Veterinarian in Boulder | Mistakes |
I hate mistakes, especially the ones made at work. It’s even more frustrating when they’re made by me. In veterinary practice they don’t happen much. At our Boulder Veterinary Practice, and most of the others I’ve worked at, there is a system of checks and balances which are designed to ensure mistakes don’t occur. But no system is flawless. When human hands are in the mix, and minds are pulled in a number of different directions, mistakes will happen.
Mistakes I’ve seen in veterinary practice cover a wide spectrum; incorrect drug dosages, incorrect drugs dispensed, blood samples misplaced, etc. Then there’s the ones with far greater consequences – the ones that happen seemingly out of nowhere and an animal’s life is compromised or lost. When things like this happen, it can be devastating for the patient, the owners, the mistake-makers, and the entire staff in general. And most of the major ones are irreversible which can end up with someone’s best friend gone while inflicting a deep emotional scar on the owners’ mental well-being. It’s perhaps the worst thing that can happen, and it also leaves the mistake-maker in a world of self doubt. We’re all in this to help animals and their owners, not hurt them.
Unfortunately, mistakes are the best teachers. You learn an enormous lesson which ends up tattooed in your brain. At Rise Vet, we have a system of checks and balances in place. We are a staff with a combined 40+ years of experience. We are thorough and detail oriented. We also care deeply, and helping animals is always on the forefront of our minds.
That said, it’s not unthinkable that mistakes won’t happen. Any vet practice (or human medical practice) that says otherwise isn’t being honest – with you or themselves (unless they’re robots). We can however promise we will do everything in our power to make sure they don’t happen. In the rare event a mistake occurs, we will do everything in our power to make it right. We are all here because our fundamental desire is to help you, your animals, and even ourselves – because we all need and learn from each other.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and life-experiences regarding mistakes – however much you’re comfortable sharing. What went wrong, what was lost, what was learned. Perhaps most importantly, how you found and made your way through the muck. Feel free to comment below and I look forward to hearing your story.
Veterinarian in Boulder | Mistakes | Rise Vet is Boulder’s new breed of veterinary care located in downtown Boulder. Call us today to make an appointment for your pet. We are located in the Ideal Market Plaza, right next to Sweet Cow Ice cream and are excited to open our doors to you and your pets. We serve pet lovers in Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Superior and surrounding Boulder County.