Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012. Last day in Bali
Jan 30, 2012. Pushpapuri Villa
Drizzling. No more beautiful blue sunrise as yesterday. Can't see Mount Agung due to fog on mountain.
Morning. Visited Mt Batur and Lake Batur. An active volcano 1700 metres above sea level. Perseverance is the key to success as I noted that the little girls of around 7 years old do get some sales if they persevere. The roadside vendors do not bother and their sales will be low since there are so many proactive roadside sellers. Usually ladies including a mother carrying a child.
Many roadside stalls sell various types of fruits as I approach Mt Batur. I bought from an aged woman, some bananas and mangosteens as they were sweet. The rambutans and tangerines were not sweet and I did not buy them. A little girl from the stall further up persevered in asking me to buy her wooden spoons or flowers. Since she persevered, I bought three spoons.
Visited a nursery nearby where coffee plants are labelled for tourism. The best coffee is the one from the stools of a wild cat-like creature but I do not want to drink such coffee.
Religious rituals. Many villagers are preparing for "Galungan", a major Hindu holiday on Wednesday when Balinese Hindus celebrate victory of virtues over vices. Not seen in Singapore.
Offerings are made with Pacar Cina flowers and coconut leaves which soared in prices. The coconut leaves are made into square containers to keep the offerings. Also cakes, incense, fruits to make 18 small offerings, 3 large fruit offerings of gebogan. What cannot be missed during my travel to Mt Batur passing the villages, is the making of the "penjor" which is a decorated bamboo pole to be placed in front of the house.
(Pictures).
A researcher of 405 households in all 9 regency-level regions in Bai reported in The Jakarta Post, Jan 30, 2012, Pg 6 - Balinese Edition that Balinese Hindus spend 10.5% of the household revcenue per year to finance routine religious festivals. Around 108 routine religious festivals per year excluding events like the rites of passage (e.g baby's first tooth drops off, adulthood) and "Ngaben" cremation.
Afternoon
While the others went shopping at the Sogo etc, I asked the driver to bring me to see the 2002 Bali Bombing site. Over 200 party-goers had died in this blast. There is a memorial on this site. Amongst the names, 88 were from Australia. The first bomb site is a car park lot. The second blast is a memorial with the names of the dead from various countries. None from Singapore. It is very sad as these must be young adults if what I saw in this famous road is representative. Over 99% of the tourists are Caucasians and young adults. Bars and pubs are numerous. The sun and surf in Bali attracts many young people.
A little girl of around 7 years suddenly dashed in front of our moving car travelling back to the Villa along Legen beach where the surfers and hotels are packed. My 23-year-old driver braked in time. I saw one adult Balinese put a hand on his heart area as he witnessed this scene. It is really hard to grow into adults when little children are left alone to wander. Another little girl came to our car to beg for money at a traffic junction crossing the busy road.
Three thin ponies in their carriage waited in between small yellow orange buses for the tourists to go home after surfing or a day at this beach.
From this trip and from limited observations of 2 days in Bali, I learnt that perseverance is the key to successful sales and that the female gender is better at sales, being highly motivated to earn as I don't see the boys doing any sales at the tourist spots. Maybe they are somewhere working.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
854. A difference of veterinary opinions but a good outcome counts
A young lady consulted the vet. Her kitten had diarrhoea for a few days. It was adopted from the SPCA and had been fed chicken and rice. The kitten was given to the SPCA the day before, according to the young lady. It was therefore not vaccinated.
COMPLAINT
The main concern was diarrhoea. Watery. What should the vet do?
VET 1's OPINION
"No treatment is necessary," Vet 1 said to her. "It is due to the change of environment and diet. Just give boiled chicken and rice and wait a few days.
MY OPINION
Though the kitten is active and eating, it does not mean that it is not incubating a viral infection picked up at the SPCA. It takes 7-14 days to show the symptoms of diarrhoea and the young lady had the kitten for around 7 days.
In this case, to save on costs, no blood was done. A stool test should be done. If I treat this case, I would have given a drug to stop the diarrhoea, SC fluid and ask the owner not to feed the kitten for 24-48 hours and to give oral electrolytes. "But the kitten is not dehydrated," Vet 1 said.
Oral electrolytes should be given because the kitten has been having diarrhoea for several days. It is not severely dehydrated. Does the university professor teaches that electrolytes should be given when there is severe dehydration? I don't know. Each vet will treat a case differently but in the end a good clinical outcome is what counts.
