WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT

Receipt of referral form from the referring veterinarian

The clinic will receive a form from your veterinarian detailing the pertinent information about the client they wish to refer as well as the history of the patient. The referral form will ask which department, and in some cases, which doctor, they wish their client to see.

This form may be mailed or faxed. In some instances, the veterinarian may choose to send the form, along with X-rays or other information, directly with the client to the appointment.

Owner calls to schedule consultation appointment

It is helpful if the referral form has already been faxed by your veterinarian when you make the appointment. This will help the receptionist schedule you with the appropriate department (i.e. surgery, medicine, cardiology). If the referral form has not yet been sent, this is not a problem. Consider asking your veterinarian which department or doctor they would suggest.

All incoming new patients will likely be recommended to be NPO prior to the initial consultation in preparation for any procedures. This involves no food usually after 8pm the night before the procedure and no water the morning of the appointment.

WHAT HAPPENS IN RADIOLOGY

Radiology patients may be admitted in two different ways:
1. As an outpatient for scheduled diagnostic imaging or specialized radiology procedures only.
2. As an in-house referral from either the medicine or surgery service.

OUTPATIENTS:

1. These patients are in need of a radiology service (such as an ultrasound) but not a consultation with a medicine or surgery doctor. The patient will be admitted for the day by a radiology technician.
2. Dr. Blevins will perform the procedure requested by your veterinarian and the patient will then be discharged to your care. Discharges usually occur later in the day.
3. Dr. Blevins will then contact your veterinarian with the results of the requested test. Your veterinarian will discuss these results with you once they've consulted with Dr. Blevins.

IN-HOUSE REFERRALS:

These patients will first see a doctor associated with the medicine or surgery service. An initial consultation will be performed and recommendations for diagnostics made.

If these recommendations include diagnostic imaging (x-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, contrast radiography) that the doctor feels would be best performed by a radiologist, they may suggest that the imaging procedures occur on a Tuesday when Dr. Blevins is present in the hospital.
A written itemized estimate will be generated and discussed with you. The patient will then be admitted as an outpatient for the day. During the day, the imaging will be performed by Dr. Blevins.
A discharge appointment will be scheduled with the admitting doctor (often later in the day). They will discuss the results of the imaging as well as any further recommendations for diagnostics or treatments.