We at New Market Animal Hospital, continue to keep the health and safety of our staff, clients, all our families, and our community our top priority. With the current situation with the Coronavirus COVID-19, we are continuing to monitor official channels for more additional information from health authorities as it relates to our community. With this, weare putting into effect additional protocols to help keep all as safe as possible.
PATIENT INTAKE PROTOCOL
As of 2 pm, March 17, 2020, we will be changing our protocol for non-emergency and healthy visit appointments. In the interest of public health, we ask that you follow the following protocols. If any pet owners refuse to follow these new protocols, they will be asked to reschedule for when the guidelines are no longer in place.
SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS
- Upon arrival in our parking lot, we ask that clients remain in their vehicles with their pet.
- Call our main hospital number at (301) 865-3232 and give a description of your concerns from your vehicle.
- At this time, a technician and/or assistant will be informed that you are here. As soon as there is availability to have them seen, we will come out to your car and obtain a history of what is going on, as well if there are any medications, such as flea and tick or heartworm prevention that your pet may need. We will also get additional information to contact you while your pet is under our care.
- The technician/assistant will then take our leash and bring your pet in to be examined by our doctor. At this time, we will call to discuss our recommendations and a treatment plan. A verbal consent for any treatment plan and any outpatient estimates will be authorized over the phone. Please note, our phone lines are recorded for the protection of NMAH and our clients and patients.
- After approval, we will get your invoice together and one of our receptionists will call you to confirm the total as well as get a payment from you.
- Once we have obtained payment we will finalize treatment and will email you the invoice as well as discharge instructions (if needed).
- Finally the technician/assistant will return your pet to you.
EMERGENCY VISITS
- If your pet is having an emergency, please call the hospital to discuss with our staff the best time to come in for your concerns. NMAH does not consider the following emergencies: ear infections, skin conditions, minor diarrhea, urinary track infections, etc. Please note, we will do our best to schedule you a visit at our earliest available time.
- Upon arrival, immediately check in at the front desk.
- A technician will come out to triage your pet and obtain a history from you.
- Your pet will be escorted to our main treatment room to be examined and monitored during the wait time. We ask that at this time, all clients return to their vehicle while their pet is being examined. PLease be assured that your pet will be housed and monitored in our main hospitalization area.
- You will be asked to provide the best phone number to contact you after one of our doctors has examined your pet.
- Once examined, a doctor or technician will call you to discuss recommendations and a treatment plan. Verbal consent for treatments and diagnostics and any outpatient/inpatient estimates will be authorized by phone. PLease note, our phone lines are recorded for the protection of NMAH and our clients and patients.
- If your pet has a serious medical condition that requires hospitalization, our assistant will bring out the authorizations for your signature, and our receptionists will call you for any financial deposits.
We will be temporarily suspending visitation with our hospitalized patients. Only the family of pets that our doctors have deemed are in the end of life stages will be allowed visitation.
WHAT WE’RE ASKING OF YOU
We are asking all clients who have COVID-19 like symptoms to please reschedule their appointments, or send another authorized agent to be present with their pet to our hospital.
If you or members of your family have been required to be quarantined for any reason, or test positive for COVID-19, and you have visited our facility within the last 72 hours, please call us to alert our hospital.
As always, please plan ahead for your pets. We recommend having a 2 week supply of food, medications and sanitary supplies as well as an identified friend or family member who can help care for your pet if needed in the event that you or a family member become ill.
Thank you for your help and patience during this time.
The Doctors and Staff at New Market Animal Hospital
