Clinical Services
General Referral Policy
One of the primary functions of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine is to assist private practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of unusual cases. The staff of the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center will always be available to receive cases through referral from a veterinarian or to provide private consultation as needed.
The referring veterinarian should arrange by telephone or direct contact a specific appointment for the referral patient. This may be done through the hospital receptionist between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m (Call Small Animal and Exotics at 865-974-8387; Large Animal Clinic at 974-5701 or 974-5702 ). Should the referring practitioner wish to discuss the medical aspects of a particular case prior to arranging an appointment, he or she may do so by contacting the receiving clinician directly. Emergency referral appointments may be made by contacting the emergency duty clinician.
Although the receiving and referring veterinarian may have previously discussed a case prior to the animal being seen at the University, it is necessary and in the patient's best interest that a written case history and summary of all previous tests, surgeries and medications be provided at their initial visit. A special referral form is available for this purpose. The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine will contact the referring veterinarian and inform him or her of the client's arrival and admittance to the Veterinary Medical Center. The referring veterinarian is encouraged to contact the receiving clinician at any time concerning the progress of a hospitalized case. The UTCVM faculty will call the referring veterinarian at the time of discharging the case to give preliminary instructions and diagnosis.
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine will instruct the client upon dismissal to return the patient to the referring veterinarian for follow-up and all other services required. There will be times when it may be necessary for the client to return to the University for future evaluation, this will only be done when it is deemed in the best interest of the patient or requested by the referring veterinarian.
In addition, UTCVM faculty will make a final and complete written report to the referring veterinarian as soon as possible after final disposition of the case regarding all findings, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, aftercare, or pathology.
General Non-referral Policy
The Large Animal Clinic and the Exotic Animal Clinic also receive and admit patients that do not have a referring veterinarian. Please see individual clinic policies.
Small Animal Clinic
The Small Animal Clinic requires referrals. Please refer to the General Referral Policies for more information about how to admit your small animal to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
Large Animal Clinic
The Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences will receive patients that are referred by a private veterinarian and patients that are not referred. For referral cases please follow the policy as stated under General Referral Policy. Non-referral patients are those that do not have a local, practicing veterinarian who routinely provides veterinary care or who are already clients of the Large Animal Clinic. For non-referral and referral cases, please contact the reception desk in the Large Animal Veterinary Medical Center at 865-974-5701 or 865-974-5702 for an appointment or for emergency service after normal working hours. Appointments, referral or non-referral, may be made for the Veterinary Medical Center and the ambulatory services at the above numbers.
Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic
The Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic encourages referrals, but it is not necessary to be referred in order to admit an animal as a patient.