This kitten has loose stools but no watery stools. No deworming had been done nor had the faecal sample been checked for worms. Sometimes it may be a case of endo parasites since this is a stray kitten. Time will tell.
COMPLAINT
The main concern was diarrhoea. Watery. What should the vet do?
VET 1's OPINION
"No treatment is necessary," Vet 1 said to her. "It is due to the change of environment and diet. Just give boiled chicken and rice and wait a few days.
MY OPINION
Though the kitten is active and eating, it does not mean that it is not incubating a viral infection picked up at the SPCA. It takes 7-14 days to show the symptoms of diarrhoea and the young lady had the kitten for around 7 days.
In this case, to save on costs, no blood was done. A stool test should be done. If I treat this case, I would have given a drug to stop the diarrhoea, SC fluid and ask the owner not to feed the kitten for 24-48 hours and to give oral electrolytes. "But the kitten is not dehydrated," Vet 1 said.
Oral electrolytes should be given because the kitten has been having diarrhoea for several days. It is not severely dehydrated. Does the university professor teaches that electrolytes should be given when there is severe dehydration? I don't know. Each vet will treat a case differently but in the end a good clinical outcome is what counts.
This kitten has loose stools but no watery stools. No deworming had been done nor had the faecal sample been checked for worms. Sometimes it may be a case of endo parasites since this is a stray kitten. Time will tell.
853. Day 2 of travel. The Balinese and Pushpapuri Villa
Jan 30, 2012 Sanur, Bali, Pushpapuri Villa
Some info about the pictures I took from the Pusphapuri Villa and the Balinese culture
The Balinese are Hindus although Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country.
Most of them live in a village (desa) which has 3 main temples (pura). These are the origin temple (pura puseh), the village temple (pura desa or pura bale agung) and the death temple (pura dalem). All villagers worship at these temples.
I had a unique chance to talk to the Manager of the Pushpapuri Villa on arrival on the morning of Jan 29, 2012. He told me that the temple on the left was the death temple. I could visit it but must wear a sarong (skirt-like). I could borrow one from the staff. In the death temple, no ashes are put there. All bones are crushed and ashes in a piece of cloth are scattered into the sea. Those Balinese who can't afford the costly cremations will bury first. Later, the government will offer money for a mass cremation and each family is responsible for the preparation.
Each village has a hamlet (banjar) which is the community. In each hamlet, there is the elected leader and another government appointed leader. There are cooperative groups of neighbours to help each other. The worst punishment is to be exiled from the village. So all Balinese have roots and are never isolated.
He said Mount Agung has not erupted since 1963. I wanted to visit it or trek but it is drizzling this morning Jan 30, 2012.
BEACH CLEANING
"The old man comes early to pick up the plastic bottles for recycling," the young Manager who is in sole charge of only Pushpapuri Villa and no others said to me. "Later there are women who come to clean the beach in front of the villas. In the afternoon, I saw two cleaners.
SECURITY GUARDS
At 3 am I woke up to listen to the sea waves. There were two men in their 30s patrolling the garden and checking the beach for intruders. One of them appeared to carry a short knife. I was impressed with the security of the management. It was drizzling but no thunderstorm. The waves roared. No brilliant blue sunrise and flashes of lightning as yesterday (some pictures to show what I mean). I guess I was lucky to have such good pictures. It is a pity that the website of this Villa has not much images of the beautiful surroundings and its activities. Yet February is fully booked.
BUILDING QUALITY
Other villas had collapsed due to poor construction but this villa is solidly built and was built in 2007. It is well maintained as I can see from the cleanliness and the structure. The only disadvantage is that the master bedroom has no power point on the dressing table for me to write and use my computer at 3 am. There are no writing tables in the master bedroom at all.
There is a library but somebody may be sleeping on the couch if there are more than 8 people. Sometimes, the architects may plan for what they think the user should do. So, no writing table in the master bedroom.
The same applies to some vets and groomers. They think what the client would want but is actually mistaken. For example, some groomers clipped the coat but leave the head and a bit of the tail end with hairs in a skin-diseased dog. This is not what the owners want. For vets, they may want blood tests and all tests to be done but this may not be what the owners can afford or want.
