How Do Veterinarians Refer Patients to IndyVet?

Updated

Veterinarians refer patients to IndyVet through IndyVet Connect, an online referral portal that lets a referring clinic submit a patient to the hospital electronically. The portal is the referral path IndyVet names on its site, and it exists because IndyVet focuses only on emergency and specialty care — general wellness care stays with the referring veterinarian. Referral is the right route when a pet needs emergency treatment or a specialty service such as Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, or Surgery.

What IndyVet Connect Is

IndyVet Connect is described on IndyVet's site as a referral portal that "allows you to easily refer patients to IndyVet online." In practice, that means a referring veterinarian uses a web-based submission instead of phoning in or faxing a referral, and the patient's information reaches the hospital in a form its team can act on.

The portal sits alongside IndyVet's other public-facing functions — emergency contact and the Canine & Feline Blood Donation Center — which tells you the intended user is a veterinary professional making a clinical handoff, not a pet owner booking a wellness visit.

Who the Referral Route Is For

Situation Referral through IndyVet Connect Direct owner contact
Pet needs emergency care now Appropriate, and often paired with the owner bringing the pet in Owner can call (317) 782-4484, since the hospital is open 24 hours
Pet needs a specialty workup (neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, surgery, critical care) Appropriate — this is the standard path Owner can call to ask about the service
Routine wellness exam, vaccines, general checkups Not the right fit IndyVet leaves general wellness care to referring veterinarians
Referring vet sending a critical patient Appropriate — IndyVet states many referring veterinarians send critical patients —

The key distinction: IndyVet is a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital, not a general practice. If the need is wellness care, the referral portal is the wrong tool.

How the Referral Process Works

  1. Identify the need. Confirm the patient requires emergency care or one of IndyVet's specialty services rather than routine wellness care.
  2. Open IndyVet Connect. The referring veterinarian goes to the referral portal linked from IndyVet's site.
  3. Submit the patient online. Enter the patient and referral details so IndyVet receives the case electronically.
  4. Expected result. The referral reaches IndyVet's team, which has the resources, technology, and staff to diagnose and treat medical, surgical, and emergency conditions.
  5. Coordinate with the owner. The pet owner brings the animal to the hospital; for emergencies, the owner can also call (317) 782-4484 directly, since the hospital is open 24 hours a day, every day.

What Referring Veterinarians Should Know

  • IndyVet is built for referrals. Its 30,000-square-foot facility serves the Indianapolis region and beyond, and the site notes that many referring veterinarians send critical patients there.
  • It has operated since 1994 and holds affiliations including AAHA, Cat Friendly Practice, Fear Free, AVMF, and Care Credit.
  • The hospital is open 24 hours Monday through Sunday, so emergency referrals are not limited to business hours.
  • Specialty depth is the reason to refer. The listed services — Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Surgery — cover cases a general practice typically cannot handle in-house.

Common Questions

Can a pet owner refer their own pet? The portal is framed as a tool for referring veterinarians. Owners with an emergency should call (317) 782-4484; the hospital is open 24 hours.

Does IndyVet do general wellness care? No. The site states IndyVet focuses solely on emergency and specialty care and leaves general wellness veterinary care to referring colleagues.

What if the case is critical? IndyVet explicitly notes that many referring veterinarians send critical patients, so a critical case is within the intended use of the referral path.