"Dale Atkin" wrote in message
news:Lsjgl.7879$PH1.2763@edtnps82...

"chardonnay9" wrote in message
m...
Dale Atkin wrote:



Hmmm, I've just been reading up on FIA. Seems that one 'test' for FIA
is
to look at a blood smear under a microscope (I'm assuming she didn't
run
a PCR test). So the fact that the records indicate that the cat was
negative for FIA may simply mean that that was something that was on
her
mind as a rule out, but she could see no evidence for it under the
microscope.

To have it in my possession in case of an emergency that necessitates
an
emergency trip to a 24 hour clinic

That is a good point that I hadn't considered, and in cases where we
feel
that its possible that an animal will have to go to an emergency clinic
for a particular condition, we do make sure that any bloodwork/records
are either sent with the client, or faxed over.

If someone is going to an emergency clinic it's usually because their
regular vet isn't open and there is no time to wait till it does.
Because
of that it's not possible to fax anything or have it given to a client.


There are times when its predictable. Client comes in on Friday afternoon.
We treat the animal, and they go home. We include instruction about what
to
watch for in terms of signs that things might go downhill, and a clinic to
contact if they do, at which point we make sure that the clinic we refer
to
has the requisite records.

And if they decide to go to another clinic? I don't know too many practices
that send records on ahead without a request first.


X-rays
are a little different, as my understanding is that the law in this
jurisdiction requires the clinic to maintain the x-ray, so while we can
'lend' and x-ray to a client, other vet etc, we aren't legally allowed
to
give them the x-ray (we're not on a digital system)

We pet owners pay for the x-rays. How can you lend something that
belongs
to us in the first place?

As I explained, that isn't how the law looks at it around here (at least
to
my knowledge).

Legally the clinic has a responsibility to maintain complete records for x
number of years following a visit. If the clinic gives you the x-ray,
their
records aren't complete. One way to look at it, is that you aren't paying
for the x-ray. You're paying for taking the x-ray, and having it
interpreted.

When I worked in the x-ray department at a local hospital (some years ago)
we routinely made copies of x-rays for patients that requested them while
retaining the original. Isn't this a possibility at veterinary clinics?

Kathy