Visiting Hours & Guidelines

Hospital Admission at CityU VMC

 

While in CityU VMC, your pet will be cared for around the clock by a team of highly trained, compassionate veterinary professionals. Our nurses will ensure your pet has clean, comfortable bedding, food and water as appropriate, and other necessities at all times. If your pet requires medication for anxiety or pain, it will be prescribed by the supervising veterinarian. Our goal is to keep your pet as comfortable as possible throughout hospitalisation.

If your pet is admitted at CityU VMC for hospitalisation, your furry friend will be kept in one of three areas:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) : This is the highest level of care at CityU VMC, reserved for patients requiring intensive treatment and monitoring. The ICU is equipped with advanced medical equipment, and there are separate rooms for cats and dogs to minimise stress and noise. A dedicated veterinarian with a team of nurses is stationed in the ICU 24/7.
• Dog/cat ward: These wards are for patients that do not require intensive care or close monitoring but may need IV fluids, injectable drugs or medications. Pets in wards are still monitored by our nursing staff.
• Isolation: The isolation wards are reserved for patients with potentially contagious or zoonotic diseases. The isolation wards are designed to minimise the risk of spreading pathogens to other areas of the hospital, while maintaining a high level of care and patient monitoring. CityU VMC has both respiratory and gastro-intestinal isolation wards.

During the course of hospitalisation, your pet may be moved to different wards within the hospital according to their treatment and monitoring requirements. You will be updated as these changes occur.

Visitation Guidelines

At CityU VMC, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional care for your pets while maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our staff and clients. To ensure a streamlined visitation experience, we kindly ask that you follow these guidelines:

 

Visiting Hours

Intensive Care Unit (ICU):	From 12 pm – 2 pm; 3 pm – 7 pm daily
Wards:	From 12 pm – 7 pm daily
Duration:	15 minutes
Visitor:	Maximum 3 people

Remarks:

*Visitation may be restricted based on the patient's condition or specific procedures that are underway.
*Special arrangements will be implemented during inclement weather; you may call  3650 3000 for the latest update.

 

Check-In Procedure

• Schedule Your Visit - Please call 3650 3000 or contact the reception staff to schedule an appropriate visitation time.
• Register Upon Arrival - Please inform the reception staff of your arrival and provide your pet's name.

 

Health and Safety Protocols

• Hand Hygiene - Please use hand sanitiser before entering the ward and after interacting with pets to help maintain a safe environment.
• Masks - While wearing a mask is encouraged for everyone’s protection, it remains optional.
• Health Considerations - If you or anyone in your party is experiencing symptoms of illness or has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for a contagious disease, we kindly ask that you postpone your visit to protect the health of our patients and staff.
• In some circumstances, for safety reasons, you may be asked to wear gloves or other personal protective equipment during your visit.
• Many hospitalised pets have tubes, catheters, and bandages; some may require supplemental oxygen. Please refrain from adjusting or removing these medical devices during your visit for the patient's safety and well-being.

 

Interaction with Pets

• A staff member may supervise all interactions with pets to ensure the safety of both the animal and the visitor.
• For biosecurity reasons, please avoid excessive handling of the pet’s bedding and toys or bringing in any items from home unless expressly permitted by the veterinary team.

 

Duration and Limitations

• Visits are typically limited to 15 minutes to maintain the ward schedule.
• Number of Visitors – Up to 3 visitors per pet, ensuring a calm environment.
• Based on the patient's situation, we may offer to move to the family room/ consultation room for visitations permitted by the veterinary team.

 

Phone updates and communication

• We will update you by phone while your pet is hospitalised in the ICU or wards. To facilitate this, please provide a reliable contact number and designate a primary contact person who can be reached during your pet's stay.
• Our team will contact you in case of an emergency or significant change to the treatment plan. If you have questions that can't be addressed during the brief phone update, we encourage you to schedule an in-person consultation with the veterinarian.
• Our team members may contact you to clarify your pet’s medical history, assess your understanding of your pet’s diagnosis, and ensure thoroughness.

 

Additional Guidelines

• Always remain in the designated visitation area and follow hospital staff directions.
• Please refrain from bringing food or drinks into the ward area.
• Please follow our staff’s instructions, which are intended to protect you, your pet, and other hospital patients.
• To protect the privacy of our clients and their families, taking photos and videos is not permitted within CityU VMC unless the supervising veterinarian grants special permission.
• If your pet requires a special diet and/or medications, please inform your veterinarian during hospital admission. You may leave the food and/or medications with our receptionists, who will transfer them to our veterinary staff.

 

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Your adherence to these guidelines will help us provide the best care for our beloved pets and ensure a safe environment for all. We appreciate your support!

Notes

• These guidelines are subject to change based on evolving health and safety regulations. For enquiries, please call 3650 3000 for updated information.

 

 

Last update: 11.2024

Discharge

When your pet is ready to be discharged from the hospital, your veterinarian will call you to arrange pick-up.

Discharges are scheduled during the day before 5:30 pm to ensure your veterinarian has time to meet with you and review the discharge instructions.

You will be provided with a written copy of instructions for home care, monitoring, and medications, either in person during the discharge appointment or through email by the end of the day.

Due to overnight staffing limitations, your veterinarian may not be available to meet with you if discharged after hours, and a late discharge fee may be incurred.

If you wish to bring your pet home before treatment is completed, you may be asked to sign an “against medical advice” form. This form acknowledges that you understand the risks of discharging your pet from the hospital without recommended treatment.

For more information

We look forward to serving you and your pets at CityU VMC. We know that hospitalisation can be daunting and scary, but our team is here for you and ready to help you and your pet through this challenge.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s treatment, please call us at 3650 3000 or email info@cityuvmc.com.hk.

 

Last update: 06.2023