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OPVMC Referral Patient Policy: Surgical, Internal Medicine, Oncology or Behavioral Services

Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center offers referral services for our board-certified internists, surgeon, and oncologist. Please note: We do not provide routine preventive care for a referred patient.

How to Refer a Patient

To refer a patient to one of our board-certified specialists for treatment or a second opinion in internal medicine, oncology or surgery:

  • Refer and access medical records via the rDVM Referral Portal
    • OPVMC's rDVM portal is now also available in app form for iPhones/iPads here and for Android via Google Play here.
  • Call our direct referral line (716) 844-6929 or our main number (716) 662-6660
  • Fax your referral letter and patient records to (800) 284-0306
  • Email records to contact@opvmc.net
  • Click to open and print our Referral Form. Please complete and fax back to (800) 284-0306

Please be sure to send a complete referral letter, copies of any completed blood work, and any X-rays. Once treatment has concluded, it is expected that the patient returns to the referring veterinarian. Other than emergencies, we will not see outside patients without an accompanying referral letter.

Specialist’s Availability

Neurology & Neurosurgery

  • Arielle Herberger, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology): Dr. Herberger is joining the team in September 2022 and will work full time, with specific details of her schedule still being worked out. On days that she is here she will see consultations, and perform both procedures and surgery. Dr. Herberger provides emergency diagnostic and surgery services as needed.*** See note below

***Please note OPVMC always has a surgeon available on call 24/7 for emergencies on a case by case basis as determined and deemed necessary by the OPVMC attending veterinarian.

Internal Medicine

  • Kevin Kumrow, DVM, DACVIM: Dr. Kumrow conducts referral consultations on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. He has procedure time on each of those days for both outpatients and hospitalized patients. He is available for our attending veterinarians for consultations whenever he is “in” at OPVMC. He is not available on Tuesdays, weekends, or holidays.
  • Melanie Hall, MS, DVM, DACVIM: Dr. Hall conducts referral consultations on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. She has procedure time on each of those days for outpatients and hospitalized patients. She is available for for consultations for our attending veterinarians whenever she is "in" at OPVMC. She is not available on Mondays, weekends or holidays.
  • Erin Toone, DVM: Dr. Toone conducts referral consultations on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. She has procedure time on each of those days for outpatients and hospitalized patients. She is available for for consultations for our attending veterinarians whenever she is "in" at OPVMC. She is not available on Fridays, weekends or holidays.
  • David Brummer, DVM, DACVIM retired from OPVMC on 10.20.2021

Surgery

  • James Fingeroth, DVM, DACVS: Our board certified surgeon Dr. Fingeroth is available for surgical consultations on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, rechecks in the afternoon, and for surgery all day on Wednesday. Dr. Fingeroth needs to see each prospective patient as a surgical consultation appointment before surgery is scheduled. Dr. Fingeroth is not scheduled on Monday or Friday. He provides emergency surgery services as needed. *** See note below
  • Paul A. Kloc II, MA, DVM: Dr. Kloc has completed a residency and his practice is limited to surgery. He is available for surgical consultations on Monday and Wednesday, mornings and afternoons. Dr. Kloc needs to see each prospective patient as a surgical consultation appointment before surgery is scheduled. He is scheduled for surgery all day on Tuesdays and Fridays. He provides emergency surgery services as needed. Dr. Kloc is off on Thursdays. *** See note below

***Please note OPVMC always has a surgeon available on call 24/7 for emergencies on a case by case basis as determined and deemed necessary by the OPVMC attending veterinarian.

Oncology

  • Ashley Case, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology): Dr. Case conducts referral consultations on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. She has procedure and chemotherapy time on each of those days for both outpatients and hospitalized patients. She is available for our attending veterinarians for consultations whenever she is “in” at OPVMC. She is not available on Fridays, weekends, or holidays.

To learn more about any of the doctors above please click their name.

Referring a Patient to the Behavioral Specialist

As of February 2017, OPVMC currently has a visiting veterinarian that specializes in behavioral medicine, Dr. Katherine Houpt. She visits OPVMC once a month for consultations. Should you need to schedule a consultation please call (716) 662-6660. Referring veterinarians can call the same number; however we encourage you to refer via the OPVMC referral portal here:
www.opvmc.com/rvetlink

Some of our doctors have also had special training and clinical experience in behavioral medicine and will schedule behavior consultations for mild and moderate behavioral problems. Our veterinarians work with our Pet Behavior Advocate Team of veterinarians and doctors to diagnose and treat pets with behavior problems.

Focus on Communications

To help coordinate communications, we have a telephone technician to answer medical or emergency questions regarding our services, patient updates, and client concerns. Our voicemail system allows you to leave messages for the attending veterinarian or specialist. In addition, for hospitalized cases you receive a status update via fax after rounds each morning.

When you call for an update about your patient, leave a message in the technician’s voicemail. The technician or attending veterinarian will return your call. Please be sure to leave clear information about the patient you referred and a contact number.

Information for Pet Owners Referred from Other Hospitals

General Referral Policy: If you have been referred to us by your local veterinarian, please understand that once your pet has completed treatment for the specifically diagnosed problem, routine veterinary care will be resumed by your regular veterinarian. We will not see other pets or the same pet for a different problem, unless there is an accompanying referral letter from the regular veterinarian. We will however see ANY PET at ANY TIME in the event of an EMERGENCY.

Your Pet's Medical Records: We are not affiliated with your regular veterinarian but we do share a relationship with them in that we share a common goal in caring for your pet as a team. They have entrusted us to care for your pet and we take that role very seriously.

Since we are not affiliated with your regular veterinarian and although we have electronic medical records; a universally accessible electronic medical record database does NOT yet exist in veterinary medicine as it does in human medicine; therefore we DO NOT have access to your pet's medical records, x-rays or lab work unless you or your veterinarian provide them to us. Please bring any medical records, lab work and/or x-rays with you for your appointment here as this will greatly help our doctors treat your pet. Please also make sure that a referral letter has been sent to us in advance (if not bring it with you the day of the appointment). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.