Virtual Veterinary Visits (Telemedicine)

What is Telemedicine offered by FCNMHP?
Telemedicine (or virtual veterinary visits) offered by FCNMHP are virtual visits through Zoom that allow you to visit with one of our licensed veterinarians to evaluate your pet and problem online from the comfort of your home or any location virtually.

Our telemedicine consultations can be for anything from diet, preventative care, vaccination information, some medical issues, or even referrals to a local specialist. Telemedicine visits can provide peace of mind when transport or scheduling presents a challenge to in-person visits.

What happens when I book a telemedicine appointment with FNCMHP?
When booking a video call with a vet, you’ll first be asked a few questions about your pet’s health issue by our phone bank service.

Depending on the issue, you may also be asked to share photographs or copies of your pet’s medical records so our veterinarians can give you the most comprehensive evaluation. Our scheduling team will help you find a time that works for you and your pet. During your virtual visit, our veterinarian will request a review of your pet’s history and provide a visual examination of your pet including any problem areas.

The veterinarian may also ask to see your pet’s environment if related to the medical issue. After your virtual consultation, the veterinarian will make treatment recommendations and send you an email with your visit notes as well as links to pick up or purchase any recommended food or medicine.

What types of appointments can you request for telemedicine at FCNMHP:

• Medication refills
• Fleas or worms
• Itchy pet
• Skin rechecks
• Lumps or growths
• Diarrhea (but not vomiting)
• Dental issues
• General Wellness Advice
• Post-op recheck: monitoring the incision site to evaluate healing, pain control, follow-up visits
• Aggressive dogs and fractious cats (need medication prior to visit/grooming)
• Quality of life consultations
• Hospice care management

When is Telemedicine not a good option?
Telemedicine appointments should not be used for urgent or emergency medical conditions (trouble urinating, seizures, severe vomiting or diarrhea, trouble giving birth, active bleeding, paralysis, infected wounds, problems breathing, or any condition in which a veterinarian would need to evaluate the pet in person).

In any of those situations, FCNMHP always recommends a visit to an emergency or urgent care center for the most urgent and accurate assessment.

Telemedicine is limited in that veterinarians may not be able to see or feel conditions in your pet as well as during an in-person visit.

By completing this form and clicking submit, you are acknowledging the following:

My veterinarian has offered me the option of a Telemedicine Consult as an option in seeking medical advice for my pet.  This consultation may take the form of a phone call or Zoom conference and will result in my veterinarian making a clinical assessment of my pet from a different location to myself.

I am undertaking this consultation with the understanding that there are limitations to what my veterinarian can deduce about my animal’s condition without a physical examination and/or other detailed investigations best done in the clinic. To minimize the risks of errors of clinical judgement my veterinarian may recommend that my pet attend the clinic and/or undergo further diagnostic tests. This will then be up to me to decide if I proceed.

I understand that if my pet is suffering from an urgent or emergency medical conditions (trouble urinating, seizures, severe vomiting or diarrhea, trouble giving birth, active bleeding, paralysis, infected wounds, problems breathing)  that emergency care is recommend as soon as possible and virtual visits are not appropriate for those situations. 

I understand that it is my responsibility to contact my veterinarian and/or attend the clinic (or nearest emergency hospital) if my pet’s condition persists or deteriorates unexpectedly.

I understand that payment for my consultation is required prior to the virtual visit and that the cost of my Telemedicine consultation does NOT include payment for other services, examples of which include but are not limited to such things as drugs, medications, tests, surgery, procedures, diagnostics, referrals to specialists, hospital care, etc. If other services are recommended by my veterinarian, I understand that they will provide me with a written treatment plan listing these things and an estimate for costs.

I understand that I am consulting with one of the veterinarians employed with First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) who are all registered veterinary practitioners in the state of Florida. I also confirm that my details including my stated residence in the state of Florida are correct.

I agree to RELEASE OF INFORMATION from FCNMHP to any other veterinary care facility or provider to which my pet’s care may be transferred.