Teaching Hospital Operational Updates
At this time, the Auburn University Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital is experiencing intermittent personnel shortages affecting our intermediate and critical care (IMC/ICU) units that ultimately impacts our Small Animal Emergency Services. To continue ensuring the highest possible levels of patient care, the following operational changes are effective immediately:
Call Before Bringing or Sending Patient
- All referring veterinarians and/or clients should call the Small Animal Hospital emergency number at (334) 844-4690 for telephone triage/assessment prior to sending or bringing a patient to the Small Animal Hospital for emergency treatment. Referring DVMs needing to refer a patient should discuss the case with a clinician prior to referral to ensure adequate capacity and staffing are available to meet the needs of the patient.
All Patients Will Be Phone Triaged
- Prior to sending/bringing a patient to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital all patients must undergo a phone triage needs assessment to determine the patient’s appropriateness for admission. If options exist for local care, our clinicians can assist with establishing that plan when necessary.
- In the event IMC/ICU units approach or exceed maximum patient capacity, the senior ECC clinician or designee will assess patients to determine the appropriateness of the referral. The number and needs of our regular, non-ER patients will greatly impact the established maximum capacity levels for the IMC/ICU areas and the ability of ER services to receive cases.
- Patients admitted through emergency will be stabilized, treated and, when appropriate, discharged after treatment with our recommendation to follow-up with one of the hospital’s specialty services or the primary care veterinarian.
- Capacity issues will limit our ability to accept referral patients for routine monitoring or to admit non-emergent patients.
- Referring veterinarians and clients with non-urgent/non-emergent patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the specific service needed for treatment. We are working to reduce wait times for routine appointments while functioning within these stated guidelines. Regular referral patients with urgent needs should be discussed with the senior service clinician to determine if a priority appointment is warranted.
No Change to Large Animal Teaching Hospital
- These guidelines only apply to the Auburn University Small Animal Teaching Hospital emergency, critical care and intermediate care services at this time. The JT Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital emergency services continue to operate at normal levels.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate hospital capacity obstacles. Please call the Small Animal Hospital emergency number at (334) 844-4690 if you have a patient needing to be referred so the case can be adequately assessed according to our operational capacity.
All fees are due at time of service. Hospitalizations require a deposit at intake equal to half of the high estimate with remaining balance due at discharge. Owners will be notified of revised estimates due to additional necessary treatments or if additional charges for lab work, etc. are incurred after discharge. Payment accepted in the form of cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. Contact our Billing Office at (334) 844-4690 with any questions about your bill or for CareCredit assistance.