As I write, it is drizzling. The old man had come to collect the bottles and gone. Another man in the distance, near the death temple appeared to collect bottles. Plastic bottles can be sold for recycling. But this beach yields a few when the tide comes in. Still, I am inspired by this old man who still comes when it is drizzling. Now he has a competitor but that man came later. The waves are now stronger. Grey blue sky. No beautiful sunrise. The young men have not come back from their party which is an hour's drive away. It is already 7.20 am. I wonder what has happened to them.
Some info about the pictures I took from the Pusphapuri Villa and the Balinese culture
The Balinese are Hindus although Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country.
Most of them live in a village (desa) which has 3 main temples (pura). These are the origin temple (pura puseh), the village temple (pura desa or pura bale agung) and the death temple (pura dalem). All villagers worship at these temples.
I had a unique chance to talk to the Manager of the Pushpapuri Villa on arrival on the morning of Jan 29, 2012. He told me that the temple on the left was the death temple. I could visit it but must wear a sarong (skirt-like). I could borrow one from the staff. In the death temple, no ashes are put there. All bones are crushed and ashes in a piece of cloth are scattered into the sea. Those Balinese who can't afford the costly cremations will bury first. Later, the government will offer money for a mass cremation and each family is responsible for the preparation.
Each village has a hamlet (banjar) which is the community. In each hamlet, there is the elected leader and another government appointed leader. There are cooperative groups of neighbours to help each other. The worst punishment is to be exiled from the village. So all Balinese have roots and are never isolated.
He said Mount Agung has not erupted since 1963. I wanted to visit it or trek but it is drizzling this morning Jan 30, 2012.
BEACH CLEANING
"The old man comes early to pick up the plastic bottles for recycling," the young Manager who is in sole charge of only Pushpapuri Villa and no others said to me. "Later there are women who come to clean the beach in front of the villas. In the afternoon, I saw two cleaners.
SECURITY GUARDS
At 3 am I woke up to listen to the sea waves. There were two men in their 30s patrolling the garden and checking the beach for intruders. One of them appeared to carry a short knife. I was impressed with the security of the management. It was drizzling but no thunderstorm. The waves roared. No brilliant blue sunrise and flashes of lightning as yesterday (some pictures to show what I mean). I guess I was lucky to have such good pictures. It is a pity that the website of this Villa has not much images of the beautiful surroundings and its activities. Yet February is fully booked.
BUILDING QUALITY
Other villas had collapsed due to poor construction but this villa is solidly built and was built in 2007. It is well maintained as I can see from the cleanliness and the structure. The only disadvantage is that the master bedroom has no power point on the dressing table for me to write and use my computer at 3 am. There are no writing tables in the master bedroom at all.
There is a library but somebody may be sleeping on the couch if there are more than 8 people. Sometimes, the architects may plan for what they think the user should do. So, no writing table in the master bedroom.
The same applies to some vets and groomers. They think what the client would want but is actually mistaken. For example, some groomers clipped the coat but leave the head and a bit of the tail end with hairs in a skin-diseased dog. This is not what the owners want. For vets, they may want blood tests and all tests to be done but this may not be what the owners can afford or want.
As I write, it is drizzling. The old man had come to collect the bottles and gone. Another man in the distance, near the death temple appeared to collect bottles. Plastic bottles can be sold for recycling. But this beach yields a few when the tide comes in. Still, I am inspired by this old man who still comes when it is drizzling. Now he has a competitor but that man came later. The waves are now stronger. Grey blue sky. No beautiful sunrise. The young men have not come back from their party which is an hour's drive away. It is already 7.20 am. I wonder what has happened to them.
852. Exile from a village in Bali
Jan 30, 2012
There is one village in Bali that has traditional houses in the whole village and popular with tourists. It does not permit any villager, no matter how rich he is, to build grand houses. Any villager who is found to be against the interest of the village will be judged by the elders and exiled. Exile is the worst punishment for the offender, said the hotel manager of the Pushpapuri Villa. The rich man can build his grand house elsewhere and will still be permitted to attend to the customs and visit his family.
The local head and the government representative work together in the village. There may be over 100 villages in Bali. Singapore has its RCC, CCC and the mayor.
There was a case of a surgeon who falsified his surgical consent form and I believe, all hospitals will ban him from operating in their theatres. Professionals need to obey the rules of the trade too or face exile. I heard of a story of a lawyer who applied to be reinstated as he was banned for conveyancing misdeed. He did not mention about some misdeed in his application for reinstatement. So, he was not given back the licence.
