Patient Advocate

What is the Patient Advocate?

In keeping with that sentiment, we asked ourselves, what would we like to see if it were our pets coming in for an all-day anesthetic procedure? That discussion led to the creation of a new position for our hospital: the Patient Advocate. We like to think of the Patient Advocate as your pet’s best friend on surgery day. While some animals will thrive in a new environment, shy ones may feel a little insecure or anxious when they are away from familiar surroundings and loved ones. That’s where the Patient Advocate comes in. A few soothing words throughout the day and a scratch behind the ears, and everybody feels a whole lot better. Of course, this is great fun for our employees, but there is also a hidden motive. Just as in human medicine, when a patient is stressed, the benefits of treatment can be undermined. So, it’s everyone’s best interest that your pet stay comfortable and happy while they are here in the hospital with us. It’s a win-win situation.

We know how important it is to keep your pet safe and relaxed while they’re here, but we also know that you want his/her medical care to be handled professionally and accurately. That’s the other part of the Patient Advocate’s role at Hendersonville Veterinary Hospital. They help to make sure that information on your pet flows through the proper channels, that things progress in a timely manner, and that the family is kept informed through every stage of the process. We can give you as much or as little information as you want on the day of the procedure. It makes us feel good to be able to offer this service to our clients and their pets.

While most staff members are involved in carrying out the responsibilities of the Patient Advocate, we have appointed our Registered Veterinary Technician, Tonya, as Lead Advocate. Her extensive experience and knowledge with surgical/anesthetic procedures are an asset to both HVH and our clients.