Purdue University

School of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital

Referring Veterinarians

The Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital was opened in 1959 as part of the establishment of the School of

Veterinary Medicine, to provide a clinical setting for the training of veterinary medicine students, veterinary

technician students, interns, and residents as they pursue specialty areas within veterinary medicine. In order to provide an adequate caseload to facilitate such training, the hospital sought the referral of the more complicated

cases from private practice veterinarians throughout the State of Indiana, as well as our neighboring states.

As a teaching institution, board certified and board eligible professionals were recruited to provide the best

instructors for our students, as well as the best doctors for our referred patients. State of the art equipment was

added to our facility as new medical innovations were developed so that we could continue our mission to train

future veterinarians while providing superb medical care.

Through the years Community Practice services were added for both small animal patients and large animal

patients in West Lafayette and the surrounding area to provide not only primary wellness care of local pets/animals

but to also provide our students with the opportunity to be educated in this field of veterinary medicine as well.

The Referring Veterinarian is our primary customer. We work as a team with the Referring Veterinarian. He or she entrusts us with his/her client and patient to augment the care he/she has already provided and thus permits us to continue to educate the future providers of veterinary medicine.

Referrals are required for Small Animal Hospital patients (except for those that qualify to be seen through the Community Practice service). Referrals may be accomplished through the following methods:

• Complete a Referral Form and fax, along with supporting documentation to our Referral Veterinary Help Desk at 765-496-1025
• Phone the Referral Veterinary Help Desk to call in your referral. The Help Desk staff will then assist you.You can reach the Help Desk at 765-496-1000.

Large Animal Hospital referrals are welcome, but are not required. Veterinarians may call the Large Animal

Hospital and speak with a receptionist to make the appointment for their referral, or they may ask to speak with a clinician. The Large Animal Reception can be reached at 765-494-8548.

Upon admisssion, notification will be faxed to the Referring Veterinarian. Our clinicians will be in communication with the Referring Veterinarian, as much as possible, during their patient’s hospitalization to keep him/her up to date

with the progress of the patient.

Following discharge (usually within 24 hours), a copy of the Discharge Summary will be faxed to the Referring Veterinarian outlining in detail the case from admission to discharge.

In the unfortunate event that a referred patient passes away, the Referring Veterinarian will be notified either by a faxed notice or by a phone call from the attending clinician. A Discharge Summary will follow.