There are rules and regulations of a society that a young adult wants to rebel against. The consequences may be bad for them and they may need to think of the consequences.
There is one village in Bali that has traditional houses in the whole village and popular with tourists. It does not permit any villager, no matter how rich he is, to build grand houses. Any villager who is found to be against the interest of the village will be judged by the elders and exiled. Exile is the worst punishment for the offender, said the hotel manager of the Pushpapuri Villa. The rich man can build his grand house elsewhere and will still be permitted to attend to the customs and visit his family.
The local head and the government representative work together in the village. There may be over 100 villages in Bali. Singapore has its RCC, CCC and the mayor.
There was a case of a surgeon who falsified his surgical consent form and I believe, all hospitals will ban him from operating in their theatres. Professionals need to obey the rules of the trade too or face exile. I heard of a story of a lawyer who applied to be reinstated as he was banned for conveyancing misdeed. He did not mention about some misdeed in his application for reinstatement. So, he was not given back the licence.
There are rules and regulations of a society that a young adult wants to rebel against. The consequences may be bad for them and they may need to think of the consequences.
851. Badung Strait, Sanur, Bali
Jan 30, 2012 Monday.
3.02 am, Sanur, Bali, Pushpapuri Villa
I went out to view the sea as I had waken up at 2.30 am as my iPhone rang. I usually wake up around this time.
Two security guards were patrolling. Young men in their 30s were flashing their torchlights towards the sea. There is a retaining wall but it is easy to climb up. However, this village area appears to be peaceful and safe and more beachfront houses nearby are being constructed for sale.
Pitch black night. No stars. Relentless pounding white waves towards the beach remind me of the intense competition in the real world of Singapore. Lightning flashes in the distance. Mount Agung cannot be seen now, being so dark. Yesterday dawn, after a heavy thunderstorm the night before, I could see Mount Agung and took some beautiful pictures. Then during the dog, a fog started appearing on the mountain top and in the afternoon and evening, Mount Agung was invisible. It is an active volcano, the last eruption being in 1963. The whole area was blanketed with volcanic dust for a month, according to the young manager in charge of this place. He was not born yet but his father had told him.
I was invited by Daniel to stay with his friends at this luxurious 4-bedroom real beachfront villa which rents from US$850 per night.
Its website is at:
http://www.pushpapuri.com/ in Bali. Built in 2007 by an Englishman and managed by Bali Hotel Management. Solid construction and well designed in an elevated ground so that the guests can see the waves directly from the dining room which is further away from the pool and manicured carpet grass garden.
This is my first visit to Bali which I knew was a famous tourist place for young people in the past. Two Bali bombings in the past had discouraged me from visiting this world famous place but all countries would have terrorist bombings now and then. Singapore had one in the 1960s.
Service and facilities are very good in this class of luxurious villas based on my reading of other similar properties. Black sand from the volcanic ashes instead of white sand. Can do surfing here as I saw some young men doing it. Good for families. Peak season in Christmas and New Year and around June/July.
There are 13 staff including 2 cooks. A driver with 6-seater SUV is on call. The Villa is well located and gives an excellent view of the Badung Strait, the Hindu temple, a river and Mount Agung and some islands in the distance. Good views for photography and painting. The surrounding areas have plots of farmland. I saw rice and corn fields with crops growing. Durian seller on the roadside. Wood and statues are seen everywhere in this area. Motorcycles and cars seem to be in large numbers on the main road outside.
Yesterday, I did not go to the bars unlike the young people as I know the party will end past 4 am. Young adults seem to love this type of entertainment with loud music and alcoholic drinks. Probably some drugs.
I had my discos in the 1960s and now they are called bars and pubs and are not for the senior citizens. I also did not go out at night to the busy night market to do shopping for T-shirts and bargains.
For young people, my advice is that life is unpredictable and they must stay healthy as the pounding waves of changes in the real world to earn a living are relentless. If the young people cannot stay healthy (being sleepy at work due to late nights), they become ineffective employees and unless they have certain skills in great demand, they will be replaced and sacked. The commercial world demands performance as not every business, including veterinary practice will succeed in the long term if they have sleepy not interested veterinarians. The bad word of mouth will spread and soon the practice is not well patronised.
3.02 am, Sanur, Bali, Pushpapuri Villa
I went out to view the sea as I had waken up at 2.30 am as my iPhone rang. I usually wake up around this time.
