Some insurance companies are better than others, some veterinarians are decidedly better than others, as are people doctors, or any profession, really. But a vet has to rely on what a dog's body tells them with the interpretation/observation or lack thereof, of the owner. Kind of like taking a baby to a pediatrician. The doctor has to know what questions to ask to get the most information possible.
We have a couple of really awesome vets and are very happy to drive by at least 30 other veterinarians to get there, and feel very lucky to have found them both. They work well together and are both open to new ideas and additional input, and most of all they encourage questions and learning, rather than giving us the 'attitude' of "I'm the vet, how dare you question me?"
This is not about vets, or even about people doctors as compared to vets. If I took my dog to the vet for a surgical procedure that needed post-surgical monitoring for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours, my dog would stay at the veterinarian's clinic for that time period if no one capable of this could be with my dog for that time frame. If it was a Black Russian who I could not lift into the van, if need be, he would stay there. If I had to work during that time, he would stay there. If I did not feel that I could adequately monitor my dog for that time period, for whatever reason, he would stay in the vet clinic. No questions asked. And the animal health insurance companies allow pretty much whatever the vets say is required.
Now, PEOPLE, on the other hand, are a completely different story. When I had major surgery several years ago, my doctor had to fight with the insurance company for over 2 years to get them to approve it, because someone of my 'young' age should not need it, and I wasn't in continuous pain 24-7 at a level of 8+, thank goodness. Then when they weren't ready to discharge me after 24 hours, another insurance company fight ensued. The primary doctor for my condition stood her ground though. I ended up being in the hospital almost a week, then 8 weeks at home. A good time was not had by all. But I digress...
I am just amazed at how many 'procedures' are now outpatient, but you are supposed to have someone with you for 24 to 48 hours, you can't lift more than 5 lbs (my purse weighs 6), no stairs, etc. Because we have a full flight of stairs at our house, I had to take Dave to a hotel for several days after his surgery early this year until he could do stairs. Today I am sitting in a doctor's waiting room while my sister has surgery on her varicose veins. OK, nobody tell her that I told. My point is that this should be something in the hospital, but insurance companies have deemed it an 'outpatient procedure' not a 'surgery.' It comes with a lot of possible side effects, including death. She had to do her own prep on her leg at home, starting 2 1/2 hours before her check in time. She can't sit up, or even in a recliner afterwards. I guess I should have brought the big van and laid her out on a gurney in the back, then hoisted up the stairs at her house on it. She is supposed to have help getting up and down stairs, even off of the bed, no lifting, bending, etc, for at least 48 hours after the 'procedure' is complete. She is to return to the doctor in 72 hours for a followup, but if she gets a blood clot in between time, she should go to the emergency room. How exactly does one know if one has a blood clot? Stroke, Heart Attack, what??? I don't know about her co-pay, but mine is $300. So when Dave had his knee surgery and the leg started to get hot and swell the next day, we spent hours and $300 to go to the emergency room for them to say 'Yes, it's swelling. No, it shouldn't be doing that. Have you called your doctor?" Do they think we ended up here because we wanted to? AAACCCCKKKKK!!!!! sorry, digressing again...
Back to today. What do people do who don't have someone to drive them to their appointment, home when they are finally done, and patient-sit them with them for the hours or days? The doctors won't admit them because insurance won't pay for it. They won't pay for a nurse to come to the house. What DO those poor people do?
Thanks for letting me vent.
We have a couple of really awesome vets and are very happy to drive by at least 30 other veterinarians to get there, and feel very lucky to have found them both. They work well together and are both open to new ideas and additional input, and most of all they encourage questions and learning, rather than giving us the 'attitude' of "I'm the vet, how dare you question me?"
This is not about vets, or even about people doctors as compared to vets. If I took my dog to the vet for a surgical procedure that needed post-surgical monitoring for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours, my dog would stay at the veterinarian's clinic for that time period if no one capable of this could be with my dog for that time frame. If it was a Black Russian who I could not lift into the van, if need be, he would stay there. If I had to work during that time, he would stay there. If I did not feel that I could adequately monitor my dog for that time period, for whatever reason, he would stay in the vet clinic. No questions asked. And the animal health insurance companies allow pretty much whatever the vets say is required.
Now, PEOPLE, on the other hand, are a completely different story. When I had major surgery several years ago, my doctor had to fight with the insurance company for over 2 years to get them to approve it, because someone of my 'young' age should not need it, and I wasn't in continuous pain 24-7 at a level of 8+, thank goodness. Then when they weren't ready to discharge me after 24 hours, another insurance company fight ensued. The primary doctor for my condition stood her ground though. I ended up being in the hospital almost a week, then 8 weeks at home. A good time was not had by all. But I digress...
I am just amazed at how many 'procedures' are now outpatient, but you are supposed to have someone with you for 24 to 48 hours, you can't lift more than 5 lbs (my purse weighs 6), no stairs, etc. Because we have a full flight of stairs at our house, I had to take Dave to a hotel for several days after his surgery early this year until he could do stairs. Today I am sitting in a doctor's waiting room while my sister has surgery on her varicose veins. OK, nobody tell her that I told. My point is that this should be something in the hospital, but insurance companies have deemed it an 'outpatient procedure' not a 'surgery.' It comes with a lot of possible side effects, including death. She had to do her own prep on her leg at home, starting 2 1/2 hours before her check in time. She can't sit up, or even in a recliner afterwards. I guess I should have brought the big van and laid her out on a gurney in the back, then hoisted up the stairs at her house on it. She is supposed to have help getting up and down stairs, even off of the bed, no lifting, bending, etc, for at least 48 hours after the 'procedure' is complete. She is to return to the doctor in 72 hours for a followup, but if she gets a blood clot in between time, she should go to the emergency room. How exactly does one know if one has a blood clot? Stroke, Heart Attack, what??? I don't know about her co-pay, but mine is $300. So when Dave had his knee surgery and the leg started to get hot and swell the next day, we spent hours and $300 to go to the emergency room for them to say 'Yes, it's swelling. No, it shouldn't be doing that. Have you called your doctor?" Do they think we ended up here because we wanted to? AAACCCCKKKKK!!!!! sorry, digressing again...
Back to today. What do people do who don't have someone to drive them to their appointment, home when they are finally done, and patient-sit them with them for the hours or days? The doctors won't admit them because insurance won't pay for it. They won't pay for a nurse to come to the house. What DO those poor people do?
Thanks for letting me vent.
