Larned veterinarian provides relief for peers
Dr. Christina Frick, DVM, of Larned, worked at the Animal Health Center in Marion from July 30 through Saturday, in relief of Dr. Jessica Laurin, who was attending a conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Frick has "relieved" here several times when Dr. Laurin has needed to be away from her practice for a few days.
Frick, a 2000 graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, has been a relief veterinarian since November. Before that she was in a practice at Mulvane for 1 1/2 years.
"It's been fun," she said of the relief vet program. "The Kansas Veterinary Medical Association has a list of 15 relief vets. I've been filling in here a lot, off and on, the past several months."
The Larned native said the veterinarians she "spells" keep good records and documents so she can take up her work as relief vet.
She handles emergencies, appointments, bookings, and other duties. "I do mixed-animal practices — pets and livestock, small and large animals," Frick said.
She said vets who do a mixed-animal practice are rare anymore. She works a lot in small towns, farming/ranching communities.
"I travel all over Kansas to do this. I've put a lot of miles on my truck. Everybody runs things differently, so I see all aspects of the business side and the medical side of practices.
"I learn a lot. It keeps me thinking," she said.
