Not P.
BluePearl pet care
My husband and I were traveling in our motor coach when Diana, my 9-year-old female Bombay cat became sick. Fortunately, we were near a pet hospital on Purdue university property in Indiana where Diana was stabilized enabling us to return her to her primary care veterinarian. Diana’s primary care veterinarian reviewed the hospital reports, completed an examination and additional tests, then determined an ultrasound was needed for further diagnosis. Since the primary care office does not have ultrasound capability, Diana was referred to BluePearl for the ultrasound and specialist perspective. Once the ultrasound and examination by the specialist were complete, we asked for a care conference comprised of the specialist, the primary care veterinarian, and us. BluePearl refused. BluePearl would send the test results to the primary care; however, there would not be a team effort. Our choice was to be a BluePearl customer or not. We met with the BluePearl veterinarian and asked questions until we understood all he said regarding the surgery he recommended. Surgery would be exploratory to investigate an inflamed and possibly infected bile duct to determine if the cause was cancer and what corrective procedures may be appropriate. We asked about an investigative procedure the primary care veterinarian had considered, a needle biopsy. We suggested guiding by ultrasound. The BluePearl veterinarian dismissed the approach. Concurrently, he emphasized the surgery he wanted us to authorize was not to resolve a known condition. He made sure we understood the surgery had a less then twenty-five percent probability to save Diana’s life. He also made sure we understood, either authorize surgery for ten thousand dollars followed by a possible minimal five thousand aftercare, or take our cat from BluePearl. After our prolonged “near begging”, the BluePearl veterinarian agreed to 24 to 48 hours of IV medication requiring hospitalization. Diana’s primary care veterinarian suggested an additional 24 hours of in hospital monitoring after removal from IV medication because it is good medical care practice; care the primary care office could not provide because it is a small practice and not staffed for after hour care or emergencies. The BluePearl veterinarian refused and released Diana. BluePearl provided six Rx medications and a written prescription when Diana was released to us. Many hours after we had returned Diana home, we received a phone call from a compounding pharmacy affiliated with BluePearl. They had an eighth prescription from BluePearl. While seeking clarification of the nature of the prescription, it became evident the location of the pharmacy selected by BluePearl was over an hour from our home. BluePearl had never asked us about a compounding pharmacy of our choice. It is understandable that many patrons of BluePearl may not understand the nature of a compounding pharmacy; however, I clearly made my status of Dr. repeatedly known to each BluePearl employee. I had the BluePearl pharmacy transfer the Rx to my local compounding pharmacy. When we left BluePearl with Diana, the technician provided extensive outpatient instructions including instructions to call for Rx refills when needed. Today, we phoned BluePearl for Rx refills and were told the veterinarian had left written instructions to deny our request and to refer us to the primary care veterinarian. I reminded BluePearl of the fact Diana’s primary care office is too small for after hour and weekend response. I asked to speak with a BluePearl vet. My request was denied. Every step of our BluePearl experience exposed a primary issue of financial profit rather than care. There was no regard or professional perspective of the primary care veterinarian who knows the pet and the pet’s family. BluePearl veterinarians have no bed-side manner and corporate policy appears to ignore respect for the customer. Future care of our pets will include every conceivable effort to avoid subjecting them to BluePearl profit motivated care. Dr. B