Policies and Terms of Service

Welcome to Muse Holistic Veterinary Care! This document provides information about our services and allows us to treat your pet. Please read it carefully and let us know if you have any questions. Please have spouses and co-owners read it as well.

Dr. Meghan Barrett is licensed as a Western/conventional & integrative veterinarian.

• Conventional Medicine, as practiced in the United States, is a system that uses pharmaceuticals and surgery as the primary modes of therapy.
• Integrative Medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that combines conventional Western medicine with complementary and alternative therapies. The goal of integrative medicine is to treat the whole patient rather than just addressing specific symptoms or diseases. It takes into account not only the physical aspects of health but also the emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of individuals.

Physical Exam: Since your pet cannot express their symptoms verbally, a physical exam is essential to determine the issues and their extent. Also, to prescribe/refill medications and make medical recommendations, an in-person physical exam every 12 months is required for all veterinarians in the state of Hawaii. Likewise, for any change in medical status or the onset of a new health problem, an updated physical exam is required for Dr. Barrett to make appropriate medical recommendations and prescriptions.

Integrative modalities: Acupuncture (use of thin sterilized needles), stimulation of those needles by electric stimulation (e-stim), manual therapy (massage, acupressure), rehabilitation therapy, nutritional counseling, herbal therapies, essential oils, supplements and nutraceuticals, microbiome restorative therapy, subcutaneous fluids, injectable medications, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF), music/vibrational therapy or sound healing, photobiomodulation therapy (laser therapy), ozone therapy, as well as behavioral counseling. Most conditions will take 5-9 acupuncture treatments to see optimal improvement.

Herbal Medication: We may recommend herbal preparations, and although considered "natural," these can result in adverse effects, including but not limited to: vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal discomfort, and possible worsening of symptoms existing before administration of the herbal preparation. If your pet experiences any problems in association with these substances, please stop administering them and contact Muse Holistic Veterinary Care as soon as possible. Furthermore, several trials of herbal medicines may be needed to identify the best-suited medication for the animal.

• You may ask questions or raise concerns at any time during treatment. We will make reasonable efforts to give you all information possible to make informed decisions regarding the duration and appropriateness of continued care. You may stop treatment at any time.
• By signing this document, you agree that you understand that integrative treatments are not a substitute for the regular/primary veterinary care provided by your veterinarian in a clinic or hospital and that you are seeking these treatments under the approval of that veterinarian. Muse Holistic Veterinary Care is a separate entity from any other veterinary hospital or clinic where Dr. Meghan Barrett may also occasionally work as a traditional relief veterinarian or provide services under the Muse Holistic Veterinary Care business.
• Lastly, an integrated approach may not be as immediate as the use of pharmaceuticals or surgery in that the application of holistic medicine may require more time and effort from the caretaker. Each animal is inherently unique and will respond to treatment in unique ways. Unfortunately, limited research supports the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and other integrative techniques for specific conditions in dogs and cats. Muse Holistic Veterinary Care or Dr. Meghan Barrett makes no promises or guarantees of cure or result of treatment.

Muse Holistic Veterinary Care Fees & Policies

We work with a different paradigm than what your pets may have previously experienced in veterinary clinics. We prioritize a sense of safety and ease for your animal in their home, a fear-free experience, or in our comfortable, quiet office. By personally working with families, we are able to hold space to support you as well, in a unique and personal way that is impossible in the clinical atmosphere.

This paradigm of practicing veterinary medicine may not appeal to everyone, and at the same time, rarely a family or animal we have worked with has not received some benefit. We look forward to developing a professional yet personal relationship with you and your family. Below is a list of prices and services to allow you to plan for us working together.