Two security guards were patrolling. Young men in their 30s were flashing their torchlights towards the sea. There is a retaining wall but it is easy to climb up. However, this village area appears to be peaceful and safe and more beachfront houses nearby are being constructed for sale.
Pitch black night. No stars. Relentless pounding white waves towards the beach remind me of the intense competition in the real world of Singapore. Lightning flashes in the distance. Mount Agung cannot be seen now, being so dark. Yesterday dawn, after a heavy thunderstorm the night before, I could see Mount Agung and took some beautiful pictures. Then during the dog, a fog started appearing on the mountain top and in the afternoon and evening, Mount Agung was invisible. It is an active volcano, the last eruption being in 1963. The whole area was blanketed with volcanic dust for a month, according to the young manager in charge of this place. He was not born yet but his father had told him.
I was invited by Daniel to stay with his friends at this luxurious 4-bedroom real beachfront villa which rents from US$850 per night.
Its website is at:
http://www.pushpapuri.com/ in Bali. Built in 2007 by an Englishman and managed by Bali Hotel Management. Solid construction and well designed in an elevated ground so that the guests can see the waves directly from the dining room which is further away from the pool and manicured carpet grass garden.
This is my first visit to Bali which I knew was a famous tourist place for young people in the past. Two Bali bombings in the past had discouraged me from visiting this world famous place but all countries would have terrorist bombings now and then. Singapore had one in the 1960s.
Service and facilities are very good in this class of luxurious villas based on my reading of other similar properties. Black sand from the volcanic ashes instead of white sand. Can do surfing here as I saw some young men doing it. Good for families. Peak season in Christmas and New Year and around June/July.
There are 13 staff including 2 cooks. A driver with 6-seater SUV is on call. The Villa is well located and gives an excellent view of the Badung Strait, the Hindu temple, a river and Mount Agung and some islands in the distance. Good views for photography and painting. The surrounding areas have plots of farmland. I saw rice and corn fields with crops growing. Durian seller on the roadside. Wood and statues are seen everywhere in this area. Motorcycles and cars seem to be in large numbers on the main road outside.
Yesterday, I did not go to the bars unlike the young people as I know the party will end past 4 am. Young adults seem to love this type of entertainment with loud music and alcoholic drinks. Probably some drugs.
I had my discos in the 1960s and now they are called bars and pubs and are not for the senior citizens. I also did not go out at night to the busy night market to do shopping for T-shirts and bargains.
For young people, my advice is that life is unpredictable and they must stay healthy as the pounding waves of changes in the real world to earn a living are relentless. If the young people cannot stay healthy (being sleepy at work due to late nights), they become ineffective employees and unless they have certain skills in great demand, they will be replaced and sacked. The commercial world demands performance as not every business, including veterinary practice will succeed in the long term if they have sleepy not interested veterinarians. The bad word of mouth will spread and soon the practice is not well patronised.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
850. Minimising complaints and litigation against vets at Toa Payoh Vets
Bali, Indonesia, Jan 29, 2012. 12.23 pm
In Bali, I have time to reflect on the plans to make Toa Payoh Vets one of the top 5 vet practices in Singapore. New clients have come in from other parts of Singapore probably from the internet and some old clients of 10-30 years ago have returned to consult me. "The vets are very young," one mother of two young men said to me when she saw me after an absence of 10 years. Her sons had brought the 11-year-old Jack Russell with a big swelling below the right eye and they are now in University. Of course, I did not know that the mother had brought the Jack Russell to see me 10 years ago till she told me. I was phoning her sons to bring the dog home on Day 3 and she was in the Surgery visiting the dog. The dog was barking like nothing had happened to his loss of masseter muscle tissue eaten up by bacteria. Big hole if you see the images.
The mother identified herself as the owner of the Jack Russell and said to me that for convenience, she had gone to other vets. "You still look the same," she complimented me. I was surprised and happy to see her and the two boys who have grown so tall.
I guessed the other vets closed on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year and I was on duty. So that was how we met. I said to her, "All vets started young. They have to learn from being hands on over the years and gain the experience."
COMPLAINTS AND LITIGATION AGAINST VETS
In 2011, there was no complaint or litigation against the vets of Toa Payoh Vets. This is not a given.
