Telemedicine Appointments

Telemedicine services really took center stage during the first days of COVID-19 during and the second half of 2020.  They allowed needed medical services to be delivered with technology that was already ubiquitous and already "old-news" but complied with all the quarantine measures we had to endure.  Thankfully, COVID seems to be sinking into history but the demand for telemedicine appointments has continued to grow.  We feel keeping telemedicine available moving forward allows greater access to veterinary medical care that is wanted, needed, convenient, and efficient.   

 

However, telemedicine has a great number of limitations which severely reduce the range and of the services that VIP can provide with confidence and quality through an online platform.  

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VIP is very excited to open telemedicine appointments to the general public, just like regular in-person appointments...

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                                                        !BUT!

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In order to comply with evolving telemedicine laws and regulations, THE ONLY PATIENTS THAT CAN BE DIAGNOSED AND PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS THROUGH TELEMEDICINE MUST HAVE HAD AN IN-PERSON PHYSICAL EXAM IN THE PREVIOUS 365 DAYS.  NO EXCEPTIONS. 

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All other telemedicine consultations will be for advice and recommendations only. Furthermore, patients that are current with physical exams still may not be able to be diagnosed and/or prescribed any medications over a telemedicine appointment which is determined on a case-by-case basis.   Video access to the patient and the ability to display the pet on screen is also required.  However, in order to make a smooth transition from a complicated telemedicine appointment that needs in-person attention, all telemedicine consultation fees will be applied towards the in-hospital examination fee if necessary. 

 

Additionally, the telemedicine fee will only apply towards the in-person exam fee for 2-3 days after the telemedicine consult appointment if an in-person exam was recommended at the time of the initial telemedicine appointment, but was then declined or missed.     

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Consultation services without prescriptions include:

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• Interpretation and discussion of medical tests/results (bloodwork, x-rays, ultrasounds) from other veterinary facilities

• End-of-life discussions and planning

• Discussion and Management of chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease, skin allergies, food allergies, heart disease, etc.

• Behavioral issues, training methods and ideologies

• First-aid options for mild injuries/wounds

• OTC medication options that are safe for pets

• Exotic pet husbandry and management

  • Birds, lizards, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, lizards, snakes, reptiles, tropical freshwater fish and tank management, koi ponds

• Brief visual exams for sick patients to aid owners in determining if their pet needs to be seen immediately or can be monitored at home for improvement​

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Examples of telemedicine appointment that can generally provide a diagnosis and prescription for current patients:

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• Skin infections/outbreaks/itch problems

• Mild limping, soft tissue injuries, arthritis flairs

• Insect bites/stings/swellings

• Anxiety issues that need anxiety relieving medications for storms/fireworks/travel

• Simple upper respiratory tract infections

• Superficial injuries/wounds/punctures

• Relapses of previously diagnosed chronic diseases

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Please e-mail or call the office for more information or to schedule a consultation.