Welcome. What Sets Us Apart

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1 Welcome Virginia Tech s Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center is a premier full-service equine hospital located in Leesburg, VA that offers advanced specialty care, 24-hour emergency treatment, and diagnostic services for all ages and breeds of horses. One of three campuses that comprise the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the Center and its team of equine specialists are committed to providing exceptional treatment to patients, superior service to clients, and cutting-edge research to the equine industry. What Sets Us Apart As you consider health care choices for your horse, please bear in mind that the Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center offers many services not found in other facilities. These include: 24-hour a day care coverage, every day of the year. Nurses, licensed technicians, and assistants provide patient care on rotations covering 24 hours each day, so your horse is monitored during the day and throughout the night. A one-stop shop. The Equine Medical Center can provide all care services needed for your horse, from routine diagnostics to emergency care. Clinicians who are all board certified in specialty disciplines. In addition, please be aware that our costs remain competitive within the industry. Based on the results of cost surveys, charges for the Center s care services fall within the industry average. Our Standards 1. Every action we take contributes to a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety and excellence. 2. We tell the truth, we do not withhold. 3. We hold a standard of excellence in interactions and communications with team members, customers and referring veterinarians. 4. We support creative activity in research to better horse health. 5. We provide excellence in care for all patients. 6. We develop, train and retain talent to provide optimal care and operations.

2 Faculty and Staff Roles Each of our patients is attended by a team of veterinarians, as well as a service technician. So that you, as a client, can better understand who is caring for your horse, the specific responsibilities of these health care professionals are outlined below: Faculty Clinicians Also called senior clinicians or clinicians in charge, these board certified veterinarians oversee the cases admitted to the facility, diagnose cases, and prescribe treatments. In addition, they instruct residents, interns, and fourth-year veterinary students. Residents Residents are veterinarians, usually two or more years out of veterinary college, who are enrolled in a graduate training program leading to a degree of Master s of Sciences in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences. Residents are responsible for the primary care of the patients under the supervision of the faculty clinician. Residents receive routine and emergency cases with faculty clinicians on each service. 4th Year Veterinary Students Students from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine observe and discuss cases and assist clinicians and residents with patient care. Licensed Veterinary Technicians These equine technicians have completed specialized education and have received extensive training to become licensed by the state Board of Veterinary Medicine. They are an integral part of the equine patient care team and are responsible for coordinating the care ordered by the veterinarians. The LVTs also administer treatments, participate in patient evaluation and client education, and assist in the delivery of a wide range of services that include anesthesia, surgical nursing, diagnostic imaging, treadmill evaluations, advanced nursing care, and mentoring students.* Veterinary Assistants These staff members make up the backbone of the patient care support system and are extensively trained to provide a wide range of equine inpatient and outpatient services. This staff includes equine nurses and nursing assistants who maintain proper animal husbandry by administering treatments and monitoring the health status of all patients 24 hours each day. This staff also includes diagnostic imaging technicians, operating room circulating specialists, dispensary staff, laboratory/pathology medical technologists, and biomedical equipment specialists.* *Please note that the Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants do not have the authority to discuss your horse s condition with you. Please ask them to page your clinician. In Case of Emergency If you have an emergency during regular business hours (Monday Friday, 8 am to 5 pm) 1. Either you or your veterinarian should call our main phone number, State the type of emergency you have and we will connect you to the doctor on call. 2. We will need to know the type and quantity of drugs that have already been administered and the time they were given, if possible. 3. We will need an estimated time of your arrival at our Center and if time allows the owner s name, address, and contact numbers, as well as the patient s information: name, sex, color, and breed. 4. Follow the signs lining our driveway that state EMERGENCIES/ADMISSIONS and park in the large parking lot at the end of the paved road. Please leave your horse on the trailer and come into the admissions office to check in. 5. Our staff will greet you, ask you to review the owner/patient information, and have you sign the authorization for treatment. The doctors will be alerted of your arrival. They will come and introduce themselves to you and help you unload your horse, if needed. 6. Once you have entered the clinic, we will instruct you where to go for the exam(s). If you have an emergency after hours (Monday Friday, 5 pm to 8 am, Saturdays, or Sundays) 1. Either you or your veterinarian should call our answering service, State the type of emergency you have and they will ask for your contact phone number. They will page our doctor on call, and that clinician will call you back. 2. We will need to know the type and quantity of drugs that have already been administered and the time they were given, if possible.

