COVID-19 Protocol

UPDATE 6/28/2021:

For our staff's safety, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals when entering the practice. The existing protocol posted June 14th (see below) remains otherwise unchanged until further notice. Thank you!

UPDATE 6/4/2021:

Great news! As of Thursday, June 14th we are once again allowing clients to accompany their pets into the hospital for doctor visits!

Please know that we are making this a slow transition so that we're able to monitor any changes in the Pittsburgh area and adapt accordingly.

Technician appointments and medication/food pickups will remain curbside until further notice.

Call when you arrive in the parking lot, and we will bring you and your pet (only one person, please!) into the hospital when an exam room is ready.

Masks are required at this time. If you are unable to wear a mask, we are happy to provide curbside care.

Though our space is limited, we are still doing our best to maintain social distancing and ask that you remain seated throughout your pet's exam.

When we're finished, stay where you are and your technician will check you out from the room and lead you to the exit.

Thank you for your understanding and welcome back inside!

Previous Updates:

UPDATE 4/22/2021:

Following guidance from the CDC and the AVMA, we will continue to provide curbside service with only staff entering the building until further notice.

APPOINTMENTS:

Please send only one family member to your visit.
You can stay in your car - call us when you arrive, and a staff member will come out to you. Many tech appointments and minor procedures can be done right in the parking lot; otherwise we can take the pet into the office for examination/diagnostics/treatment and return him/her to you when finished. The doctor will communicate with you by phone or will come out to speak with you directly if needed.
Payments can be taken with a credit card over the phone or a staff member will take payment and return your receipt.
In the event that you are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.), we ask that you call us to reschedule your appointment. If your pet is sick, have someone else bring your pet to the office and keep staff informed.

SURGERY DROP-OFF:

Call us when you arrive. The surgery technician will bring your pet's consent forms and check you in before bringing your pet into the office.
We will call you after your pet's procedure; he/she will stay with us for awhile longer during recovery.
Call again when you arrive at the arranged pickup time. We will go over discharge instructions and aftercare with you and take payment (if not already done by phone) before bringing your pet back to the car.

MEDICATION PICKUP:

Please allow 24 hours for prescription refills.
When your order is ready for pickup, we will take your payment by phone.
Call us when you arrive at the office, and a staff member will bring your pet's prescription to you.

PRESCRIPTION FOOD PICKUP:

Please call ahead to check inventory and allow time for doctor's authorization.
When your order is ready for pickup, we will take your payment by phone.
Call us when you arrive at the office, and a staff member will bring your pet's food to you.
All Hill's Prescription Diets after this pickup will be provided through the Hill's to Home program. Staff will email you an invite to this service and future orders will be delivered to your home at no additional cost.

UPDATE 12/14/2020:

As cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase in Allegheny County, we are taking action to do our part to reduce community spread.

Wellness visits and non-essential services will be postponed until further notice.

We are available for sick visits, with mitigation actions in place:

MASKS & SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED: Please be courteous: wear your mask and maintain space when interacting with our staff members. We're doing our best to protect you, as well.

CURBSIDE APPOINTMENTS: Please limit family members to one person per pet. Call us when you arrive, and wait in your car. A technician will come out to bring your pet into the office for care. The doctor will communicate with you by phone or will come out to speak with you directly if needed. Payments can be taken with a credit card over the phone or a staff member will take payment and return your receipt.

MEDICATION/FOOD PICKUP: Please call ahead so that we can obtain authorization from your veterinarian for refills. We will contact you when your pet's prescription is ready for pickup. As with appointments, call when you arrive and a staff member will bring it out to you. Payments can be taken with a credit card over the phone or a staff member will take payment and return your receipt.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. These are difficult decisions for us to make, but we feel that it is in the best interest of our clients, staff, and the community at large to make temporary changes for the greater good. Stay safe!

UPDATE 6/8/2020:

We're GREEN, folks! While this doesn't mean things have gone back to the way they once were, we are now allowing clients to accompany their pets into the exam room for appointments with the veterinarian.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
1. Call us when you arrive for your pet's appointment with the doctor.
2. Please wait in your car or on the provided outdoor seating. due to space limitations, our waiting room is CLOSED.
3. A technician will come out to escort you directly to the exam room, where you will stay for the duration of the appointment.
4. We will check you out from the room and direct you to the exit.

