03/14/2020
Hi everyone. In light of COVID-19, I want to share some protocols we have enacted effective immediately for A-Z Veterinary Services that may affect you. We have been getting a lot of new client calls because the chance of spread is less for a home visit versus a clinic visit.
This may be true, but we can only ensure that we are around if we are sticklers for hygiene and social distancing. With COVID now being in SCV, more cases are surely coming. The more we can do now, the more we can slow down the spread and give our elderly and immunocompromised clients (and family members) the best shot at beating, or better yet avoiding, this virus. In my opinion, enacting these measures is our civic duty to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Our main goals:
1. Donāt get COVID-19.
2. Donāt give COVID-19.
Protocol changes:
1. If you or a family member are sick, even if it is just the sniffles, or if you are quarantined, for the love of all that is holy, please reschedule your appointment. So you may ask āWhat if my pet has an issue, what am I supposed to do?ā Call us.
We are beginning telemedicine (virtual) options for the right scenario and may be able to help virtually with already established clients.
2. If one of our staff members is sick, they will not go into your house- most likely will NOT be working that day. This INCLUDES THE DOCTOR unfortunately.
3. We will maintain a 6-foot distance between a clientās two-legged family members and ourselves. This is in the spirit of āsocial distancingā that is recommended by the CDC to curtail the spread of this virus. We realize this is awkward and we hate it, as we tend to be hugging-type people, especially in times of letting an animal go, but this is very important.
4. Dog appointments will take place either outside or in a garage if at all possible.
5. Cat appointments will likely need to take place inside because, well, cats. But it is important to have your cat isolated in an area that we can get to your cat(s) easily and quickly. No ācat wild goose chasesā will occur.
6. We will ask that you throw away the trash we create during our appointment (except needles of course) to reduce the risk of contamination.
7. We may call you the morning of your appointment or at your appointment time to get a history and talk about your concerns, prior to our entry to your home. We may also elect to call you after we examine your animal to discuss the plan/treatment. Again, to minimize contact and exposure.
8. We will rely on you to accurately weigh your animal prior to the appointment, so we donāt have to bring in our scale. We will only be bringing in what we need ā no bags, equipment, etc. that isnāt necessary.
9. To keep things brief, and minimize electronics going in/out of homes as well as equipment. Payments can be excepted per Each visit per as always but donāt be offended when we wash our hands again if you provide a CC.
10. Please have soap available if we need it. Usually, we will keep soap/water in addition to hand sanitizer in our vehicles.
While this may seem āoverkillā to some, I want to err on the side of overpreparing than underpreparing. If you donāt feel that you would like to adhere to these protocols, we do respect that and can forward your records to another veterinarian of your choice. I hope you understand that we are doing this so that we can ensure that we are around to help your animals if and when we are needed while also minimizing the spread of the virus to our most vulnerable human population. Let me know if you have any questions.
These measures are to protect not only us but you and your loved ones as well. We heavily rely on your honesty if someone has been or is currently dealing with any symptoms in the home and need to make sure we also keep our own families well. As many of you know Dr. Aās husband is immunocompromised and needs to be protected from COVID-19. So if anyone develops symptoms even after we have been there (within a few days) we beg you shoot us a call/text/email to inform us as well.
We are going to make it through all of this better for it.
Thank you for you cooperation and support!
A-Z Vet Family
*algorithm FB but seriously, all we truly need is Puppies and cookies
