Prescription Policy Details
We understand that there are many reasons that our clients may want to purchase medications from online retailers or outside pharmacies instead of directly from us. To assist you in making the most informed decision for your pet, we want to be very clear that we recommend that you purchase products only from a properly accredited and certified veterinary pharmacy. However, if you choose to procure medications from another source we want to give you that option.
Brooklyn Yard Veterinary Hospital will not process orders for medictions or preventatives sent directly to us (via phone or fax) from online suppliers or from outside pharmacies (with the exception of compounding pharmacies for a specific medication formulation).
We absolutely support our client’s choice to choose where they obtain their pet’s medications and are happy to accommodate a request to do so. Clients who opt to obtain their pet’s medication through these avenues will simply need to pick up a written prescription at our hospital during normal business hours.
Why did we institute this policy? We did so for a few reasons listed below:
First, we are choosing as a hospital to spend our time focusing on taking care of our patients and clients instead of answering faxes and calling pharmacies.
Second, managing outside prescriptions is costly in terms of staff time and effort and as a business, we do not recoup these costs. We have decided that if clients would rather do business with an outside or online pharmacy, we can’t continue to give away our staff’s time and energy for convenience's sake. It takes a significant amount of time to review medical records, ensure proper documentation of the medication request, and call/fax in the prescription. We could raise our fees across the board or charge a fee for the time it takes to manage outside prescription requests, but instead have chosen to streamline this process on our end that makes sense for our workflow and staff resources.
Third, we feel it is better medicine with written documentation of a prescription that is filled outside of our hospital. There are more concerns about the possibility of prescription errors when relaying information over the phone. Again, we would be happy to provide you with a written prescription if you wish to use an outside pharmacy or online retailer. Just let us know!
Finally, we understand that cost is a big reason that our clients purchase from outside pharmacies and online retailers. We do our very best to make our medications and preventatives affordable, but the reality is that most large online pharmacies sell their products for less than we can purchase from our distributors. Most importantly, by purchasing directly from our hospital and from our online store, you are supporting our local business here in Portland. The warehouse for our supplier, Vetsource is also located in Portland. Rather than send your dollars off to a large corporation, we would hope that you would choose to support our small business and shop locally.
We would like to encourage our clients to order medications and preventatives directly from us through direct purchase at our hospital or from our own online store through Vetsource. Because our online store is part of our clinic infrastructure you will not need a written prescription if you order this way. Our hospital and online store's supply chain is 100% secure. From the time the medication you order is manufactured, all the way to when you are going to give it to your pet, it has been handled, stored and packaged in compliance with manufacturer guidelines. The product you receive is guaranteed to be the name-brand medication in the proper dosage and packaging. Medications purchased directly from us and our online store are guaranteed by the product's manufacturer and most importantly by us, your pet's veterinarian.
Please note that a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR) is required by Oregon law in order to authorize all prescriptions.
According to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, a VCPR exists when the following conditions are met:
The veterinarian must have sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal.
This means that the veterinarian has seen the animal within the last year and is personally acquainted with the care of the animal by virtue of a physical examination of the animal or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.
A VCPR must be in place for a veterinarian to be able to legally provide treatment, prescribe medications, or administer vaccines to an animal. The veterinarian must have examined the animal within the last year in order to establish the VCPR.
Once the VCPR is established, the veterinarian may agree to waive exams during the subsequent 12 months, unless the animal is brought in with a new health problem (which would require a diagnostic examination) or is scheduled for sedation (to determine the animal's tolerance for anesthesia).
This requirement is spelled out in the Administrative Rules (OAR 875-015-0030 (h)) which govern the practice of veterinary medicine in Oregon. The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board oversees these requirements as the licensing agency of veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians in Oregon.
If you have any further questions about our policy, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for trusting us with your pet's medical care!