Arrange a specific appointment for the referral by telephone or direct contact. Should the referring practitioner wish to discuss the medical aspects of a particular case prior to arranging a referral appointment, he or she may do so by contacting a faculty member or house officer on duty who is assigned to the service to which the case is to be referred. Emergency referral appointments may be made by contacting the faculty member on emergency duty or the faculty member to whom the case is being referred. Telephone access to individual faculty members is limited by classroom and laboratory teaching, Hospital receiving duty, student rounds, research, committee meetings and patient care. However, phone calls will be returned as soon as possible.

Provide an appropriate case history and summary of all previous tests, surgeries, radiographs and medications. Although the receiving and referring veterinarian may have discussed a referral prior to the animal being seen at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, it is in the best interests of the patient, client and the Hospital to provide this information.

Discuss VMTH policies outlined in this guide with the client and inform him or her of appropriate referral protocol. The Hospital publishes various client information pieces you may find helpful from time to time. Contact the VMTH Administration Office at (979) 845-9100 for copies or answers to questions you or your clients may have.

Provide liaison between the attending faculty member and client when requested and in the best interest of the patient.

Provide follow-up reports whenever possible to the attending faculty member. Continued communication between the practitioner and the faculty member after a patient has been released from the Hospital can provide valuable information for the patient, client, referring veterinarian, faculty member and students. After release from the Hospital, the attending faculty member and his/her service staff have a responsibility to the referring practitioner and client to be available for consultation concerning future developments.

Patients formerly cared for by private practitioners are occasionally brought to the VMTH without referral. This can result in serious miscommunication and may complicate patient care. In such instances we will be guided by The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics published by the AVMA Judicial Council.