary reflected the bright and the dim of human nature. For example:
“A client came in with her poodle and warned us that the dog would bite. She said that it would often corner her in a room at home, too, and snarl and sometimes bite. I asked how she handled it, and she said, ‘Well, I started throwing food to get him away from me, and it worked. So now I keep snacks in every room just in case.’ ‘So ... ,’ I asked incredulously, ‘whenever he tries to attack you, you give him a treat?’ ‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘and it works every time!’”—Dennis Leon, DVM.
It would be easy to find a political corollary to that story! Patients and patience both are required for success.
There were many anecdotal clues indicating the philosophical and psychological benefit of dealing with patients who know nothing but honesty and loyalty:
“Giving food is not giving love. Obesity will hurt their health and decrease their life span. Instead, give affection. Pet them, brush them, love them, and walk them.”—Bernadine Cruz, DVM.
Good advice for humans.
-fl