For Veterinarians

Things to Have Ready

Prior to my arrival at the clinic, it is helpful to have a few things prepared:

Be sure to advise the client to fast the patient prior to the scheduled time (preferably 12 hours), if medically possible. Food and gas in the digestive tract block the ultrasound waves and obscure some of the study. This also helps prepare the patient if sedation is necessary
Submitting a completed examination request form prior to the scheduled date allows for more efficiency during my visit to your practice and provides a brief summary so I am aware of your concerns for the patient in advance. The summary can be brief, even one or two words about the major problem with the pet, for example: "vomiting." CLICK HERE for the Ultrasound Request Form.
Be sure to prepare the client for the pet to be shaved and is often helpful to obtain permission for sedation or fine needle aspirates. This avoids problems if the client cannot be reached and improves the efficiency, safety, diagnostic ability and comfort for the pet.
You can direct your clients to the following link for more information on what to expect: www.drjoshportner.com/for-pet-parents

Service Description

You can expect several things to happen when I am in the clinic:

Studies can range from full abdominal ultrasound with adjunct thoracic evaluation (modified T-FAST and Vet BLUE Lung protocol) to abdominal or thoracic studies to recheck ultrasounds or even single system ultrasounds in some cases. I do not perform echocardiograms, as I recommend that an echocardiogram accompany the advice and interpretation of a cardiologist. CLICK HERE to see a complete list of services.
A radiologist is available to my service via telemedicine for another opinion if I feel this is necessary.
Once the study is completed, if the attending veterinarian is available, we review the findings and my clinical impressions of the case verbally. If the findings indicate fine needle aspirates are needed, these can be done.
The report is written on site (except for rare extenuating circumstances) and available immediately. The report includes physical findings and my case recommendations.
The report and invoice are emailed to your clinic prior to my leaving the building. Most clinics pay by check at the time of service, which is reflected on the invoice.

The Fine Print:

The only requirement for me to come out to your clinic is one complete abdominal examination and unless there is a considerably long commute (over an hour) or there is an urgency that requires me to adjust my schedule, there are no travel fees or urgency fees respectively. If these fees will apply, I discuss that at the time I am contacted. The attending clinician or the hospital staff can text, call, or email me to schedule an appointment. In order to preserve some necessary flexibility, if I am able, I generally give a ballpark time such as morning, late morning, lunch time, early/late afternoon, or evening. These times are estimates and occasionally require unexpected modification.
If you schedule an appointment and later need to add on another study, this is almost always possible, just text or call and double check. Partial studies/single system studies and recheck evaluations require at least 1 full abdominal study and approval before the appointment is scheduled with the client, otherwise I do not generally stipulate a minimum number of studies.
There are cancellation fees for cancellations less than 36 hours prior to the allotted time, however I do not like charging them and I try to be as flexible as possible. Fees are higher if I have started the commute to the clinic and have not been informed in advance of the cancellation.
As of right now, most times I can accommodate scheduling to be in your practice within a few days, often on the same day, however same day studies may often need an urgency fee.