3 3. We will need an estimated time of your arrival at our Center and if time allows the owner s name, address, and contact numbers, as well as the patient s information: name, sex, color, and breed. 4. We ask that you call the answering service again ( ) when you are 30 minutes away from our hospital so the service can alert our staff of your arrival time. 5. Follow the signs lining our driveway that state EMERGENCIES/ADMISSIONS and park in the large parking lot at the end of the paved road. Please leave your horse on the trailer until you are in contact with a hospital staff member. If a staff member is not there to greet you, go to the admissions office door/large silver garage door, where there is a buzzer. Please ring the buzzer and a staff member will come to assist you. Emergency Checklist Check List q Do you have directions to and phone numbers for the Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center? q If your horse is insured, have you contacted the insurance company? q Do you have a copy of a current coggins? (Not required for examination, but for trailering.) q Do you have a list of current vaccines, worming, and allergy records? q Do you have all the emergency contact information you may need (phone and cell phone numbers for all pertinent individuals)? q Have you brought a blanket, sheet, or boots? If so, please remember to take them with you when you leave. q Have you packed feed? We have a wide variety of feeds here but you are welcome to bring your own. If you know how long your horse will be here, you can place the feed in individual sandwich bags for each feeding. NOTE: If you add supplements, your attending clinician must be aware of this. We cannot accept or administer any medication that has not been dispensed through our pharmacy. Tip: you may want to make a copy of this page and keep it in the glove compartment of your vehicle. Or, just take this page from the packet and bring it with you when you come. Additional Reminders: m If you are anticipating a long exam, we have vending machines with snacks and drinks, but you may want to pack a lunch. m No pets are allowed in the hospital or on hospital grounds at any time. Dogs must be confined to vehicles or may be walked on the field north of the hospital. m Please note: when your horse is with us for emergency care, he or she is our top priority. Due to the nature of the injury and the treatment for it, you may not be able to be with your horse at all times. Please remember that our clinicians and staff have not forgotten about you. We ask that you be patient and wait where you have been asked to. Our clinicians will come and inform you of their findings as soon as possible.

4 Visitation Policy/Biosecurity Guidelines Visitation Policy We welcome owners, trainers, referring veterinarians, and farm managers to visit their horse(s) in the hospital. To ensure that hospital services and security are optimal for all patients, individuals visiting patients are asked to abide by the following visitation policy. If you have questions regarding the visitation policy, please ask the receptionist or the clinician attending to your horse. Only owners, trainers, referring veterinarians, and managers are allowed visitation of patients in the hospital. If there are others you select to come and visit, the attending clinician must be informed prior to their visit or they will be denied visitation. 1. Visiting hours are: 10:00 am 6:00 pm Monday through Friday 9:00 am 12:00 pm Saturday Visits at other times must be prearranged with the attending clinician. 2. Prior to each visit, all visitors are required to check in at the front desk where they will receive a visitor s badge and sign the visitation log. After your visit, please return your visitor s badge and sign out on the visitation log. Anyone not wearing a badge will be asked to leave the hospital. 3. Out of respect for your privacy and the privacy of others in the hospital, we ask that you confine your visit to your horse. Anyone not visiting a specific patient or found in hospital work areas will be asked to leave. 4. Visits are limited to 2 hours daily. 5. NO PETS are allowed in the hospital or on hospital grounds at any time. Dogs must be confined to vehicles or may be walked on the field north of the hospital. 6. For safety reasons, all children must remain under direct adult supervision at all times. 7. To eliminate any confusion about the status of your horse, all questions and concerns regarding care and treatment are to be directed to the clinician or resident attending your horse. 8. If you have permission to walk your horse, stay on the grassy areas well away from vehicles. Do not walk your horse on or beside the roadways or in the parking area. 9. IF YOU HAVE A PATIENT IN THE ISOLATION FACILITY: You must check in at the front desk, sign in, receive your visitation badge and the receptionist will notify the attending clinician/resident. A clinician or resident will escort you to the Isolation Unit, where you will be permitted to view your horse through the outside glass door. You CANNOT enter your horse s stall at any time. 10. Please note that the Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants do not have the authority to discuss your horse s condition with you. Please ask them to page your clinician. Biosecurity Guidelines At Virginia Tech s Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center, the health and safety of our patients is our first priority. In order to prevent the spread of disease among our patients, clients, faculty, and staff, the following biosecurity guidelines must be followed at all times: All horses suspected of having a contagious disease will immediately be placed in isolation. All visitors must sign