Blood test results

[be positive]

Has anyone struggled to get copies of blood test results or similar from their vets, I know they own the property rights of xrays and scans so I am guessing that blood tests come into the same bracket although they were not mentioned specifically in the info I found, they will not routinely send out copies we are paying for their interpretation and advice but I have never had an issue getting copies when requested even if it sometimes takes a while.

I have a livery who has now had several blood tests, swabs, biopsies done and so far there has been only a vague diagnosis and results of blood/ swabs have been "nothing of significance" we have asked numerous times to see the profiles and they agreed to send everything yet when at long last the notes came all we got was what we already had, it is frustrating as she wants to be able to see the results even if they are of no real use, just wondered what everyone else's vets do before we get onto to it.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Mine are vague like this but I've never chased them up significantly about it. I will be doing in the future as I want to be able to interpret the results myself which I will never do if I only get them reading bits out over the phone to me.

 

[be positive]

Mine are vague like this but I've never chased them up significantly about it. I will be doing in the future as I want to be able to interpret the results myself which I will never do if I only get them reading bits out over the phone to me.

This vet is being beyond vague, the most recent was a trach wash that showed "no bacteria of concern" so we thought it was end of that route until questioned further when he said there was inflammation, no mention of inflammation originally or in the clinical notes we have now got, it is getting frustrating as this is not the first time he has had to be pushed for what we consider relevant information, a move is in the pipeline but we do not want to start from the beginning with tests.

Just to add why if he was not prepared to send the full tests did he not say so when asked directly whether he would? not that anyone here knows the answer to that but he did not say they belonged to him when given the opportunity to do so.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Aren't they legally (or at least professionally) bound to send it to a new vet if you did move?

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Both my small animal vets and large vets will give me copies of any results including xrays.


I have got email copies of every single xray my horses have ever had with my vets.

 

[be positive]

Aren't they legally (or at least professionally) bound to send it to a new vet if you did move?

Just spoken to my vets for clarification and they would send anything if asked and would hope but not guarantee to get everything sent if she changes vets, my client uses a different vet to me, they suggested a seriously worded email asking for them now.

 

[Equi]

My vet said if I want anything just ask and it will be emailed. I just took some iPhone photos of the X-rays - well the vet did for me.

 

[twiggy2]

Sometimes the over site with sending test results can lay with office staff, test results are usually kept in separate windows/files on the computer, sending a full history is just sending the animal's file, to include test results can involve going into lots of other files and coordinating them in order to send them forward.
It can just be an oversite or misunderstanding, I would phone and ask to speak to someone in charge of admin and explain the problems you are having and what you want. Well the owner needs to call not you due to client confidentiality but you should get a good result.

 

[ihatework]

I'd be on the phone with strong words, sitting behind my PC whilst making sure receptionist emailed over immediately. If it's not too late to withhold payment then I'd be doing that too.
I would never use a vet that withheld scans/X-rays/tests results even if legally they could if they so wished.

 

[PorkChop]

Me! It feels like getting blood from a stone sometimes.

The only thing that seems to work is making yourself annoying and keep chasing for them.

 

[be positive]

I'd be on the phone with strong words, sitting behind my PC whilst making sure receptionist emailed over immediately. If it's not too late to withhold payment then I'd be doing that too.
I would never use a vet that withheld scans/X-rays/tests results even if legally they could if they so wished.

Too late to withhold payment, they manage to send her a text within 24 hours asking for that!! I would also be on the phone if it were my horse but not mine so I am having to be a bit careful as I have no rights, email has been sent by my client and mine will follow if they do not appear by mid afternoon today.

 

[Wagtail]

This vet is being beyond vague, the most recent was a trach wash that showed "no bacteria of concern" so we thought it was end of that route until questioned further when he said there was inflammation, no mention of inflammation originally or in the clinical notes we have now got, it is getting frustrating as this is not the first time he has had to be pushed for what we consider relevant information, a move is in the pipeline but we do not want to start from the beginning with tests.

Just to add why if he was not prepared to send the full tests did he not say so when asked directly whether he would? not that anyone here knows the answer to that but he did not say they belonged to him when given the opportunity to do so.

