Chibaby Posted April 20, 2009 Posted April 20, 2009 Well, sorry it's not really about love. I just got a job at a veterinary clinic in a new city that I moved to. I really need the money, and it took me a few months to land the job, although it pays less since the cost of living in this state is lower. My issue is that the clinic I am working at is basically having the receptionist prescribe medications to clients. Their only requirement is that the pet has been seen in the past year, and then the receptionist will give out meds like candy without getting a doctor's approval. I was very alarmed at this, and spoke to one of the doctors which didn't see this as a problem. The reasoning there was that it's better to have pets on medication being protected from possible disease than the risk of them having organ failure or other harmful issues/fatalities from taking non-prescribed medications. I personally don't think that a receptionist is capable of prescribing medications to animals, and legally it is wrong! No one will listen to me, and they expect me as to do the same, but I outright refused. I refuse to give out medications without doctors written approval, but now it is putting my job in jeopardy. Also, I don't feel comfortable working for a clinic that practices this way, but I hate not contributing to my family financially. My husband told me to quit, but I feel so guilty because it took me 2 months to find a new job in this city. Any advice here?
quankanne Posted April 20, 2009 Posted April 20, 2009 I'm sure what the receptionist is doing must be illegal, and that could fall back on YOU. Are you willing to take the rap should it come down to it? if your husband has your back, and understands this conflict, you are morally in a position to walk way from a place that's adopted such a shady practice. The money will take care of itself, you worry about sticking to your guns and doing what's right.
Trialbyfire Posted April 20, 2009 Posted April 20, 2009 Keep in mind that some medications for pets, like antibiotics, are used on people, so yes, I'm guessing a receptionist writing up certain kinds of prescriptions would be illegal. I would continue working there, refusing to write prescriptions but also, continuing to look for another job. You're not qualified to treat a pet, either ethically or in some cases, legally.
dashing daisy Posted April 21, 2009 Posted April 21, 2009 I think that what the clinic is doing is immoral and sounds like it would be illegal, although I'm not sure what the specific laws are. Imagine if a clinic wanted to save money and instead of hiring doctors to see all the patients, they just had the receptionist write prescriptions! I would say report it to the authorities, but to be honest, I'm not sure who you would report something like this to. Maybe try contacting the ASPCA or the humane society and see if this practice is illegal and ask if there is anything they can do. And I think you should start applying for other jobs, definitely don't work there for longer than you have to, and don't compromise your beliefs. You don't want to be responsible for harming or killing someone's pet if there is a mistake.
Trialbyfire Posted April 21, 2009 Posted April 21, 2009 I believe the regulatory body for veterinarians, is the American Veterinary Medical Association.
TaraMaiden Posted April 21, 2009 Posted April 21, 2009 It will only take one stupid mistake, by one untrained ignorant receptionist to blow this practise sky-high. I think you do the following: You quietly look for another post. You find a job. You gather evidence. you report to the authorities (there has to be a legislative body), you then tell your now ex-bosses that you have reported them. you wave goodbye and leave them to sort out what they are responsible for. _/l\_
scootncash Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 I have dogs and horses. My horses are very expensive animals that require extreme care due to the fact that they are athelets who barrel race and my dogs are well cared for too. My thought on this is if I walked into my vet's office and they said ok its time to renew your dogs heartworm med and the receptionsit said here, this one works based on his weight and size from his previous record, I would croak! Dogs have to be on heartworm meds here in my state due to the high rate of mosquitos. You cant just start a dog over after his six month supply is completed, because he needs to have blood work done just to make sure he isnt showing postive for heartworms because the kicker is if he is and you refill the med you risk killing the animal. Nor do I want the receptionist to hand me over a prefilled syringe with the possibility of giving me the wrong medicine for my horse when it was drawn up for a dog. I dont want the receptionist to hand over pills to me that she has no experience with and then giving me something that kills my horse. You know recently that 21 horses died at a polo championship based on either tainted feed or supplements and the cause is yet to be determined. Scary Scary thought. I certainly dont want the receptionist, not because she is dumb, but because she isnt trained in pharmaceuticals, she doesnt have training in illnesses and practices to treat sick animals. She doesnt diagnose diseases and hasnt been trained in the etiology of diseases and their processes. I was a nurse for years and trust me when I tell you the diagnosing and the prescribing needs to be done by a doctor not a receptionist who certainly does not deserve this responsibility slapped on her. i dont know where you live but that sounds like an irresponsible business who either understaffs or underpays and its quicker to pass the responsibility onto an innocent receptionist to handle the responsibility that belongs to the vet. Your husband has your back, quit, report them, God will send a better job your way and maybe you were sent there by him to do the animals of that practice a life saving miracle because sooner or later and i fear sooner, something bad is going to happen. Vets dont go to school for 8 years and have MD behind their name and have large paychecks for the diploma on the wall and give their responsibilities as vets to the receptionist. They took an oath to care for the very animals they treat. I am in complete horror over their irresponsibility. It is complete gross neglect and wreckless endagerment of the poor animals lives. Its just of course my opinion as everyone else here but you need to quit and have them reported. If nothing else, call Nancy Grace Im sure her show would pick this up rather quickly! Good Luck and God Bless!