in at the admissions area or front desk and are to wear a name tag at all times. Only clients who sign in at the admissions desk and wear a name tag will be allowed to visit their horses in the hospital barns. Visitors other than clients must sign in at the admissions desk or front desk and be escorted in the hospital by faculty or staff. Visiting clients are prohibited from touching horses other than their own. Clients and visitors are asked to wear clean clothing and shoes when visiting the hospital. Faculty and staff follow strict hygienic measures including disinfection of their hands in between patient visits and the wearing of protective clothing as deemed necessary by the attending clinician. All patient areas, including stalls, are cleaned and disinfected as needed to prevent the spread of infectious disease. All equipment is either disposed of or disinfected between patient usage. Biohazard materials are disposed of in a safe and responsible manner. Clients with questions concerning these guidelines should contact their attending clinician or ask the receptionist for assistance. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

5 What to Expect We are committed to ensuring that you receive the best possible service during your horse s appointment. So that you can be better prepared for the visit, information concerning our policies and services is included below. Check-in When you pull into our driveway, there are security gates that will automatically open as you approach them. Our hospital is set back from the main road. Drive slowly up our driveway, through the employee parking lot and into the trailer parking area. We ask that you park your trailer, come into the admissions office (located next to the large silver garage door) and check in prior to unloading. We will greet you, have you complete the necessary paperwork, and notify the clinicians of your arrival. At this point, you may unload your horse, and hand walk until the exam begins. If you need assistance with unloading, please ask for it at the front desk or come into the hospital foyer. We will be happy to help you. The Teaching Environment The Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center is a teaching hospital of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. This association helps to keep our equine health care specialists at the forefront of veterinary knowledge and fosters excellence through the collegial exchange of information and ideas. In a teaching hospital, most patients are seen and examined by more than one veterinarian. Care is coordinated by a senior clinician in charge of the service who is board certified in surgery or internal medicine. This clinician works with the other veterinarians on staff in administering care and in communicating your horse s progress. You will likely see groups of doctors and equine health care professionals, which will include the senior clinician as well as residents, interns, licensed veterinary technicians, nurses, and fourth year veterinary students engaged in the care of your horse. All members of the team are under the management of the senior clinician. Waiting Your comfort is important to us. A small waiting area is available that features free coffee, vending machines, and reading materials. You are welcome to wait for your horse in our waiting area. Our admissions staff can also direct you to local restaurants and shops. Visiting We understand that it is difficult to be separated from your horse. For this reason, visiting hours are available upon the approval of the senior clinician. All visitors must sign in at the admissions area or front desk and are required to wear a name tag. Visiting clients are prohibited from touching horses other than their own. A detailed visitors policy can be obtained from the receptionist. Payment When the examination has been completed, you will place your horse back on the trailer, and return to the admissions office or the Patient Accounts desk where you will receive your dismissal information, any medications and supplies that go home with you, and your invoice. For outpatient appointments, payment in full is required at the time of the visit. If your horse is admitted to the hospital, you will receive a written estimate from your clinician and you will be asked to leave a deposit equal to half of the estimated total cost upon admission. Full payment is due at the time of discharge. Additional deposits may be required on patient stays involving extensive or lengthy hospital care. We accept cash, personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. If you would like to see about making other payment arrangements, please discuss this with the Business Office; their phone number is (703) The Patient Accounts desk is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Their direct phone line is You may leave a detailed message after hours and your call will be returned during normal business hours. Payment arrangements need to be made prior to after hours or weekend discharge of inpatients. Going Home: General Tips That Can Help Dismissal Go Smoothly Talk with your clinician before the time of dismissal about the medications your horse will be taking at home and whether you need to limit your horse s activity in any way. Ask your doctor when your horse might be dismissed so that you can make arrangements for transportation in advance. If your horse is referred by a veterinarian, a copy of your horse s dismissal letter, which summarizes the case and includes follow-up recommendations, will be sent to the veterinarian at the time of dismissal. In most cases, dismissal must occur prior to 5:00 pm on a weekday. Release of patients at other times must be coordinated with the senior clinician.