1. One way to minimise complaints is for me to check all cases done by my younger vets. Sometimes I am inside the consultation room with Dr Vanessa Lyn, Dr Jason Teo or Dr Daniel Sing to assess their management of the cases. The new vets may feel uncomfortable as this may give an impression to the client that they are being supervised. They prefer to be alone with the client, thereby generating confidence. But this is not the way to increase the standard of care.
As an experienced older vet and the licensee, it is my duty to mentor the younger vets for the long-term good of Toa Payoh Vets. I have explained the rationale to them. "A complaint to the AVA or litigation takes up a lot of time and will involve me as a licensee', I said to them. "My licence can be revoked for failure to ensure an expected duty of care by my vets."
2. The internet complaints are the worst and I did come across one or two complaints of poor service by Toa Payoh Vets and also good comments. There were some clients who consulted me due to some good comments.
Recently I read in an internet forum about complaints against a brand name vet practice. Just one vocal writer but there were others agreeing with this writer. Another complimented about excellent services from another practice and got blasted for "advertising" for this practice. An ex-employee vet of the brand name practice put up a defence that the vets were good but that was some years ago and got blasted. There should be a law requiring internet complainants to reveal their real names as it is very easy to libel others under the cloak of anonymity. So far, I have not come across such venom as in the above-mentioned internet forum.
So, the associate vets or new vets must tolerate my presence and intervention and be humble. There are predatory vets in the regulatory field and amongst competitors and so, it is not as simple as in the university attending lectures and passing examinations.
In the real world of private practice, there are many aspects involving the bottom-line and younger vets must be able to accept and comply with instructions from me. Recently, one associate wore slippers to work. The excuse was that she forgot to change to shoes. A few days later, she wore slippers again. Her excuse was that the dog had peed on her shoes and therefore she had to wear slippers. I had told her that one Saturday when I dropped in (I don't work on Saturdays) and saw my vet assistant Mr Saw and old man James all wearing slippers. I have dropped hints that slippers are not permitted.
Young vets are role models for the staff as they are in the top of the ladder. If they dress casually, come to work late and go off without warning or do not bother with the management in my absence, the staff will do what they like. First impressions do count a lot to clients. If the vet and the staff cannot be bothered with their office wear, what about their standard of care? It is likely to be casual too.
I have decided that associate vets who don't accept instructions again and again will be, to put it frankly, sacked on the spot. The vet may be most popular but he or she can open their own practice and do what they like. Such behaviours cannot be tolerated as it affects the morale of the lay staff and the reputation of the practice in the long term.
In Bali, I have time to reflect on the plans to make Toa Payoh Vets one of the top 5 vet practices in Singapore. New clients have come in from other parts of Singapore probably from the internet and some old clients of 10-30 years ago have returned to consult me. "The vets are very young," one mother of two young men said to me when she saw me after an absence of 10 years. Her sons had brought the 11-year-old Jack Russell with a big swelling below the right eye and they are now in University. Of course, I did not know that the mother had brought the Jack Russell to see me 10 years ago till she told me. I was phoning her sons to bring the dog home on Day 3 and she was in the Surgery visiting the dog. The dog was barking like nothing had happened to his loss of masseter muscle tissue eaten up by bacteria. Big hole if you see the images.
The mother identified herself as the owner of the Jack Russell and said to me that for convenience, she had gone to other vets. "You still look the same," she complimented me. I was surprised and happy to see her and the two boys who have grown so tall.
I guessed the other vets closed on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year and I was on duty. So that was how we met. I said to her, "All vets started young. They have to learn from being hands on over the years and gain the experience."
COMPLAINTS AND LITIGATION AGAINST VETS
In 2011, there was no complaint or litigation against the vets of Toa Payoh Vets. This is not a given.
1. One way to minimise complaints is for me to check all cases done by my younger vets. Sometimes I am inside the consultation room with Dr Vanessa Lyn, Dr Jason Teo or Dr Daniel Sing to assess their management of the cases. The new vets may feel uncomfortable as this may give an impression to the client that they are being supervised. They prefer to be alone with the client, thereby generating confidence. But this is not the way to increase the standard of care.
As an experienced older vet and the licensee, it is my duty to mentor the younger vets for the long-term good of Toa Payoh Vets. I have explained the rationale to them. "A complaint to the AVA or litigation takes up a lot of time and will involve me as a licensee', I said to them. "My licence can be revoked for failure to ensure an expected duty of care by my vets."