Author Chibaby Posted April 24, 2009 Author Posted April 24, 2009 Thank you all for the advice. I have quit working here, even though it makes me depressed just the thought of finding another job. I hope another job comes my way soon though. Now I just need to do some research in order to report them. And FYI, the practice is in Oklahoma - I just moved here 4 months ago. Also, it was prescription heartworm, flea, and other medications that they were having receptionists prescribe. Totally illegal and irresponsible.
redfathom Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 A receptionist at a vet clinic, I used to go to, was filling my cats prescription. She gave me a 3mm syrunge and told me to give the full syringe to my cat 3 x a day pain medicine. While she was in the back I took the chart and started to read it, the chart clearly said 3 drops a day. She came back and I brought it to her attention, she basically replied "oops". I asked her to get the vet and to double check his instuctions. She started to argue telling me that she "now" understood the directions. I said: "Look, tell me honsetly, if I had given my cat the entire syringe when I went home tonight, would my cat have overdosed?" She said "Yes, he would have died". I said, "So you're telling me I would have killed my cat?" Her "Yes". Me "Then go get the vet right now!" The vet "I apologize, my handwriting is sometimes messy" Me "Really, because I read it just fine" In the end they made me pay for the visit, I went home and called back, another nurse answered and told me she overheard the entire thing and was the one who asked the "Dr" to come up front to talk with me. She said I should file a complaint. I will never take my cat to that vet, and I will always read the chart and do research before giving my cat any medicine. Also, the vet told me that the medicine we was prescibing was very strong and would more then likely give my cat kidney failure at an early age, but that I should consider the pain he is in and be sympathetic to that. I told him I would only do what was in the best interest of my cat and that was never bringing him back to that hospital again! You are a good person for quiting and I wish you the best of luck!
a4a Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 Thank you all for the advice. I have quit working here, even though it makes me depressed just the thought of finding another job. I hope another job comes my way soon though. Now I just need to do some research in order to report them. And FYI, the practice is in Oklahoma - I just moved here 4 months ago. Also, it was prescription heartworm, flea, and other medications that they were having receptionists prescribe. Totally illegal and irresponsible. ok lets lighten the hell up here. I deal with this literally hundreds of times a year. Flea meds prescribed to your animal are not based on blood work or some sort of lab test sent out to Antech. You can buy them online and in the grocery store. Flea preventative (not HW combo) is like buying "OFF" bug spray for yourself. The majority are not prescription. Few are VET only to protect profit. Like Frontline used to be - but is no longer. As for HW as long as your dog has been tested for HW in the last year and it is a negative result HW meds are fine for a receptionist to hand to you. Each time you go to refill your human medications (if you have a refill) do you have to see the doctor? It takes 6 months for HW to dev. - thus if you start out a 4 month old pup on HW preventative you don't need to test him/her for HW. So if your dog is tested and is neg and you give the HW it will prevent the "wee HW eggs" from turning into full blown HW. HW prev runs in groups normally like - 12-25 lb 25 - 55 lb 55- 100 lb so unless your dog has grown or gotten obese you don't even need to weigh it. There is no mixing or compounding of these meds they are pre packaged and labels are on them. No degree required to read and walk them to a front counter. I have a dog on enapril and lasix I have no issues if the receptionist runs back and fills this prescription for me at the vets. She can count pills. I think you are really wasting your time being in a huff over this. Now if they were beating animals and selling them telling owners they passed away. Yeah report them. The polo horses died of a BS owners request to make an illegal batch of "supplements" that the pharmacy screwed up on making. BTW the lady on the phone that fills your online HW order is not a DVM either.
redfathom Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 She can count pills. Sorry, read my post. Because sometimes they really can't follow simple directions...
a4a Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 She can count pills. Sorry, read my post. Because sometimes they really can't follow simple directions... I did read your post and I have had vets screw up themselves. Like forget to neuter a dog while they have it down for a ortho surgery. shyte happens. High dollar lab work comes back - sample from sick dog....... yeah shyte happens. Look how many people die in the hospitals from drug issues. But the drugs in questions are not compounded or drawn up into a syringe. Not the same as yours. These are prepackaged medications that are also mostly OTC. google 1 800 pet meds for examples. Do you need a Dr. to give a flu shot? How many vet tech also work the front desk.... where I am it's all the time. I think the OP has other issues besides the flea and tick meds being given to clients with DR. approval (but without exam). Or this is her first job ever in a vet clinic or any sort of medical setting. Again you do not need a written prescription for flea and tick meds..... you need one for HW if you are ordering online. But most vet hospitals have a policy of yearly testing. end of story. Even then it is not necessary because if the animal has been on HW preventative forever it will not have HW. But most vets do test yearly..... not at 6 month refill times. That is the norm. So she is barking up the wrong tree on that. I just got in a case of fenbedazole....... no prescript. needed. Same difference.
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