Random questions?

[thnythe]

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Hi folks,

I'm looking at potential interview questions, and there are a few I've come across that I think I know the answers to; but it would be great to get some other perspective:

-What kind of cost difference is there between large and small animal treatment?
-What is the most unethical thing you've seen at a vet clinic?
-How do vets get paid? If they run their own clinic? If they work at a clinic?
-What are some of the realities of running a clinic? If you don't have a background in business?

I'm a bit apprehensive about the 'unethical' one because personally, I haven't witnessed anything I thought to be unethical.

Thanks!

 

[twelvetigers]

I would prickle at the 'unethical' question at my local (IS) school because the clinics I've been to are in town, and everyone knows everyone. I think I'd just tell them that there was nothing that the vet did that I considered unethical (which is true, but I'd probably say that even if it weren't). Now, perhaps you could mention an animal that came in so ill you thought that what the OWNER had done (waited for treatment, etc) was unethical, but that may not be what they're asking for.

The other questions on this list are great to ask the vet(s) you work or volunteer for.

 

[sumstorm]

The unethical one could also rely on degrees. As in, is it ethical to euthanize a dog on the first visit to the clinic when it is obviously not doing well, but isn't a recent/critical injury? The ethical challenge is that it is difficult to be sure the animal belongs to the person asking for the euth, even though the vet may feel euth is the best call for the animal. Also, we ran into this one: providing treatment for an animal that was found as a stray without first checking for a tatoo or microchip. These aren't things that are hard core 'you should never' but are areas of gray that can be problematic. DVM360 had a big article about microchip ethics a couple months ago.

As for the others:

SA vs LA cost has a lot of factors involved, so I wouldn't know how to answer that one.

Vets can be paid as many ways as any person could be paid: they can be hourly, salaried, project contract, percent production, and receive bonuses. A pretty common way is flat salary + % of production. If you own the clinic, you can divide pay into a lower salary with a disbursement.

I actually think one should take business classes if they plan to run a clinic. The next best thing is to invest in good advisors and a great office manager (who might be another vet or a tech as well.) Realities are employment law, local business requirements, liability and other insurances. Appropraite paperwork. Potential lawsuits. Economic downturns. HR. Lots of other things.

 

[No Imagination]

-What is the most unethical thing you've seen at a vet clinic?

As the others have said, the ethical questions can be the most difficult if not handled correctly.

Instead of thinking of something unethical that a Dr. or Tech did at a clinic, twist it into something unethical a client did (no names identifiable specifics of course), but you can come up with a great story that shows your observant and knowledgeable about ethics and the field.