Six Things Specialists Should Know About Your Patient

When it comes to referring a case to a specialist, conveying the reason for their visit and the right information can be tricky. After all, regular veterinarians are most familiar with the pet—especially geriatric patients that have been coming to them for many years—and have seen them for routine exams as well as more complicated ailments.

So, the question then becomes “What qualifies as pertinent information for a veterinary specialist to know about a patient before their visit?”

The answer to this question can vary from specialty to specialty, so the following is a general list of what a specialist should know about your patient before their appointment:

1. Signalment
2. Anything that could adversely affect anesthesia
3. Anything that would require monitoring during hospitalization
4. Active disease processes, particularly how they might affect the patient if not monitored properly
5. Adverse effects to any drugs
6. What exactly the rDVM is expecting to get out of the specialist referral

More often than not, the only form of communication between the rDVM and the specialist is the referral form, which is why it is critical that the form lists anything important about the pet, whether directly related to the reason for the referral or not. Improper communication about the pet’s medical history and the reason for the referral could negatively affect patient care and/or cause a delay in the visit with the specialist.