IMPORTANT COVID-19 SAFETY UPDATE
3/24/2020
Valued Clients and Friends –
In order to effectively do our part as our nation tries to best deal with the COVID-19 virus outbreak, we will immediately begin restricting access inside our hospital. We want to assure our clients, community and our staff that we do plan to continue to provide the best care possible to your pets. We are starting by implementing a limited access policy which restricts access to the hospital to staff and animals only.
If anyone has the need to visit our hospital, please know that our doors will be locked, yet we are here for you! Please be aware of the following new procedures:
- Product and Prescription Pickup – Please call us from your car and we will address your needs. If you need to order medicine refills or food for your pet, call ahead and we will do what we can to have it ready as you need.
- Payment – We will then accept your payment over the phone and hand deliver your product to you upon arrival to the parking lot once you call from your car.
- Scheduling Pet check-ups/appointments – If you feel your pet needs to be seen, PLEASE CALL US FIRST and we will discern if/when to get you in.
- Arrival Procedure – Upon arrival, a team member will meet you at your car, ask you to get out of your car and to place your pet into our leash and care. We will complete the exam while you wait in the car and the Doctor and/or Tech will call you communicate an update and plan. If in the best interest of your pet your presence is required, we will only allow one human per necessary appointment and will work hard to provide the least amount of human interaction while adhering to social distancing.
Please know that we are doing everything possible to remain open and available, but are committed to abiding by all Executive Orders from state and federal government leaders.
While Veterinarians or the practice of veterinary medicine does not fall under the umbrella of health care practitioners, we are encouraged to only address needs deemed medically necessary at this time. The FVMA (Florida Veterinary Medicine Association) encourages all veterinary practices to limit human to human contact yet recognizes there is “currently no list of specific procedures that should be deferred, because what procedures are needed for what patient can be dependent on professional judgment and the situation”. With this in mind, we will defer all non-essential appointments and procedures until further notice.
We look forward to the day when we all return to what will become our new normal. We wish you all well as we together navigate these unprecedented times. Please check back on our website and Facebook for future changes or updates. We appreciate each and every client and “fur-baby” that we are privileged to serve, and especially our employees who give so much time and talent each and every day to NOAH!
-Dr. Bearden, Dr. Melicharek, and the entire NOAH Team