2. The internet complaints are the worst and I did come across one or two complaints of poor service by Toa Payoh Vets and also good comments. There were some clients who consulted me due to some good comments.
Recently I read in an internet forum about complaints against a brand name vet practice. Just one vocal writer but there were others agreeing with this writer. Another complimented about excellent services from another practice and got blasted for "advertising" for this practice. An ex-employee vet of the brand name practice put up a defence that the vets were good but that was some years ago and got blasted. There should be a law requiring internet complainants to reveal their real names as it is very easy to libel others under the cloak of anonymity. So far, I have not come across such venom as in the above-mentioned internet forum.
So, the associate vets or new vets must tolerate my presence and intervention and be humble. There are predatory vets in the regulatory field and amongst competitors and so, it is not as simple as in the university attending lectures and passing examinations.
In the real world of private practice, there are many aspects involving the bottom-line and younger vets must be able to accept and comply with instructions from me. Recently, one associate wore slippers to work. The excuse was that she forgot to change to shoes. A few days later, she wore slippers again. Her excuse was that the dog had peed on her shoes and therefore she had to wear slippers. I had told her that one Saturday when I dropped in (I don't work on Saturdays) and saw my vet assistant Mr Saw and old man James all wearing slippers. I have dropped hints that slippers are not permitted.
Young vets are role models for the staff as they are in the top of the ladder. If they dress casually, come to work late and go off without warning or do not bother with the management in my absence, the staff will do what they like. First impressions do count a lot to clients. If the vet and the staff cannot be bothered with their office wear, what about their standard of care? It is likely to be casual too.
I have decided that associate vets who don't accept instructions again and again will be, to put it frankly, sacked on the spot. The vet may be most popular but he or she can open their own practice and do what they like. Such behaviours cannot be tolerated as it affects the morale of the lay staff and the reputation of the practice in the long term.
849. Owner's e-mail query about spaying a young Chihuahua
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 10:59 AM, <...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi,
I would like to inquire what is the cost for the above?
She 7 months old and just began her season today, 29/01.
When is a good time to have the procedure?
Will she require hospitalization?
What are the possible side-effects?
Regards,
Name given
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING DATED JAN 29, 2012
Thank you for your email. I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets. The cost of the spay is around $250 depending on whether there are complications. Best time to spay her is 2 months after the end of her season ie. around April 1, 2012. She does not need hospitalisation normally. Bring the dog in at 10 am and bring her back, usually in the evening. Appointments are best.
Possible side effects of surgery are anaesthetic deaths, infection, bleeding and pain. A blood test is advised to screen the dog's health and if there are no disorders of the kidney and liver, the risks are very low. As for bleeding and pain, there are prevention of further bleeding by careful haemorrhage control and check up. There is medication to relieve pain and prevent infections post-op.
In my experience of spays over the past 30 years of small animal practice, 99% of spayed cases of young healthy dogs do NOT die from anaesthetic risk as anaesthesia is safe nowadays. They do not get bleeding to death, infections or stitch breakdown. The majority of my dog spays are done during 2-3 months after the season.
Pl make an appointment at 6254-3326 for surgery. Best wishes.
Hi,
I would like to inquire what is the cost for the above?
She 7 months old and just began her season today, 29/01.
When is a good time to have the procedure?
Will she require hospitalization?
What are the possible side-effects?
Regards,
Name given
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING DATED JAN 29, 2012
Thank you for your email. I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets. The cost of the spay is around $250 depending on whether there are complications. Best time to spay her is 2 months after the end of her season ie. around April 1, 2012. She does not need hospitalisation normally. Bring the dog in at 10 am and bring her back, usually in the evening. Appointments are best.
Possible side effects of surgery are anaesthetic deaths, infection, bleeding and pain. A blood test is advised to screen the dog's health and if there are no disorders of the kidney and liver, the risks are very low. As for bleeding and pain, there are prevention of further bleeding by careful haemorrhage control and check up. There is medication to relieve pain and prevent infections post-op.
In my experience of spays over the past 30 years of small animal practice, 99% of spayed cases of young healthy dogs do NOT die from anaesthetic risk as anaesthesia is safe nowadays. They do not get bleeding to death, infections or stitch breakdown. The majority of my dog spays are done during 2-3 months after the season.
Pl make an appointment at 6254-3326 for surgery. Best wishes.
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