Referring A Patient
Prior to sending any referral client, the referring veterinarian should call
WSU and speak to an accepting service (ie. neurology) regarding the client’s
physical condition, where the client is coming from, what the anticipated
arrival time is (for emergencies) and any other information pertinent to the
client. If it is not an emergency, the accepting veterinarian may, then,
transfer the caller to make an appointment.
Emergencies –
Emergencies are accepted at WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital 24 hours a day,
365 days a year. After regular office hours, there is a doctor present at
all times to receive these clients. Even when sending an emergency to the
hospital we ask that you call ahead and let us know the animal is coming, so
that we will be ready to provide the best possible care as soon as the
animal arrives. Additionally, there is an emergency fee for after hours and
non-scheduled visits. Pharmacy and Laboratory staff will not be called in
for out-of-hospital emergencies.
Referral forms – The WSU-VTH
referral form should be filled out
completely, which includes pertinent information regarding the medical
history, laboratory data, medications and response to treatments. Available
radiographs should be sent with the owner. The referral form should also
include the name, address and telephone number of that referring
veterinarian. This enables us to efficiently evaluate diagnostics and
results already obtained and provide follow-up information on completion of
the visit. Forms may be filled out and faxed to the accepting clinician, or
may be completed and attached to radiographs, etc. and hand carried by the
animal’s owners.
This form may be attached to the referral “packet” and mailed to:
PO Box 647060
Pullman, WA 99164-7060
For overnight or hand carried deliveries the address to utilize is:
100 Grimes Ave
Pullman, WA 99164
Small animal patients
may need to be fasted from 6 pm the day before arrival. Water should
not be withheld. This will allow submission of fasting blood samples or, if
required, placing the patient under general anesthesia.
Radiology Referrals - For referrals where radiographs,
MRIs, CT scans or other information is to be reviewed without the animal
being present.
- Please complete the
Radiology Referral Form with all requested
information. An accurate history is of great benefit to the Radiologists
interpreting the films.
- Label all films with the patient’s name, date of exam and referring
veterinary clinic.
- Payments for these referrals can be made via check, money order,
VISA or Master Card. Referrals received without a payment and requiring
billing will be charged and additional $10.00. There is no charge for
follow-up referrals on WSU cases or previous referrals submitted within
one year.
- Referral reports will be faxed and/or emailed within 24 hours of
receipt of referral information.
- We do recommend submitting films via Federal Express. These will be
delivered to the Radiology office by noon the following day. All other
services (including UPS, US Postal Service, etc.) go through WSU campus
mail and require an additional day of processing.
- For electronic referrals; images may be digitized and submitted via
e-mail by sending them to radiology@vetmed.wsu.edu, thus saving time and
postage. You will still need to fill out the Radiology Referral form,
completely, and fax it to the Radiology office at 509-335-7812. Payments
can be submitted using a VISA or Master Card by including the card
number and expiration date on the referral form, or these referrals can
be billed.
Referral Communications
- When a referral case is admitted, a postcard with the name of the
receiving clinician will be mailed to that referring veterinarian. If
you have questions or need progress reports, you should contact the
clinician noted on that card. On the day of discharge, the client will
receive a discharge summary stating the diagnosis, procedures performed
and instructions for aftercare. Referring veterinarians will receive a
copy of this discharge summary and/or a letter or telephone report a few
days after the patient is discharged. Pertinent laboratory results will
be included with the final report.
- Postcards, included with this manual, may be used at anytime to
contact clinicians at WSU VTH. For situations where you want to contact
Dr. Rogers, the VTH Director, directly, you may utilize the grey
postcards or call him at 509-335-3193.
- In some instances, as part of follow-up studies, you will be
consulted for information about the animal you referred to Washington
State University. Clinicians would appreciate your assistance in
compiling this information.
- Client surveys are included in this manual. Please make copies of
them, as desired, and give them to the owners of the patients you refer.
Their feedback is valuable to us.
Last Edited: Oct 04, 2007 11:39 AM
