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What is a Board-Certified Veterinary Internist?
A board-certified Internist, an ACVIM Diplomate, is a veterinarian who has undertaken further specialty training in the discipline of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and who has been certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in the specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine. Veterinarians wishing to become board certified must complete a three-year residency program, meet specific training and caseload requirements, and have published research. Residents train under ACVIM Diplomates which ensures that the resident receives training that follows strict guidelines. Once the residency has been completed, the resident must sit and pass a multiple day examination. If the resident passes the examination they are awarded a "diploma" in veterinary internal medicine, certifying them as an ACVIM Diplomate. Veterinary Internal Medicine encompasses the disciplines of cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, immunology, infectious disease, nephrology/urology, neurology and respiratory disease.
What Is a Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon?
The term "ACVS Diplomate" refers a veterinarian who has been board certified (received a diploma) in veterinary surgery. Only veterinarians who have successfully completed the certification requirements of the ACVS are Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and can be called specialists in veterinary surgery. Veterinarians wishing to become board certified must complete a three-year residency program, meet specific training and caseload requirements, perform research and have their research published. This process is supervised by current ACVS Diplomates, ensuring consistency in training and adherence to high standards. Once the residency has been completed, the resident must sit for and pass a multiple day examination. Only then does the veterinarian earn the "diploma" of ACVS Diplomate. Veterinary Surgery encompasses all disciplines of surgery including general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, oncologic and orthopedic surgery.
The Animal Care Team Approach
The Animal Care Team is made up of the owner (client), the Primary Care (referring) veterinarian and the specialist. Rapid advances in the veterinary profession can make it difficult for veterinarians to remain current with recent developments in techniques and technologies required to manage some of today's complex veterinary medical problems. Possessing the training, expertise and equipment to perform some of the most demanding procedures, the specialist can help the primary care veterinarian provide the best possible care to the patient.
Difficult cases may be best managed by a specialist. When a referral is indicated, the primary care practitioner should discuss this process with the client. Clients routinely deal with specialists in human healthcare and are familiar with the concept of specialization and the referral process. Owners appreciate referrals for specialized medical and surgical care. Many specialists in private practice work at "referral-only" animal hospitals. Such practices often require that the primary care veterinarian contact them rather than the animal owner. In this way, the specialist can be properly informed as to the patient's history and the scope of the current problem.
Once the referral is made, the specialist will provide state-of-the-art medical care. As part of the healthcare team, the specialist will keep the referring veterinarian and client informed of the patient's progress throughout the specialized care. After patient discharge, the referring veterinarian may also provide additional postoperative follow-up care. This continuity between specialist and primary care veterinarian ensures the best possible outcome for the patient.
BVS and The Animal Emergency Clinic (AEC)
The relationship between BVS and the Emergency Clinic/Practice is synergistic, although BVS and the AEC are separate businesses. The AEC provides overnight and weekend hospitalization and nursing care for BVS patients. Clients of BVS that require overnight and/or weekend hospitalization will receive a bill directly from the AEC just as any transfer from an outside veterinary practice would. The combination of BVS and AEC will then provide cohesive 24 hour care of referred patients. BVS treatment orders will be followed through by the AEC staff and if significant changes are encountered in the care of patients, BVS will be consulted. For AEC patients that are not already patients of BVS, BVS will provide consultation services to the emergency clinic for a fee to be charged to the client for out of hours consultation. On most weekdays, BVS will be able to take direct transfers from the AEC, ONLY following the approval by the primary care veterinarian for referral consultation and management.
Internal Medicine Service
Dr. Sue Dougherty staffs the small animal internal medicine service. Services provided will include consultation on all categories of internal medicine, with further diagnostics and treatment pursued as she and the pet owner deem appropriate. Dr. Dougherty also offers Endoscopy and Ultrasonography (abdominal, cardiac and thoracic).
In addition to specialized procedures, long-term management of oncology patients will be offered. Diagnosis and chemotherapy will be provided. Chemotherapy will be provided in concurrence with OSHA standards providing safe administration for the patient and the staff providing such care.
Medical management of complex internal medicine cases will also be provided i.e. diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, inflammatory bowel disease, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy to name a few.
Consultation on lab work and history also will generate a recommendation. As is generally the case, a complete history and 1 on 1 discussion with the owner and physical examination facilitate the recommendation of the next step. Following completion of work up for the problem referred for, the RDVM will be consulted concerning future management (BVS or RDVM). BVS remains available and is happy to assist in continued management. In some cases BVS will recommend if it is more appropriate for it to manage complex internal medicine patients. General care however will not be provided by BVS and any client requesting general care will need to return to RDVM for it (vaccinations, dentals, general care or care and treatment for other than original complaint). Full telephone consultations and/or radiographic consults are also available from Dr. Dougherty. For these, a consultation fee will be charged to the veterinary clinic requesting the consult. A summary letter will be sent to the veterinary clinic as a record for these services.
Surgery Service
Dr. Mark B. Parchman staffs the small animal surgery service. Cases are seen on a referral basis only. After a case is referred to BVS and has been examined, Dr. Parchman will contact the referring doctor to give the information and recommendations given to the client. After any treatment has been performed, a summary letter will be sent along with any pertinent test results. If further treatment is required in the future, follow up notes will then be sent. As with the Internal Medicine Service, full telephone consultations and/or radiographic consults are also available from Dr. Parchman. For these, a consultation fee will be charged to the veterinary clinic requesting the consult. A summary letter will be sent to the veterinary clinic as a record for these services.
Services provided by the surgery service are as follows:
Consultations
General, Orthopedic and Oncologic Surgery.
Neurologic examinations for spinal cord cases and recommendations are offered for neurologic cases,
but BVS does not offer CT, MRI, Myelography or Neurosurgery.
Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery - including TPLO and TTA
Thoracic Surgery
Cardiovascular Surgery
Soft Tissue and General Surgery
Wound Management
Reconstructive Surgery
Acupuncture limited to:
Pain Management
Orthopedic Disease Conditions
Non-Surgical Neurologic Conditions
Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation
Pain Management Recommendations
For Chronic Non-Surgical Orthopedic and Non-surgical Neurologic Conditions
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