How to Refer Clients to Us

Your referrals are important to us
Referring veterinarians have a dedicated telephone number for making referral appointments or reaching one of our clinicians about a possible referral (530-752-1387 for small animals and exotics and 530-752-9610 for large animals). Because this is YOUR priority line, we ask that you not give this number to your clients. Our staff will respond to your calls on this priority line as quickly as possible. Please ask your clients to call (530) 752-1393 for small animals and (530) 752-0290 for large animals.

When we receive a professional referral, we make every attempt to call the referring veterinarian within one day to discuss the case. Since your name remains associated with your patient’s records, you will be kept fully apprised of any further VMTH patient visits, through written copies of the discharge instructions and visit summaries.

How to refer a client to the VMTH
To expedite the process for your clients, please use the following procedures for all referrals:

1. We prefer to receive clients by appointment, so please call the Clinic Admissions office to schedule an appointment. Use the same number for emergencies.

   Large Animal Clinic (530) 752-9610
   Small Animal Clinic (530) 752-1387

2. Please have client and patient information available:

   Client name and address
   Client telephone numbers
   (Access to owners for treatment authorization and estimates is necessary for all treatment past life saving care.)
   Patient name, age, breed and sex, and problem being referred

3. Fill out a VMTH Patient Referral Form and send it along with pertinent diagnostic results (e.g. laboratory tests, radiographs) with your client.

To discuss a referral with a VMTH clinician
To speak directly with an available clinician, call the Clinic Admissions office on the dedicated referring veterinarian telephone lines: Large Animal Clinic (530) 752-9610 Small Animal Clinic (530) 752-1387. Identify yourself and either ask for a specific clinician or for an available specialist. We will page the clinician to discuss the referral with you. If a clinician cannot take your call right away, you will be able to leave a voice mail message, and can expect a return call as soon as the clinician is available.

Other Communication Options
In addition to direct telephone communication, referring veterinarians can communicate with the VMTH in a variety of ways.

• Some clinicians prefer to communicate via their voice mailboxes where a comprehensive, private message can be left at any time. Their voice mailbox numbers are listed on their respective Personnel page (see Services and Clinicians) next to their name. To leave a message for a specific person, call (530) 752-8684. At the greeting, enter the person’s voice mailbox number.
  
  NOTE: Clinicians who are not currently receiving patients do not always check voice mail daily. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, please call the Clinic Admissions office.


• Other clinicians would prefer to communicate via email. Click on the e-mail icon next to their respective Personnel page (see Services and Clinicians) to send them an e-mail message.


• The VMTH web site is available via the menu on the left side of this page. Current information on clinicians, External Advisory Boards, and information of use to your clients is available from our site. You can also obtain on-line access to medical, surgical and diagnostic information on cases you referred to the VMTH once the case has been finalled. Records are available in 10 days or less from the date of discharge. To initiate access, see the Referring Veterinarian Registration page.