I always find it interesting how life events cluster together. Perhaps you’ve heard of this phenomenon known as “The Law of Threes.”
My little cluster at the moment has to do with healthcare. Within a few months of each other, my family doctor, dentist, and vet have retired. I’ve yet to find people to replace them. That’s because essentially they’re irreplaceable. They all came from the old school where they were human beings first and medical practitioners second. If any of us really needed to get in to see them, I knew that I’d be able to get an appointment that same day — and that they’d treat my family and animals as whole beings, not as body parts or diseases.
As I continue my search to find doctors that my family and animals will feel comfortable with, I wonder if I will be able to find care remotely close to what we had. It seems people like that are a dying breed.
So imagine my surprise when I watched my mother’s vet walk over to her unbidden to give her a fatherly hug while she stood crying in his office. He’d just given her the news that he thought the tumor he’d surgically removed from her 8-year-old German Shepherd was malignant.
Even though, all things considered, the news was relatively good — the cancer was still in a very early stage and he’d gotten it all — he seemed to know that what my mother needed most in that moment was compassionate arms around her telling her that everything would be okay.
I tell you, it did my heart good to know that people like that still exist. And it reaffirmed that I should hold out until I find them.
Since I’m in the market for tips — if you guys are happy with your dr.s and vets, how did you find them?
Well Karen, I’m in the same boat you are, looking for a few good men (or one great woman) who will have compassion, sense, reasonable prices and be available! I recently dropped our vet because he upped his prices ridiculously and then lowered his ability to actually discuss any concerns I had. Jeesh! I have hope though, I’m banking on synchronicity taking over here and matching me up with just the right person. Hope the same happens for you too!
Cindy, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for both of us.
My current vet was new in town and I wanted to give him a chance. I first took a dog to him for a wellness check and annual vaxx. I talked to him, told him what my plans were and he spent a fair amount of time discussing them with me. I liked that. He was close & his prices were reasonable. I continued to take my pets there, then I had a crisis. He called me right back and we discussed what to do. I ended up at the E-clinic but was referred back to him the next day. It was a sad occasion and his compassion and kindness were evident the moment I walked through that door the next morning. He’s remained my vet ever since. I need both a good clinician and a compassionate doctor in both my vets and my personal physician. They .must. impress me with their knowledge (after all that is what I go to them for) and they must really listen to me. The straw that broke the camel’s back with the previous vet was during that same crisis when she would not offer any help, coupled with higher prices and dismissing my thoughts on a subject I had researched. I left her practice.
Holly, sounds like you found exactly what I’m looking for. I’ve begun interviewing, but haven’t found both pieces of compassion and knowledge in one package yet.