We ask that you continue to limit family members to one person per pet, and if you are not feeling well to please reschedule your visit if no one else can bring your pet to the office.

Curbside service will continue for technician appointments, medication/food pickups, and fecal/urine sample drop-offs.

We appreciate your cooperation as we continue to do our part to keep our clients and staff safe. And of course, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us!

UPDATE 5/15/2020:

As our area moves into the "yellow phase" under Governor Wolf's guidelines, please note that we will NOT be making any changes to the below protocol. Social distancing remains a key part of maintaining the progress we've made as a community.

Following guidance from the CDC and the AVMA, we will continue to provide curbside service with only staff entering the building until further notice.

ANNOUNCEMENT 3/16/2020:

Dear Pet Parents:

Many businesses in our area are facing reduced hours or complete closure as we prepare our community for the COVID-19 pandemic. Please know that our offices will remain open as long as we are able to. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is working to ensure that veterinarians are classified as "essential businesses" in regards to government-mandated closures. This not only will allow us to continue to provide care for your pets, but it protects the veterinarians that care for our food supply animals across the country.

We are operating on normal business hours - this includes sick visits, wellness care, and surgical services. Our staff is staying current with updates from the CDC and local health officials. As a medical facility, hygiene and surface disinfection have always been a priority in our office. We are extending these efforts beyond our already high standards, using approved methods and cleaners as recommended by the CDC.

In an effort to reduce foot traffic within our building, we are recommending the following:

APPOINTMENTS:

Please send only one family member to your visit.
You can stay in your car - call us when you arrive, and a staff member will come out to you. Many tech appointments and minor procedures can be done right in the parking lot; otherwise we can take the pet into the office for examination/diagnostics/treatment and return him/her to you when finished. The doctor will communicate with you by phone or will come out to speak with you directly if needed.
Payments can be taken with a credit card over the phone or a staff member will take payment and return your receipt.
In the event that you are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.), we ask that you call us to reschedule your appointment. If your pet is sick, have someone else bring your pet to the office and keep staff informed.

SURGERY DROP-OFF:

Call us when you arrive. The surgery technician will bring your pet's consent forms and check you in before bringing your pet into the office.
We will call you after your pet's procedure; he/she will stay with us for awhile longer during recovery.
Call again when you arrive at the arranged pickup time. We will go over discharge instructions and aftercare with you and take payment (if not already done by phone) before bringing your pet back to the car.

MEDICATION PICKUP:

Please allow 24 hours for prescription refills.
When your order is ready for pickup, we will take your payment by phone.
Call us when you arrive at the office, and a staff member will bring your pet's prescription to you.

PRESCRIPTION FOOD PICKUP:

Please call ahead to check inventory and allow time for doctor's authorization.
When your order is ready for pickup, we will take your payment by phone.
Call us when you arrive at the office, and a staff member will bring your pet's food to you.
All Hill's Prescription Diets after this pickup will be provided through the Hill's to Home program. Staff will email you an invite to this service and future orders will be delivered to your home at no additional cost.

CAN MY PET BE INFECTED WITH OR SPREAD CORONAVIRUS?
From the AVMA 3/15/2020: We do not have a clear answer as to whether SARS-CoV-2 can infect pets at this time. That said, currently, there is no evidence that pets become sick. Infectious disease experts, as well as the CDC, OIE, and WHO indicate there is also no evidence to suggest that pet dogs or cats can be a source of infection with SARS-CoV-2, including spreading COVID-19 to people. More investigation is underway and, as we learn more, we will update you.

We encourage pet owners to visit AVMA.org for the most current information regarding pets and the novel coronavirus. You can find the most current FAQ fact sheet here.

This is a rapidly-changing situation for all of us across the world. Know that we are doing everything we can to continue to provide the best care possible for your pets while maintaining the safety of our staff, clients, and our community as a whole. Look for additional updates from us via email, our website and our Facebook page.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation during this time. If we all do our part to maintain social distancing and minimize interactions with others in the community, our hospitals and ICU units have a fighting chance to minimize the impact of COVID-19. We're all in this together!

Sincerely,
Your friends at Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital

Published March 16, 2020

Coronavirus Protocol

Previous Updates: