Referring Veterinarians
Working Together to Provide the Best Possible Care
We appreciate our referring veterinary partners and the trust you place in OVRS. Whether your patient needs specialty care, advanced diagnostics, or emergency treatment, we consider our hospital an extension of your practice.
Our goal is to create a smooth referral experience for you, your clients, and your patients. A few simple steps before referral can help our team prepare for the patient’s arrival, reduce unnecessary delays, and support continuity of care.
Specialty Referrals
Before your client schedules a specialty consultation, please complete our online referral form and provide all relevant medical information.
Whenever possible, please include:
- The reason for referral and your primary clinical concerns
- Pertinent medical records and treatment history
- Recent laboratory results
- Radiographs and other diagnostic images
- A current medication list
- Information about any recommended diagnostics or treatments that were declined
Having complete records available allows our specialists to review the case, prepare for the consultation, and determine whether additional information is needed.
Emergency Referrals: Please Call Ahead
Please call OVRS before directing an emergency patient to our hospital. A brief telephone call allows our team to:
- Assess current hospital capacity
- Discuss available services and resources
- Review anticipated wait times
- Prepare for the patient's arrival
- Help establish appropriate expectations for the client
Calling ahead does not reserve a place in line, but it helps us prepare for your patient and provide the most accurate information available at that time.
Help Clients Prepare for a Potential Wait
Emergency patients are evaluated according to medical urgency rather than order of arrival. Unless a patient is critically ill or injured, wait times may vary based on hospital capacity, patient volume, and the needs of other hospitalized patients.
Please help clients prepare for a possible wait before they arrive. Setting expectations in advance can reduce uncertainty and create a smoother experience during an already stressful time.
Send Available Diagnostics
Whenever possible, please send recent laboratory results, radiographs, ultrasound images, and other pertinent diagnostics with the referral.
Having these records available may:
- Help our team begin its assessment sooner
- Reduce unnecessary repeat testing
- Prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment
- Give clients a clearer understanding of why additional testing may be recommended
If diagnostics were recommended but declined, please discuss this with the client before referral. Additional or repeat testing may still be necessary based on the patient's condition and the specialist's or emergency veterinarian's clinical assessment.
Communication and Continuity of Care
Clear and timely communication is an important part of our partnership with referring veterinarians. We will keep you informed of significant findings, treatment recommendations, and your patient's progress while in our care.
We will provide consultation reports, diagnostic results, and discharge summaries to support a smooth transition back to your practice.
Thank you for partnering with OVRS. Our goal is the same as yours: to provide the best possible care for every patient.