6 Client/Patient Relations The Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center is committed to ensuring that your experience here is a positive one. We recognize that, at times, concerns and problems may arise. To promote communication, we encourage you to speak with the clinician in charge of your horse s care whenever you have any questions. However, if there is an issue that is not being resolved to your satisfaction or that you would prefer to discuss with someone not directly involved in the situation, we ask that you contact Robin Stack, our assistant hospital administrator for client care, by phone at (703) or by at rstack@vt.edu. Common Procedures In order to help you prepare for your visit, we have included descriptions of several common procedures. If the procedure being performed on your horse is not listed, please contact our admissions staff at (703) for appointment details. Lameness Examination A full lameness workup includes a variety of tests to determine a proper diagnosis for your horse s lameness. The appointment will usually start with limb palpation, flexion tests, trotting or lunging, and then proceed to specialty diagnostic services in our imaging department. Diagnostics offered at the Center include joint blocks, nerve blocks, ultrasonography, digital radiographs, nuclear scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic methods used will depend on treatment history and the course of action that you wish to take. Pre-admission care: Generally there is no pre-admission care required. Please ask our client care representatives if any specific pre-admission care is needed for your horse s lameness. Exam time: 1½ to 4 hours Gastroscopy This procedure is performed when your veterinarian has examined your horse and suspects that it might have stomach (gastric) ulcers or another problem in the digestive system. Gastroscopy appointments are scheduled with the medicine service and generally take place in the morning. Pre-admission care: The patient must be fasted, which means that nothing solid can be eaten (hay, grain, pasture, etc.) after midnight of the night prior to your appointment. Water is allowed; it is very important that your horse always has access to water. You must be sure that the horse will not eat its bedding sometimes a muzzle works best and that there is not a hay net in your trailer. If you desire, the horse can be dropped off the night before so that fasting can take place at the hospital. An overnight stay would be an additional charge. Exam time: 1½ to 2 hours Nuclear Scintigraphy (Bone Scan) This procedure is performed when your horse has a lameness that is difficult to detect and it is felt that nuclear scintigraphy would be helpful in pinpointing the source of pain. Your doctor will discuss your horse s history with you and perform an evaluation. The morning following admission, a radioactive isotope will be injected into your horse s jugular vein and the scintigraphy process will begin. At this point, you will not be able to touch your horse for the next 24 hours or until he is cleared by our imaging department (radiology). The day after the nuclear scintigraphy is performed, the clinician will continue your horse s exam with further diagnostic testing, such as ultrasonography and radiographs that may be needed to make a specific diagnosis. Further diagnostic testing would be an additional charge. Exam time: 1-2 nights/2-3 days Pre-admission care: No pre-admission care is required. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) This non-invasive procedure is recommended when an MRI is determined to be the best method for identifying the source of pain, ensuring an accurate diagnosis and/or evaluating the structure of the foot or lower limb. MRIs are performed by appointment. Once you have checked into the admissions office, you must sign an authorization for treatment as well as an MRI waiver if you wish to accompany your horse into the MRI suite for the exam.

