The past few years have brought significant challenges to all. It has certainly affected us, particularly our Emergency Service, and forced us to make some temporary changes in operations that may impact your visit with us. The following information is intended to explain some of this and to let you know what to expect.

Veterinary hospitals throughout the country are seeing an unprecedented increase in caseload. Due to this increased demand, limited services offered at some other regional emergency/specialty hospitals, and our role as a tertiary referral center, our caseload during this period has increased more than 50%. As a result, we have been forced to make some accommodations so that we can still deliver the best possible medical care.

1. We have rare and intermittent periods in which we are unable to accommodate pets with non-life threatening conditions. In an effort to ensure that those pets that require immediate and life-saving care can receive it, we have been forced to implement a system whereby we divert non-critical patients to other facilities when our Emergency & Critical Care Service is extraordinarily busy. While we never want to deny care to any animal, there are times in which we are forced to focus on those pets that cannot safely wait or seek care elsewhere without significant risk for serious consequences. We trust you understand. And ask that you call ahead.
2. Space constraints force us to maintain some degree of curbside appointments for most emergency visits (until major renovations are completed). You will still meet your medical team and likely will be in the building for some parts of your visit, especially if your pet is critically ill. But we may have you spend wait time in your vehicle and have some communications by phone. Know that we continue to provide the very best medical care to your pet, and that we will do everything we can to make your visit as smooth and as stress-free as possible – for your pet and for you!

BEFORE COMING TO THE HOSPITAL

• Please call us. 203-595-2777. We can help determine if you have a critical emergency and need to come directly in or, if not critical, we can inform you if we are in diversion mode or will be able to give you an idea of the current estimated wait times.
• Please be sure your cell phone is fully charged to ensure you can communicate effectively with our medical staff.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL

• Come to the Emergency entrance and enter the vestibule.
• Press the intercom button to inform our team of your arrival. Please let them know if you think your pet is critical or if you need help getting him/her into the building.
• A triage technician will be with you soon after to evaluate your pet, to ask you a few questions, and to determine whether your pet needs to be brought immediately into our ER.
• You will be directed to complete registration. This will gather the information we need regarding you and your pet.
• You will be directed as to where to wait while the emergency team examines your pet, or until the team is ready to see you.
• The emergency doctor assigned to your pet will speak with you, in person or on your cell phone, for additional medical history and to discuss findings and recommendations.
• Our medical team will keep you informed and will talk you through next steps, be it discharging your pet to your care or admitting him/her to the hospital.
• We ask that you wear a well-fitted face mask/s when you are interacting with our staff, especially if you have recently been sick with, or exposed to, COVID, or are displaying any symptoms of respiratory illness.