VCPR: Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship
In order for a veterinarian to legally and ethically provide medical advice, dispense prescription medications, give vaccinations, or perform any other medical, surgical, or dental procedure, there must be a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship – a VCPR.
For our general pet practice at Yarmouth Veterinary Center, an appropriately timed examination of the pet and consultation with the owner is necessary to establish a valid VCPR.
- For new problems and new flare-ups of chronic problems, the exam and consultation must be when the problem occurs.
- For chronic problems that require ongoing management and treatment, the exam and consult must be within the previous year, at a minimum. For some chronic problems, more frequent exams might be required.
- For preventive healthcare (vaccinations, heartworm preventives, prescription dewormers, prescription flea and tick control, etc.), the exam and consult must be within the previous year. The pet must not be significantly ill or injured at the time of this exam and consultation. This is the well-known “annual exam”.
The VCPR is specifically for the veterinary practice with which it is established. The exam and consult must be performed by a Yarmouth Veterinary Center veterinarian for the VCPR to be valid with Yarmouth Veterinary Center.
Appointment Types
Technician: Our technicians and assistants are very skilled at a wide variety of nursing and medical procedures, ranging from routine nail trims and emptying anal sacs to blood collection to laser therapy to administering injectable fluids and other medications. Thus, many appointments are scheduled with a technician at YVC.
Office Visit: We see pets primarily by scheduled appointments. In order to provide excellent pet and client care, we routinely allow as much or more time for office visits as any other veterinary practice. We strive to stay on time, but emergencies and urgent pet problems make occasional delays unavoidable.
Drop-Off: For the convenience of our clients, drop-off appointments are available. You leave your pet with us for part of the day. Dropped-off pets are quickly evaluated when they arrive and, if their problem is urgent or an emergency, they promptly receive the necessary care. While they are in our hospital, all pets are monitored and cared for carefully. We always do an exam, but we never do other diagnostic tests or treatments unless the client has approved them.
Surgical and Dental: These procedures typically require general anesthesia. Most of our procedures are scheduled in the morning; for these appointments, we admit the pet to our hospital between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and discharge them between 3:00 and 5:45 in the afternoon. Occasionally, we schedule a procedure for the afternoon; these pets are dropped off by noon; sometimes they are awake and ready to go home the same day, but most often they stay overnight and go home the next day.
Housecall: We do house call appointments Monday through Friday, from the greater Portland to the greater Brunswick area.
Walk-in: We provide prompt care for emergencies. We do not routinely see walk-in appointments for less urgent problems, but we usually find a way to accommodate clients who arrive without an appointment.
No-Show Policy
We understand that life happens, and at times unforeseen circumstances occur, resulting in the inability to keep a scheduled appointment. In these cases, we ask that you inform us as soon as possible so that we may offer that spot to another patient in need. We will also do our best to help you reschedule to the next available, appropriate appointment slot.
In the interest of fairness to both you, your pet, our other patients and clients, and our staff, if you do not show up for two consecutively scheduled appointments or procedures, or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, you will be asked to prepay the exam or primary procedure fee prior to scheduling a third time. Further missed appointments will result in the forfeiture of the deposit.
Dispensing Medications
Yarmouth Veterinary Center has in-house and online pharmacies.
In order for us to legally and ethically dispense or prescribe medications, we must perform an examination of the pet and consultation with the owner about the problem for which the prescription is intended. This exam and consultation must be appropriately timed: for new pet problems, it must be when the problem occurs; for chronic pet problems, it must be, at a minimum, within the preceding year.
When a multiple-refills or refill-as-needed prescription is needed, the pet must be examined at least once yearly. More frequent exams might be needed; this decision is made by the veterinarian.
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