6/11/21 Update:
We are excited to welcome clients back into the building on June 14th! To keep everyone safe, we will be following a strict schedule and cleaning regimen while transitioning away from curb-side and back to in-person medicine. This will take extra time and limit our ability to be as flexible as usual when clients are running late for their scheduled appointment. Please arrive early to allow extra time to find parking and read over our COVID questionnaire before entering the building. If you think you will be arriving late, please call and let us know so we can reschedule your appointment. Thanks for understanding as we navigate our return to normalcy!
6/2/21 Update: ***We can’t wait to see you!***
Starting June 14th, UVC will start allowing 1 masked client per pet in the building for scheduled appointments only. Those who are picking up or dropping off pets, picking up food or medication, or here for a technician appointment will still be asked to wait outside.
When you arrive for your appointment, please call the front desk. We will direct you to read over the COVID questionnaire, and then a staff member will come out to review your answers, take your temperature and escort you into an exam room.
If you prefer a curbside appointment, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate you. If you prefer not to wear a mask, we will ask you to follow our curbside protocol.
5/19/21 Update: Recently Mayor Bowser has relaxed mask requirements for vaccinated people in the District of Columbia. While we are all anxious to get back to “normal”, Union Vet is asking all clients to please keep their mask on when interacting with our staff outside the clinic. We are in the planning stages of gradually having clients back into the hospital but will still require our employees AND clients to wear masks when in the building, even those who are vaccinated. This policy is in order to protect the family members of our employees who have not yet been vaccinated, or who may remain higher risk despite having received the vaccine. Thank you for your understanding as we navigate reopening, hope to see clients in person soon!
Dear Clients,
Like many of our fellow veterinary clinics, Union Vet has decided to model the human side of medicine when it comes to protecting both our clients and staff during the epidemic. Unfortunately, this means only staff and essential personnel are able to enter the building at this time (with the exception of end of life services, when two people may enter the building while wearing masks and practicing social distancing). While staff members are diligent about wearing masks and adhering to our strict cleaning protocols, these are not a substitute for social distancing whenever possible. We dearly miss seeing our clients in person but are grateful to still see our patients during regular business hours. We thank you for your understanding during these unprecedented times.
Sincerely,
Union Veterinary Clinic
Scheduling Appointments: We have made some changes to the way we schedule appointments so that we can continue to provide a safe environment to see our patients:
- Scheduled Appointments with a Doctor: Scheduled doctor’s appointments are now being seen as a touchless drop off. We will ask you to call when you are outside at the beginning of your appointment. An employee will then come outside to retrieve your pet. Not long after, one of our veterinarians will call you to speak about your pet and collect information. You will then be called again when your appointment is complete (usually 20-30 minutes). We ask that you remain in the area with your phone available while we have your pet inside. As soon as it is finished then an employee will return your pet as well as any food or medication.
- Scheduled appointments with a technician: If your pet needs to see a technician to get its nails trimmed, anal glands expressed, Bordetella vaccine or lab work that has been ordered by a doctor, then please give us a call to schedule an appointment during normal business hours. Tech appointments will be seen in the same manner as scheduled appointments with the doctor (please see above).
- Drop off appointments with a doctor or technician: If your schedule does not permit time for a regularly scheduled appointment, a drop-off appointment may be your best option. Drop off appointments are available Monday through Friday to current patients who have been seen by one of our veterinarians within the past 12 months. You can drop your pet off between 7am-9am and pick up in the evening before we close. (8pm Mon-Thurs, 6pm on Fridays) A veterinarian will examine your pet during the day in between their scheduled appointments and surgeries. They will then call you with their findings and recommendations
Urgent appointments: If your pet needs to be urgently seen by a doctor please give us a call. Everyday we reserve several “Same Day” appointments. These are scheduled on a first come / first serve basis. We are also seeing a limited number of “Urgent Drop Offs” in the mornings and afternoons that are reserved for our established clients.
When you arrive for your appointment: Please call the front desk at 202-544-2500 and let them know you have arrived. A member of our team will come to collect your animal. It is important that you meet them on the sidewalk in front of the clinic to expedite the process. Please be aware that in order to limit Corona exposure our employees cannot retrieve animals from inside your vehicle. We also ask that you keep the walkway from the sidewalk to the entrance clear.
Collecting Payment: We have also changed the way we take payment. To reduce human to human contact all payments will be taken over the phone or through the payment tab on our website, we are not able to take cash or check at this time.
