Appointments

MVA operates as a referral facility during the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday through Friday. Before making an appointment, many regular veterinarians will contact us to discuss the reason for referral and the results of any completed diagnostic procedures or tests. Our doctors believe it's important to work closely with your doctor so that we are fully informed. Your veterinarian may make an appointment for you at that time, or you can call us to make an appointment. Please remember to bring medical records, laboratory results, and/or radiographs for your initial consultation.

Cancellations

We appreciate 24 hours advance notice if you need to cancel your appointment.

Communication

It is essential that we keep you updated on the progress of your pet and that we be able to reach you in an emergency situation.

Our emergency doctors will call you twice daily (once in the morning, once at night) to give you an update on the status of your pet. You are also welcome to call the nurses up to twice daily between 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please have only one family member make the calls. That person can pass on the information to all of the other concerned family members.

We are a 24-hour emergency facility. The staff members caring for your pet may change as our doctors and nurses change shifts. When you call the doctor, they may be attending to another emergency, in surgery, or speaking with another client. They will respond to your calls as quickly as possible.

Your pet's family doctor is considered an important part of the team. With your permission, we will call your family veterinarian once daily to discuss the status of your pet. A copy of the discharges and laboratory work will be faxed to your pet's regular doctor after the visit to help provide a continuity of care.

Visitations

We have limited times for visiting with your pet. Arrangements for visiting must be made with the attending doctor or nurses. Please call before you plan your visit. Our primary visiting time is between 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturdays and Sundays are extremely busy times for our emergency service and visits may be restricted. It is easiest to visit an ambulatory patient, but it may not be possible to disconnect a patient on monitoring equipment in an extreme intensive care situation.

• If your pet is housed in our Environmental Oxygen Therapy Unit, your visitation will be brief (around five minutes) and we may not be able to allow you to hold your pet.
• If your pet is quarantined in isolation, visitation is not allowed.
• For the hospitalized patients comfort and the privacy of their owners, we ask that you limit your questions to your own pet's condition and do not attempt to pet other hospitalized patients.
• For their own safety, no small children are allowed in the treatment area.

Visitation may not be possible at times because of a high caseload of emergency patients, procedures being performed in treatment/surgery, or the critical nature of your own pet. Your patience is appreciated, and we will do our best to offer you an alternative time to visit.

Payment Policy

Because we are open 24 hours a day and provide specialized services in addition to emergency services, our fees for the care given and procedures performed may be higher than a normal veterinary visit.

We understand. No one is ever ready for an emergency and the financial responsibility that comes with it can often be overwhelming. In non-crisis situations we will talk with you, examine your pet, and suggest options which aid us in further diagnostics and treatment. If your pet is in a life-threatening crisis, we will ask your permission to undertake immediate emergency care and evaluate your pet while we are doing this. As soon as we know more about what is happening and your pet's prognosis, we will talk to you and give you our recommendations, your options, and an estimate.

As we gather diagnostic information and assess response to treatment, we may find that your pet requires additional hospitalization and care. We encourage you to ask questions so that you feel comfortable. When you are dealing with a sick pet, the last thing you need is a surprise on your vet bill.

Pet owners may ask us for estimates to treat and diagnose their pet over the phone. At best, these estimates are very rough. We feel that one of the most valuable services we can offer to you is the initial consultation with one of our veterinarians. The doctor will review the history with you, look over any prior medical records including laboratory work and radiographs, perform a complete physical examination and sometimes even consult with other specialists in the hospital. During the consultation we also want to determine your wishes and goals. We feel that this process is the best way to give you the most accurate information about your pet's medical condition, the prognosis, options for care, and the costs associated with treatment.

Complete payment is due when your pet is discharged. If, however, you are unable to meet our payment policy, please notify your doctor, technician, or client service representative immediately so that any other available options may be explored for the continued care of your pet. Our primary concern is your pet's health and we will work with you to find an appropriate payment solution.

• A deposit is required for all hospitalized patients. A deposit of 50% of the high end of the estimate is required for pet requiring hospitalization.
• Fees for services rendered must be paid in full when the patient is discharged. Payment is accepted as cash or major credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.
• Only cash and personal checks are accepted for ophthalmology services.
• If one of these payment options is not preferable, third party financing through Care Credit is available. We offer interest-free and low-interest financing options through CareCredit.

With CareCredit you can:

• Get the care your pet needs immediately, including emergency medical and surgical treatment.
• Benefit from low monthly payments.
• Finance up to 100% of the treatment cost.
• Save your credit cards for household and unplanned expenses.
• Choose between several payment plans.
• No annual fee and no prepayment penalties
• No expiration on your CareCredit card.

The short application takes only a few minutes to complete and you will receive a quick decision. If you are interested in this option please visit CareCredit's site.