7 Pre-admission care: Shoes (both front feet, if the front foot is affected or both hind feet, if the hind foot is affected) will have to be pulled prior to the exam. We can remove the shoes here if you are unable to arrange this with your farrier or if your horse cannot travel without shoes on. Prior to the MRI exam, a radiograph of each foot is performed to detect any metal, such as a remnant of a horse shoe nail which must be removed prior to placing the foot in the magnet. The charge for the radiographs is included in the price of the MRI exam. Exam time: 3 to 4 hours Outpatient Internal Medicine Evaluations Following are a few examples of internal medicine evaluations that are normally performed on an outpatient basis: lower respiratory evaluations, neurological examinations, urinary tract evaluations, endocrine evaluations, ophthalmic examinations, and cardiac examinations. These examinations are often extensive in nature, and may require that samples be processed by the clinical laboratory in order to complete the evaluation. For these reasons, the examinations may be several hours in length. Pre-admission care: Please ask our client care representatives if any specific pre-admission care is needed for your horse s outpatient internal medicine evaluation. Exam time: The amount of time for outpatient evaluations varies and includes an examination, performance of diagnostic procedures, processing of laboratory tests, review of the findings with the owner, and preparation of materials and medications for hospital discharge. This can take from 1-4 hours depending on the procedure(s) involved and the horse. Clients can typically remain with their horse or are welcome to wait for their horse in the client waiting area. Elective Surgical Procedures Outpatient with General Anesthesia Some procedures are completed on an outpatient basis so that the horse doesn t need to stay at the hospital overnight. The clinician in charge of each case will decide if hospitalization is required or clients may choose to have their horse hospitalized for these procedures as needed. The following are some examples of outpatient procedures: Normal castration, Neurectomy, Periosteal stripping, Umbilical hernia, Tenotomy, and Tendon/Ligament splitting or injection. Pre-admission care: The patient must be fasted, which means that nothing solid can be eaten (hay, grain, pasture, etc.) after midnight of the night prior to your appointment. Water is allowed; it is very important that your horse always has access to water. You must be sure that the horse will not eat its bedding sometimes a muzzle works best and that there is no hay in your trailer. If you desire, the horse can be dropped off the night before so that fasting can take place at the hospital. An overnight stay would be an additional charge. Exam time: The amount of time for the outpatient procedures varies and includes an examination, preparation for anesthesia, surgery, recovery from anesthesia, and stabilization after recovery. This can take from 2-6 hours, depending on the procedure and the horse. Clients can wait for their horse in the client waiting area. The clinician in charge of the case will call the client after the surgery to give an update and to estimate when the patient can be discharged from the hospital. Elective Surgical Procedures Inpatient with General Anesthesia We offer a variety of elective procedures with several options to accommodate your needs. Some examples of inpatient procedures with general anesthesia are as follows: Arthroscopy, Tenoscopy, Ovary removal, Eye surgery, Sequestrum removal, Tieback surgery, Skin graft, and Sinus surgery. Pre-admission care: No pre-admission care is required, unless advised by the clinician. Exam time: After his evaluation, the horse will be admitted and surgery will be performed on the following day. Pre-surgical blood work and fasting will be part of the workup prior to surgery.

8 Please Rate Our Service Thank you for selecting the Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center to care for your horse! We value your opinion and patronage and ask that you fill out the following survey. Please return your completed form to the receptionist or FAX it to (703) For additional details, visit 1) Is this your first visit to the Center? 2) If this is your first visit, why did you choose to bring your horse to us? Yes No Recommended by referring veterinarian Recommended by a friend Knowledge of a specific veterinarian s expertise Media/publications/marketing materials (Web site, article, advertisement, event, etc.) Other (please specify) 3) If you have been to the Center before, approximately how many prior visits have you made? 1 to 5 6 to or More 4) What type of appointment did you have today? Medicine Service Other (please specify) Surgery Service 5) Please rate the Equine Medical Center in the following areas: Excellent Good Marginal Poor Comments Hospital cleanliness Friendliness of staff Willingness of staff to answer questions Willingness of staff to listen to concerns Efficiency of Admissions process Efficiency of Discharge process Communications from the Doctor(s) Communications from Patient Accounts Overall experience during this visit 6) Please list any areas in which you believe that we can improve our services: 7) Please list any areas in which you believe that we excel: 8) Please list any concerns you would like to discuss with us, including your name and a number at which we can reach you: 9) May we share your comments with your referring veterinarian? Yes No 10) This form was filled out by: Owner Trainer Agent Hauler Referring Veterinarian Other (please specify) 11) Your name (optional): Today s date: Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey! Horse s name: Medical record number: