COVID-19

 

June 17,2021 UPDATE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At Dixie Animal Hospital, the health and safety of our patients, staff and community continues to be our number one priority.

 As the state continues to reduce it's COVID case numbers, we will continue to provide seamless service for you and your pets. We are committed to offering a safe and healthy environment for you and your pets.

Updated Client Guidelines for Health and Safety - Effective June 21st, 2021

Effective June 21st, 2021 we will begin allowing clients to re-enter the building. All clients, staff and vendors/delivery personnel must wear a mask to enter the building.

The lobby will be open as normal. We recommend social distancing 6 feet apart when possible.

There will be a maximum of two pet owners/companions allowed in each exam room. When possible, it would be better to restrict to one companion as our exam rooms are small.

Client pre-appointment emails will state, "If you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 or is experiencing illness such as coughing, sneezing, fever, diarrhea or other symptoms please remain outside the building and inform us by calling (305) 238-5161 so that we can safely and appropriately see your pet. We are also happy to work with you to reschedule your appointment."

Clinic Precautionary Measures
We will continue with the steps we started last year to do our part as a piece of the community and have trained our staff in the following protocols:

We are conducting more frequent sanitizing using the same disinfectants that we use in our surgical suites.

We have posted signage and sent protocol notices to our staff encouraging good personal hygiene.

Team members are washing their hands before and after each appointment.

We have asked staff to stay home and/or seek medical assistance if they are not feeling well. We have also asked that they contact management prior to coming in for a shift if they have had contact with someone who has been sick.

We have been providing frequent government updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Florida Department of Health (FDoH) to our staff as well as recommendations from American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Thank you for your understanding and please do not hesitate to call us with any questions. We’re here for you, your pets, and the community in which we live. We will continue to keep you informed as news and information becomes available. Thank you for being a part of the Dixie Animal Hospital Family.


April 17, 2020 UPDATE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

To our clients and their beloved pets. Please be advised that our March 19th protocols are still in effect which includes our doors being locked during the day and only offering curbside service. The majority of initial contact should be made from within the client's vehicle. When you arrive in the parking lot, please call our office at (305)-238-5161 from you vehicle and a Dixie Animal Hospital team member will be able to discuss with you the purpose of your visit. We are trying to limit as much face-to-face contact, including at the doors of the clinic, as possible. 

In addition, there is some new information collected by the CDC in terms of the relationship between COVID-19 and your pets. Please review this PDF file for some of the information they have gathered and contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you for understanding as we try to ensure that we provide the safest measure for both you and our staff.



March 19, 2020 UPDATE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

To ensure the safety of both our staff and our clients, we are instituting a new protocol. Effective immediately, Dixie Animal Hospital will be keeping it's doors locked during the day and only offering curbside services with very limited exceptions of allowing clients/people into the building. We will have doorbells installed at both the front door and exit door for general public use, but the majority of initial contact should be made from within the client's vehicle (see procedures below). This new protocol is being put into place for the safety of both our staff and clients to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 as per the recommendations from the CDC, AVMA and several other health organizations. 

For clients picking up prescriptions, food, supplies, etc.
1. The client can place the order by phone, then call when they arrive.
2. A receptionist team member will then bring the supplies to the vehicle and collect payment from the owner.

For clients coming in for appointments or patient drop-offs (surgery, drop-offs, boarding, etc.)
1. The client should call when they arrive in the parking lot. A receptionist should complete the check-in procedure over the phone and briefly explain this procedure to the client. Receptionists should get the best phone number to call. If a client did not have a cell phone, then this could be done through the glass door or possibly letting the client into the lobby and doing it with social distancing.
2. Next, a nurse should speak with the clients to get a history.
3. The nurse will then go to the client's car to pick up the animal. Nurses should wear gloves and a mask.
4. At this point, the nurses will bring the patient inside and do vital signs, then have the doctor do the exam.
5. The doctors will examine the pet and then call the owner to go over the treatment plan. Treatment will then be completed.
6. Receptionists will call the client to go over the bill and get payment and let the client know that a nurse will bring their pet back out to the car.

We understand that these new procedures are less than ideal, however, we want to do our best to ensure the safety of everyone involved which will result in allowing us to maintain operations for your pets as long as we can remain open. If you have any questions about these changes, please be sure to contact us as soon as possible.


March 18, 2020 INITIAL STATEMENT RELEASE

As each day progresses we are met with a steady stream of news and updates regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) which is met with frequent changes to protocols and recommendations. At Dixie Animal Hospital, the health and safety of our patients, staff and community is our number one priority.    Our foreseeable goal is to continue to provide seamless and available service for you and your pets as long as possible. We are committed to offering a safe and healthy environment for you and your pets.  


Client Guidelines for Health and Safety

  • We will have an option for obtaining the patient history over the phone and having a nurse pick up your pet from the car and then the doctor will call you to discuss your pet's exam findings and treatment options. If you would prefer this option, please give us a call as soon as you arrive so that we can arrange this.  This procedure may become mandatory (with limited exceptions) soon.  Also, when arriving to pickup prescriptions or other supplies, please call us and our staff can deliver these items out to your car.
  • If you choose to come inside, we ask that you utilize the hand sanitizer found at both reception counters to combat the spread of COVID-19.   
  • Ideally, when possible, please try to have only one person accompany your pet with their appointment. Exceptions can be made if you need assistance or other special circumstances.
  •  If you are staying with your pets during an examination, we ask that you clean your pet's leashes, collars and carriers with an approved COVID-19 cleaning solution prior to arrival. As is always the case with drop-offs, we will ask you to take your pet's leash and collar with you. 
  • At this time, we ask that you refrain from bringing anything for your pet to the clinic outside of necessary medications and/or food. All toys, blankets, etc. should be left at home. 
  • If you or anyone in your family is experiencing flu-like symptoms, we ask that you please reschedule your pet's appointment or have a friend bring your animal in.  
  • We have discussed and trained our staff on 'social distancing' and ask that you follow these CDC recommendations as well by maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others and refraining from shaking hands.


Client Precautionary Measures

As we have watched and taken note from the rest of the world, precautionary measures will be the biggest help in slowly the spread and flattening the curve. We have taken several steps to do our part as a business and have trained our staff in new protocols:
  • We are conducting more frequent sanitizing using the same disinfectants that we use in our surgical suites.
  • We have posted signage and sent protocol notices to our staff encouraging good personal hygiene. 
  • Team members are washing their hands before and after each appointment.
  • We have asked staff to stay home and/or seek medical assistance if they are not feeling well. We have also asked that they contact management prior to coming in for a shift if they have had contact with someone who has been sick.
  • We have been providing frequent government updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Florida Department of Health (FDoH) to our staff as well as recommendations from American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Thank you for your understanding and please do not hesitate to call us with any questions. We’re here for you, your pets, and the community in which we live. We will continue to keep you informed as news and information becomes available. Thank you for being a part of the Dixie Animal Hospital Family.

Sincerely,

The doctors and staff at Dixie Animal Hospital


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Monday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Monday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sunday
Closed