As a devoted pet owner, you do your best to keep your pet in excellent health. Nevertheless, emergencies happen. In the long life of a dog, cat, or other pet, there’s a good chance that eventually they’ll suffer a sudden health problem.
Fortunately, veterinary emergency rooms are ready to help out with any issue that requires immediate attention—whether it’s a broken bone, a very sick tummy, or a life-threatening injury or illness.
If something ever happens to your pet that requires emergency care, you’ll want to be prepared. That means knowing where your nearest veterinary ER is located. You should also have a game plan for quickly and safely getting there.
It’s also important to know the steps involved in a visit to a veterinary ER. Here’s a quick look at what to expect, from checking in to the hospital to going through triage and waiting, to getting emergency care from the veterinary staff.
1. Checking In Online, By Phone, Or at the Reception Desk
The first step in an ER vet visit is the check-in process. Checking in is how your basic info enters the hospital’s system and you secure your place in line to be seen by the care providers.
You can check in to a veterinary ER by simply showing up. The reception staff will take your information, add your pet to the patient queue, and provide an estimate regarding the wait time.
The downside of an in-person check-in is that you don’t enter the patient queue in advance. That means you might not be seen as quickly as you could have if you checked in on the phone or online. Plus, you won’t have any idea how long the waiting time is until you walk through the door.
To enter the patient queue in advance, you can call the ER. Or, if the clinic offers online check-in, you can easily provide your information by filling out a simple form on your mobile device. Then, you’ll enter a virtual waiting room that keeps you informed of your estimated appointment start time.
2. Triage and Waiting
When you arrive at a veterinary ER, or check in online or by phone, triage begins. Triage is the process in which medical workers quickly evaluate the urgency of patients and sort the appointment queue accordingly. Pets that are bleeding, unconscious, or having difficulty breathing are treated as quickly as possible. Less urgent cases may have longer wait times.
Veterinary ER waiting times vary from place to place and day to day. Sometimes, you might receive immediate treatment. Other times, the wait may last for several hours.
If the hospital you’re visiting uses a virtual waiting room, you’ll be able to enter the patient queue remotely. That way, you can wait at home or in the parking lot until it’s time to be seen. During the wait, you can use the mobile platform to monitor your place in the queue. The system provides an estimated start time that automatically updates each time an appointment ends.
3. Getting Treatment from the Emergency Room Vet Staff
When your pet reaches the treatment room, they’ll be in the capable hands of the veterinarian and veterinary technicians. Depending on the pet’s condition and the hospital’s policies, pet owners may or may not be permitted to stay with the pet during treatment.
During treatment, the ER staff will determine a course of action and perform any necessary procedures to stabilize the animal. This may include surgery. Afterward, the staff returns the pet to the owner and discusses after-care recommendations.
4. Concluding the Appointment and Planning for After-Care
After your pet is treated and returned to you, the veterinary staff will provide information about after-care. Typical after-care recommendations include:
- The use of medications
- Providing a special diet
- Restricting physical activity while injuries heal
If the veterinary practice offers a mobile platform, you can use that for all of your post-visit activities. These might include online payment, receiving educational info, and completing a customer satisfaction survey.
Improving the Veterinary ER Experience for Clients, Pets, and Staff
If you’re a veterinarian looking to improve the client experience at your ER or clinic, ER Express can help. We provide vets with client engagement software that reduces staff workload, improves client satisfaction, and ultimately leads to better patient care.
Contact ER Express today to arrange a product demonstration.