I would be getting suspicious at this point that the vet was not sending the samples to the lab but making his own guesses and pocketing the money from the client. This may sound a bit paranoid, but if my vet was acting this way I would start to think that. Luckily, he wouldn't dream of being like that. I get free copies of any x-rays and scans immediately emailed to me on request and exact values for blood tests given. I could call in and get a print out too if I wanted. If I were your livery, I would be looking to change vets prompto.

 

[JillA]

They own the property rights to x rays and scans? Really? When you have paid for them? What do the RCVS say about clients being fully informed with full results of tests I wonder? Would be worth asking them

 

[be positive]

They own the property rights to x rays and scans? Really? When you have paid for them? What do the RCVS say about clients being fully informed with full results of tests I wonder? Would be worth asking them

They do, we pay for the interpretation of those scans/ xrays but I have always been able to get copies sent without any trouble.

The most resent results have now been sent, not that they make much sense to me, there are several low and 1 fairly high results, if anyone with more clue than me would be happy to take a look by email please pm me as the vet has just said everything is normal which it does not appear to be, still waiting on last years for comparison.

 

[GirlFriday]

Even if they don't want to email the stuff they should be able to go through all the files when sat down with you at their screen. (And it is harder for them to avoid showing if you are actually there) If they can't access them they may as well not have been done.

I am now quite clear with doctors/vets/mechanics/whatever etc that I expect transparency. If I'm interested in the technical details of what any of the professionals I engage with are doing I expect to be able to see evidence and have it explained in lay terms. If they can't achieve this they don't have the skill set I require of a professional and so I move. These days I don't expect to be treated like an idiot.

 

[Lucy1986]

I really struggled to get my mare's blood results. Multiple phone calls, emails etc and nothing.... Eventually persisted and turns out the vet had 'forgotten' to send them to the lab and the tubes were still in his car! Was furious as the results (that were eventually got) were awful.... If they'd known how bad they were they would have admitted her apparently... Since then have changed vets, but emailed new ones after every set of bloods and asked the, to send me a copy and they have. Think it depends on the vet....

 

[BBP]

From the Code of Professional Conduct for veterinary Surgeons (having done a little looking into this for you):
13.5 Where a client has been specifically charged and has paid for radiographic images or other reports, they are legally entitled to them. A practice may choose to make it clear to clients that they are not charged for radiographs or laboratory reports, but for diagnosis or advice only.

13.6 The Data Protection Act 1998 gives anyone the right to be informed about any personal data relating to themselves on payment of an administration charge. At the request of a client, veterinary surgeons must provide copies of any relevant clinical and client records, including radiographic images and similar documents. This also includes relevant records which have come from other practices, if they relate to the same animal and the same client, but does not include records which relate to the same animal but a different client.

I would be pressing the vets for their full terms with regard to clinical data, and then informing them that I would be making a request under the Data Protection Act if they didn't pass the requested information across. (Whether i would pay the fee for this would depend upon the conditions stated in the practice's written policy on ownership of clinical data).

 

[Pinkvboots]

I never got copies of X rays from a vet I was no longer registered with I phoned, emailed and even went down there only to be told they had been archived and at a different location, same vet said he had sent my horses X rays to a specialist at rvc I waiting 6 weeks before getting any response to be told they wanted to inject steroid into the area, I asked and asked for the report from the specialist and never got it so I did some investigating myself they were never sent to anyone at the rvc. hence why I never used this vet again and this is the same vet who used up all my insurance money on investigations without ever giving me a proper diagnosis, which is why I was requesting the X rays so I could show them to a different vet for a second opinion, and I ended up having the X rays done again which I paid for.

 

[Goldenstar]

I get copies all my horses blood work by email and X-rays as well .
I am paying for them ,the information is mine .
If did not get speedi disclosure of everything I wish to see I would be moving at once Vets work for you ,the client, you and they need to be clear on that .

I hard tales from people of vets being beyond sloppy with their clients it does not happen to me because firstly my vets are very very good and secondly if they were not I would be on it in a heartbeat .