Once was more than enough
Reviewed Service
Pros: Courteous
Cons: No overnight care for hospitalized animals; poor discharge practices; cramped waiting area; ill-trained technician
Reviewed: 7 months ago -- Friday, December 7, 2007
Review Details
My daughter's male cat needed urgent care for what appeared to be a urinary tract infection which had progressed to obstruction. Needing a veterinarian fairly near where she lives, she chose Summer Street Cat Clinic (city location) as it had a decent reputation. The cat was examined and hospitalized. Medication did not address the problem, so catheterization was required.
Problem 1: During the night the cat pulled the catheter out. Given that bladder obstruction is a life-threatening condition for a cat, this could have resulted in the cat's death. The fact that there is no overnight staff to monitor hospitalized animals is obviously a serious flaw in this practice.
Problem 2: Upon going to pick the cat up after two days of hospitalization, with what is generally a chronic and potentially serious condition, the cat was DELIVERED TO THE WAITING ROOM by a technician. Despite the fact that a veterinarian was obviously present in the examing area hallway, all information and instructions were handled solely by the technician and receptionist.
Problem 3: The technician was either brand new or ill-trained, as she was unable to answer several basic questions and the information she did give in one instance was wrong. (It wouldn't matter how well-trained the technician was if the veterinarian handled post-hospitalization discharge in the first place.)
Problem 4: Despite prescribing and discussing a special prescription diet, discharge was completed without filling the food prescription and we had to remind the technician that it needed to be dispensed.
In nearly thirty years with numerous pets I have never had, nor heard of, a hospital discharge taking place anywhere other than an examing room or with anyone other than a veterinarian in charge. Given that fact, along with no overnight inpatient monitoring, I would not recommend Summer Street Cat Clinic for anything other than routine well check-ups and vaccinations.
Problem 1: During the night the cat pulled the catheter out. Given that bladder obstruction is a life-threatening condition for a cat, this could have resulted in the cat's death. The fact that there is no overnight staff to monitor hospitalized animals is obviously a serious flaw in this practice.
Problem 2: Upon going to pick the cat up after two days of hospitalization, with what is generally a chronic and potentially serious condition, the cat was DELIVERED TO THE WAITING ROOM by a technician. Despite the fact that a veterinarian was obviously present in the examing area hallway, all information and instructions were handled solely by the technician and receptionist.
Problem 3: The technician was either brand new or ill-trained, as she was unable to answer several basic questions and the information she did give in one instance was wrong. (It wouldn't matter how well-trained the technician was if the veterinarian handled post-hospitalization discharge in the first place.)
Problem 4: Despite prescribing and discussing a special prescription diet, discharge was completed without filling the food prescription and we had to remind the technician that it needed to be dispensed.
In nearly thirty years with numerous pets I have never had, nor heard of, a hospital discharge taking place anywhere other than an examing room or with anyone other than a veterinarian in charge. Given that fact, along with no overnight inpatient monitoring, I would not recommend Summer Street Cat Clinic for anything other than routine well check-ups and vaccinations.
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