A (somewhat) new website for rating vets

Is there a link to the site or ???

our vet is dr. harry cunningham and he is listed as such. however, his clinic is frazier animal hospital. none of the dr's listed in our area had their clinic name listed. if someone saw a favorable rating for a certain dr, but the clinic name isnt listed, they may have a hard time finding the vet. [sm=2cents.gif]

ORIGINAL: cubbyrescue

Is there a link to the site or ???

It's the "find and rate veterinarians" [color=#000000]is the link.

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Thanks, cyclefiend!  On my list of "things to things to do" is a supplemental information area, where things such as clinic name could be added.

At the [linkhttp://www.servicegrades.com/rating/vet/42025]detailed review for Dr Cunningham,[/link] did you notice that I have a link to a google map for his clinic?  If not, perhaps I should make it bigger...

Thanks for submitting your review of Dr. Cunningham!  Did you feel that the questions would be helpful if you were looking for a vet?

Thanks,

Dan



 

I rated my vet.  I think once more people rate vets on this site it will be very helpful.  I did find that some questions did not seem correct in rating a vet.  Like for example "Question 9: What type of insurance do you use with this doctor?"  I know very few if any people who do have pet insurance and thoes who do dont use a HMO for their pets, I think maybe that question was ment for a human docter?  Also it would be the insurance company they are rating over the actual vet giving the vet an inproper rating.  Also there was a lot of concern put into rating the assistance instead of the vet.  Althought thats important I think the questions should be more directed towads the vet over his hiered help.  Just my [sm=2cents.gif] but I really do like it and if I ever swiched vets I would defently look at the stats there and see what others have to say.

I just put in a rating for my vet (whom I love). However, I agree with cyclefiend that the way the vets are listed by individual doctor doesn't really line up with the practical reality of most vet clinics.... Only one doctor at our clinic showed up in the results for our town but really my positive experiences are with the whole staff, not just the one man. And we don't always see the same doc when we make an appt there.

I agree with the others about having the facility name in there somewhere.  I think it would be even better for the facility to show up in the search and then have each doctor listed under the facility.
 
 

ORIGINAL: stewrat

Thanks, cyclefiend!  On my list of "things to things to do" is a supplemental information area, where things such as clinic name could be added.

At the [linkhttp://www.servicegrades.com/rating/vet/42025]detailed review for Dr Cunningham,[/link] did you notice that I have a link to a google map for his clinic?  If not, perhaps I should make it bigger...

Thanks for submitting your review of Dr. Cunningham!  Did you feel that the questions would be helpful if you were looking for a vet?

Thanks,

Dan

i did see the link for the map, but unless you knew the name of the clinic it would still be hard to find. their sign says the name of the clinic in big letters and the name of the vet in much smaller letters.

i think the questions were right on, and if i moved to a new area i would definitely give it a look before deciding on a new vet.

What a great idea!! I left a rave review for my vet because he's awesome and I'm sooooo picky. He deserves recognition, plus other people deserve to know about him for their animals. []

It looks like I will have to get moving on adding in clinic names!

@Xebby - You are right that the insurance question is not as appropriate for vets -- I will pull it.  Regarding your input about questions directed at the vet - what additional questions would you like to see?  So far I have:

    How skilled is this doctor?
    Does this doctor resolve your medical issues to your satisfaction?
    Would you recommend this provider to a friend or relative?

Thanks to all for your input and your ratings


Dan

 

I agree with everyone else about adding the clinic names. That would be a big help. But overall, this is a great site! I would definitely utilize this site in a vet search. I'm currently looking for a new vet for Ash so this would be very helpful. []

what additional questions would you like to see?

Question 4: Does this doctor resolve your medical issues to your satisfaction?
I find this somewhat vage.  If you go to a vet for just vaccinations once a year then it's completly differnt then if you take your dog in for surgery.  I would be fine if the vet give my dog a shot and tell me how cute she is but if I don't trust him with surgery then I might be willing to look for a different vet.
 
I would seperat the quetion into two sections
 
How well does the vet respond to your general questions concerning your dogs health?
&
How well does the vet respond to emergencies?
 
Other than just the basic wellness exams I want a vet who is there almost anytime my dog is hurt or can refer me to someone who can help.
 
Anouther question I would add would be something like
 
How well does the vet respond to your calls?
 
Don't know how exaclty to word that, but often I have to call the vet to ask a question and I can't stand if they are hard to reach.
 
Thoes are just a few questions I ask myself when looking for a vet, I don't know how everyone else screens vets but for me thoes are the issues that are important.

Okay, Xebby...You have got me thinking now...

Your post brings up good points - for example I have no question that deals with communication, or how easily a vet can be reached on the phone.  It got me wondering what else I was forgetting.

So, I took a step back and created  a list of "skills" or "features" that characterize a good vet.  If you are so inclined, take a look and let me know if you think I am accurate.  Then, I will make sure that my questions cover all of the areas. 

Note that it is not my intent to ask every question that any person might have, but to cover the most important areas, and provide a textbox where people can clarify their answers or add some other input that wasn't covered by the survey at all.

Thanks,

Dan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veterinary Skill Areas

Core Skills
----------
Animal Types
Preventative medical skills
Emergency medical skills
Non-emergency medical skills
Surgical skills / other specialties

Communication
-------------
Availability
Ease of communication / bedside manner
Completeness and accuracy of communication

Etcetera
-----
Appointment management
Recommendability to friends and relatives

Staff
-----
Other specialists readily available in the facility
Billing
Medical Assistants

Facilities
----------
Parking
Cleanliness
Equipment
Location

Cost
----
Cost
Insurance

I hate to be the spokes person for every animal owner and I'm shure others have different openion then mine on what makes up a good vet.  I built my standerds on what to exspect from a vet based on my experiance working as a vet assistant, I've worked with what I thought were good vets and I've meet a few...well..not so good vets. 
 
For animal types I think thats very important, don't want to take a reptile to a vet who speclizes in livestock then leave feeling like the vet didn't know aything where infact the vet is very skilled, just not with reptiles.  I thinks it's important to know what type of animals the vet deals with.  So I think that is an excelent starting question.
 
The way you have the topics listed are in an order that is important to me.  Although someone may consider cost a deciding factor over other things.  I would say at least one question from eacy catorgory will cover each very well with Core Skills broken into at least two or three questions.
 
Other questions I ask, but may not be important to many, are:  Does this vet contunue to reasearch new methouds in his practice or use old methouds no longer practiced as widely.  Is he up to date on current information.  Is the equipent in good shap, do they give accurate readings.  Does he do the bloodwork in the clinic or send it off to a lab.  Will he be willing to contact other vets if he has a question on what he is doing.  Ok, so I'm extreemly picky about my vet but thats how I feel when it comes to my dogs health.  Although the staff should be friendly it's the vets decsion over theirs. 
 
I really hope more people on this forum jump in on this and let you know how they feel.