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When Gov. Kate Brown announced in late April that healthcare providers would soon be allowed to perform nonurgent medical procedures on Oregonians, there was an unexpected segment of the states population poised to benefit:

Pets.

In addition to hospitals, surgical centers and dental offices, veterinary clinics also were given the green light to resume all medical procedures on May 1, setting the stage for pet owners to move forward with spays, neuters, dental surgeries and everything in between. The move not only opened the door for clinics to ease the pain of suffering animals, but also delivered a dose of hope to the dozens of clinics in the Portland area struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis.

We were set up so I can do my job and survive by just doing exams, said Dr. Alexandra McLaughry, who owns and operates BarburVet in Southwest Portland. But for a lot of clinics, performing surgeries and other procedures is vital. Thats how we make our bread and butter and pay the bills.

Portland is widely considered one of the most pet-friendly cities in the United States, boasting the most dog parks (33) per capita of any large city in the nation and a smorgasbord of indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities for four-legged friends. It used to be almost as likely to sit next to a dog at a brewery or bar as it was a human. But while COVID-19 has brought much of society to a virtual standstill, it has not decreased the need for animal care.

In fact, some clinics say demand has only intensified the last two months as pet adoptions have increased and pet owners suddenly confined inside with their dogs and cats amid stay-at-home orders have started noticing more issues with their furry friends.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading COVID-19, so treating patients is not a concern for veterinarians. But everything else surrounding the treatment is, and clinics have had to overhaul virtually everything they do to help clients and take care of patients.

Overall, this has been a very strange time, said Michele Zawadzki, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care. At first, it was pretty stressful for everyone and we werent sure how much work wed be able to do or even if we would be laid off. But now, six weeks into this, I think people are starting to feel like its just the new normal.

And the new normal is unlike anything the veterinary world has experienced before.

Nowadays, pet owners rarely step foot inside a veterinary clinic to accompany pets for evaluations. Instead, they pull up to clinics in cars and phone the front desk to initiate appointments. Nurses, covered in masks and gloves, walk outside to retrieve pets from parking lots, then take them inside for an examination while owners remain in their cars and await further instruction.

At some clinics, like Mt. Tabor, veterinarians and nurses assess patients and call owners on cell phones to discuss medical options. At other clinics, like BarburVet, veterinarians set up virtual evaluations during which they allow patients to watch and communicate through smartphones as medical professionals care for their pets. They dissect problems and discuss treatment options live, as if everyone were in the exam room talking face-to-face.

Zawadzki said she and her peers had found our groove with the new process, but it took three times as long to see and treat patients a 15-minute visit now lasts 45 minutes. She also has noticed a spike in anxious pets and owners as the emotional and interpersonal experience of veterinary care has grown cold through technology.

People are so grateful that were open and Im grateful to be able to come to work and help sick animals, Zawadzki said. But, also, I really miss seeing clients. You form really strong relationships with people and we do a lot to help them make difficult decisions with their pets. This is hugely important to people and these are very caring situations. Things are just different these days.

Added McLaughry: Its like working in a whole new job and were all kind of learning on the fly. It can be quite emotional when youre telling clients hard news and thats even more challenging when you have to do so on a screen.

McLaughrys new job has included almost no surgeries. Shes performed just three over the last six weeks, when clinics have been limited to emergency procedures exclusively under governor orders designed, in large part, to conserve supplies of PPEs. Likewise, Zawadzki, who normally performs surgeries three days a week, has had just five surgeries over two days the last six weeks.

But that all changed on May 1, of course, when Brown lifted her ban on nonemergency procedures for humans and animals, alike. McLaughry has a neuter scheduled for Thursday and Zawadzki said Mt. Tabor would resume all medical procedures later this month. The clinics have dozens of pets lined up on waitlists, seeking a variety of care.

Veterinarians can begin treating patients with nonurgent procedures so long as their clinics have an adequate two-week supply of PPE on hand and follow strict infection control guidelines. Furthermore, in addition to practicing social-distancing and continuing to practice telemedicine, clinics are required to take a measured approach to resuming procedures. The process will be reassessed every two weeks.

McLaughry said her clinic was busier now than it has been at any point since she opened it six years ago, in part because many nearby clinics in Southwest Portland have temporarily shuttered and sent business her way. She doesnt expect the frenzy to end anytime soon.

I feel blessed that were allowed to be open and practice, McLaughry said. For some people, especially elderly people who live on their own, their pet is very important to them. And that was true way before any of this. Im grateful that I can be open and provide services for pets.

There was a point when DoveLewis wasnt sure it would remain open. The Northwests only nonprofit, 24-hour emergency animal hospital and intensive care unit is a vitally important facility for pets and owners, treating more than 25,000 animals a year. But, like other businesses and nonprofits during COVID-19, it had to rethink everything it does.

The hospital employees 170 people and ensuring their safety, as well as that of their clients, was paramount. When stay-at-home orders arrived in March, Ron Morgan, the DoveLewis President and CEO, said there was a faction of people lobbying for the hospital to temporarily shutter for the sake of safety.

But thats just not who we are, Morgan said. Its human nature to be worried and concerned about personal safety. I dont blame anyone for that. But we wanted to stay open and meet the demands of our clients.

So, instead of closing, Morgan started hosting virtual town halls with employees and he and his team worked more than 25 days in a row to craft a new standard operating procedure, navigating the ever-changing threat of the virus and the CDCs evolving safety playbook along the way. Like neighborhood clinics, DoveLewis asks pet owners to wait outside and consult with veterinarians over the phone during visits. But because many patients arrive with an emergency, and a high percentage of clients walk or use public transportation to travel to the hospital, the facility also permits a handful to wait inside.

Theyve even hired a 24-hour security guard team to patrol the property at a cost of $20,000 a month to provide an extra layer of safety to their around-the-clock service.

Morgan said the hospital had seen a small dip in visitors, but because it is the only facility of its kind in the area, things remain busy. Nearly 1,900 patients visited in April, roughly 100 fewer than in April 2019. It didnt help that the hospital had to pass on about 30 surgeries because its surgical teams, after a 90-minute deliberation, deemed the procedures elective.

Theres definitely going to be an economic impact from all of this, Morgan said. I dont think the worst has hit us.

But even so, amid all the mayhem of the last two months, Morgan has been emboldened by the nimbleness and camaraderie of the veterinary community.

I know that everybody has felt the economic pain of not being able to do elective procedures and endured a great amount of stress trying to keep business open, he said. I hear from so many people who say, I think I can get by with this for a month or two. Anything longer than that, Im not so sure. But we all understand that we need to take care of our staff and keep people healthy so we can take care of patients. The vibe has been filled with disappointment because of how this affects us personally, but also an understating of the bigger picture and that we all need to do our part.

Zawadzkis clinic sits on Southeast Belmont, across the street from a food cart pod and a coffee shop. Occasionally, during the day, she gazes outside the window and sees a stream of people stopping by the businesses and even hanging out.

She cant help but feel concern that some arent taking the treat of COVID-19 seriously and realizing the gravity of the situation. But the indifference of others has not and will not deter her from helping patients, despite the risk.

We have seen more new puppies and kitties and more new adoptions during all of this, Zawadzki said. People are like, I have time to train a puppy now. And they are going to need to be spayed and neutered. There are lots of animals that still need our help.

Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories

Read more from the original source:
Oregon veterinary clinics resume non-emergency procedures, but pet care is a long way from business-as-usual - OregonLive

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