Our Policies
OUR POLICIES
You have questions, we have answers! Scroll down to learn more about our hospital policies and get answers to our most frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions, just give us a call! We look forward to being there when you and your pet need us most.
Hospital Policies:
Appointment Policy
Our hours of operation are:
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Clients have the option to schedule 30-minute appointments with our doctors from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm.
VMC experiences a very high demand for appointments with our veterinarians. In order to best meet the demand, clients are expected to uphold their appointments and arrive on time. Missed appointments drive up the cost of pet health care and likely deprive another pet owner/sick pet of an opportunity for medical attention.
A no-show fee of $50 is charged if:
- A scheduled appointment is missed without any prior notice from the client.
A late cancellation/rescheduling fee of $25 is charged if:
- A scheduled appointment is canceled or rescheduled with less than 1 full business day’s notice from the client.
- A client is late for an appointment.
We ask that you arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment. Arriving ahead of time helps eliminate a lot of stressors that can affect your pet’s experience and facilitate a calm, less stressful entry into the hospital.
Deposits
For procedures:
A deposit of 50% of the approved estimate is due at check-in for any sedated, surgical, or drop-off procedure. The card number will be saved on file, and the remaining balance will be charged when your pet is discharged. A staff member will communicate with you prior to completing the transaction and will go over any dismissal instructions at that time.
Payment Policy
We accept the following forms of payments:
- All Major Credit or Debit Cards
- Mobile Pay
- Care Credit
Note: We do not accept Cash or Checks.
Prescription Policy
Any prescription medication that has left the building, regardless of whether or not it has been opened, CANNOT BE RETURNED. All of our medications are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and are subject to the same dispensing laws as human pharmacies. Please remember that all Heartworm/Flea prevention is still a prescription item and falls under these regulations.
We also are not permitted to split pills. Any prescriptions that require a fraction of a pill will need to be split by the client. Pill cutters are available in our retail store area.
Refill Requests
Many patients at VMC Fort Mill will require the use of long term medications. VMC has a fully stocked internal pharmacy available to dispense and refill medications.
To request a refill of your pet’s medications, please call or email us at 803-396-9130 or vmcfortmill@gmail.com. Refill requests can also be made via our app. We require 72 hours notice in order to refill a medication. Within 72 hrs of your request, you will be contacted to either inform you that your refill is ready for pick up or if additional examination or testing if needed in order to refill the medication.
If you walk in to pick up a refill without calling or emailing ahead of time, then we may not be able to fill the medication immediately and you may have to return to pick up your refill at a later time.
Rabies Vaccine
Rabies is a required vaccine for all dogs and cats under South Carolina state law and must be kept up to date. If your pet is not up to date or if you are unable to provide proof of your pet having been vaccinated elsewhere, then we will need to administer that vaccine in order to treat them. For more information, please refer to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Learn more here.
FAQs
Why was I declined a refill of my pet’s medications?
To abide by all state veterinary practice laws and ethical guidelines were are not able to refill any medications without examining a pet at least once per year. Some medications have the potential to change body functioning when used over long periods and bloodwork to check up body functions may be recommended before a medication is refilled. Refilling medications for recurring issues such as antibiotics for infections or steroids for allergies may be masking underlying causes of these situations. The doctor may request a consultation before a refill is issued to discuss why a health issue may be recurring and what can be done to treat underlying causes to prevent symptoms all together.
I have brought one of my pets to VMC, but I need flea or heartworm prevention for another pet?
To abide by all veterinary practice acts and ethical guidelines we will not dispense any prescriptions products, including heartworm prevention, without establishing a client/patient relationship with each pet in a household that requires medications. An exam by a doctor will allow each pet in the household to be a fully established patient of VMC. Please give us a call if you need to schedule an appointment for all your preventative needs.
Can you fill a prescription written by another veterinarian?
No, unfortunately, we do not maintain retail pharmacy license and we cannot fill prescriptions written by veterinarians not employed by VMC.
What if a third party has agreed to pay my veterinary expenses?
If an individual or organization wishes to pay the veterinary expenses for a pet that they do not own we require payment in full before services or treatments are provided.
Do you accept checks?
No, unfortunately, the Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill is not able to accept personal checks.
Do you take payment plans?
No, unfortunately, the Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill is not able to extend a line of credit to clients or set up an extended payment plan. We make every effort to offer veterinary care at reasonable and affordable pricing which prohibits us from being able to accept delayed payment. We do accept Care Credit which allows for interest-free payments for 6 months. For information on Care Credit and how to apply please click here.
I am upset because I called/ walked in late in the day or on a booked weekday and I was told my pet could not be seen.
We do apologize for any situations that we are not able to treat or examine a pet. VMC believes in maintaining a cohesive well-established support staff and abide by all federal and state labor laws and recommendations. There are situations in which the doctor and support staff can be overwhelmed and may not be able to provide care to additional pets in urgent situations. We will only turn away pet’s needing medical treatment if we are unable to give a pet proper medical care and attention. In situations where the doctor and staff are not able to provide care, we will either refer you to a nearby emergency veterinary facility or schedule a visit the following day if the pet’s condition will remain stable.
If weekday appointments are all completely full can my pet still be seen?
Some weekdays can completely be booked up with appointments so we encourage clients to call as soon as they would like their pet to be seen. We reserve several appointments slots for same-day illness visits. We will not fill these reserved spots until the day starts. If your pet is suddenly ill please call as soon as possible as these reserved slots fill quickly. VMC will make every effort to see our established clients when pets are ill or need medical treatment. If the weekday schedule is completely booked there are several options. Doctors will work in Urgent Exams when possible. Clients may also have the option to drop off their pet with permission from the attending veterinarian. There is no additional fee for same-day drop-off.
Can I request to see a specific doctor?
Yes, it is important that you clearly communicate a doctor preference with our staff each time you wish to bring your pet to VMC. VMC has 6 full-time veterinarians that are available to see your pet. VMC is open 50 hours per week so the doctor’s schedule will vary. We will make every effort to meet your request, but urgently ill pets may need to be treated by the doctor that is available to provide your pet the quickest care available.