How do Veterinarians refer a case to UQ VETS Small Animal Hospital?
The UQ Vets Small Animal Hospital is a Specialist Hospital with fees commensurate with the level of service provided. Although UQ Vets SAH is a veterinary teaching hospital, we do not take cases for discounted or free treatment as ‘teaching cases’. Please ensure your clients are aware of this, and that payment at the time of service will be required.
If you have a particular veterinarian you would like to refer your client to, please call the Hospital to ascertain their availability. Our specialists have teaching and research commitments, and are not always available to see a case on a daily basis. However, if we know you would like your client to see a specialist of your choosing, we will do everything we can to meet your request.
We ask that you please do not suggest to your clients that they should ring us for advice. We are happy to give you their veterinarian the advice, or see your client as a referral.
Please complete the online referral form then email or fax this form, the patient history and any other relevant documents such as blood/laboratory work and radiographs to the Hospital.
(email: uqvets.sa@uq.edu.au or fax: 07 54601780)
Additional requirements for different services are listed below for your information:
- UQ VETS Internal Medicine Service. If you are considering referring your patient to UQ Vets Internal Medicine Service, please contact the Internal Medicine Team on 54601788 or by email at uqvets.sa@uq.edu.au and the Internal Medicine team will be happy to discuss the case. Please make sure to include in your email or fax all relevant history, blood work and imaging for us to be able to provide the most accurate information for your patient. If the referral is confirmed, then we will call the client to schedule their appointment and discuss things such as appointment availability, patient preparation, possible diagnostic tests and costs.
- UQ VETS Avian and Exotic Service often has special requirements regarding what clients should bring with them (e.g., water samples, photos of the pet’s enclosure, etc.) and how pets should be transported. Please check with the Service to ensure your clients are aware of these requirements.
- UQ VETS Surgery Service. If you are considering referring your patient to UQ Vets Surgery Service, feel free to contact the Team directly 54601788 or by email at uqvets.sa@uq.edu.au and the team will be happy to discuss the case with you. Please make sure to include in your email or fax all relevant history including imaging before the initial consultation to help formulate treatment plans and cost estimates before seeing the client.
- The UQ VETS Pet Emergency Service: This service is led by two board certified emergency and critical care veterinarians and welcomes emergency and critical care referrals or phone call enquiries at any time of the day or night at any time of the year (24/7 365). The preferred method to transfer a case is for the referring veterinarian to directly contact the on duty emergency clinician by phone to discuss the relevant patient details (54601788). At this time an estimate of cost may be appropriate. It is preferred that all relevant documentation (history, blood work, imaging) is sent through prior to arrival in order that our vets are able to review the case and make early arrangements to facilitate a smooth admission. We are more than happy to offer advice by phone if there is any uncertainty whether referral is required.
You will be contacted by our veterinarians once the patient has been seen and assessed.