PRICING AND FEE SCHEDULE:

HONOLULU OFFICE APPOINTMENTS:

• New patient: $275 Initial consult includes: exam, complete evaluation (Traditional Chinese as well as Western Medicine evaluations, review of medical records, lab work, x-rays, and specialist reports), discussion of recommendations, treatment plan, answering questions, one extensive follow-up after visit summary email, one additional email communication and treats for your pet! Most, but not all, patients have acupuncture treatments and photobiomodulation therapy (included in office visit fee) with Dr. Barrett. On the first day of an acupuncture appointment, we typically do a mini session (two or three needles at first for a few minutes) to see if your pet will tolerate acupuncture.

• Existing patient $225 Rechecks, follow-ups, wellness exams, weekly acupuncture/physical rehabilitation sessions. These visits are typically 45-60 minutes of in-person treatment time. This includes one follow-up email communication per visit.
• We also offer appointment packages which offer a cost savings of approximately $25 per appointment. Contact us for additional details on package breakdowns.

HOUSE CALL APPOINTMENTS

• New patient consultation: $325 + tax +/- travel fee*. We typically spend 1.5 - 2 hours with a family during the first visit getting to know you and your pet in a relaxed way. Initial consult includes: exam, complete evaluation (Traditional Chinese as well as Western Medicine evaluations, review of medical records, lab work, x-rays, and specialist reports), discussion of recommendations, treatment plan, answering questions, one extensive follow-up after visit summary email, one additional email communication and treats for your pet! Most, but not all, patients have acupuncture treatments and photobiomodulation therapy (included in house call fee) with Dr. Barrett. On the first day of an acupuncture appointment, we typically do a mini session (two or three needles at first for a few minutes) to see if your pet will tolerate acupuncture.

• Existing patient - $275 +/- travel fee. Rechecks, follow-ups, wellness exams, weekly acupuncture/physical rehabilitation sessions. These visits are typically 45-60 minutes of in-person treatment time. This includes one follow-up email communication per visit. *We limit our services by what can be safely and adequately performed within a home-care setting.*

• ANY ADDITIONAL PETS that you would like Dr. Barrett to answer questions about, examine, consult on, or treat will be charged separately.
• We also offer appointment packages which offer a cost savings of approximately $25 per appointment. Contact us for additional details on package breakdowns.

TELEHEALTH (VIDEO TELEHEALTH CONSULTATION)

• Initial up to 1 hour- $250
• Existing Patient – New health issue up to 1 hour - $200
• Recheck recent issue, up to 45 minutes - $150

• COMMUNICATION - Any additional communication outside of what is included within each visit type is billed on a quarterly hour basis at a rate of $200/hour ($50 per 15 minutes). Failure to pay for additional communication may result in the severance of the professional relationship and discontinuation of services from Muse Holistic Veterinary Care and Dr. Meghan Barrett. Doctors can use discretion. For example, for a quick 1-2 sentence response, there will be no charge. If the Doctor has to review the chart, make adjustments to the treatment plan and relay appropriate changes, there will be a fee. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this policy. We are committed to providing the best, most personable, heartfelt care possible.

CANCELLATION FEE - Cancellation Policy

LATENESS AND NO-SHOW POLICY:

ADDITIONAL PRICING INFORMATION:

• Veterinary technician/assistant fee for blood draws, if necessary, ranges between $75-150 (100% of that fee goes directly to our vet tech)
• Current pricing for additional services is available upon request. Please note that prices are subject to change at any time.

BUSINESS HOURS AND OPERATIONS POLICIES:

Dr. Barrett and Muse Holistic Veterinary Care do NOT handle emergencies at any time. It is mandatory that you also have a concurrent traditional veterinarian in case of emergency.

If continuous e-mail/text, phone, and telemedicine questions are requested or are necessary between house call visits, Dr. Barrett is happy to accommodate your needs; however there may be additional charges (see Dr. Barrett’s consultation rate below).

To maintain a healthy work/life balance, All texts, emails, and calls will be handled during normal business hours of Monday through Friday 8 am-8 pm. All emails must be sent to contact@drbarrettvet.com or mbarrettdvm@gmail.com. Text communications must be sent to 818-457-1414. Muse Holistic Veterinary Care does not accept messages sent through social media for communication about medical questions, pet concerns, or scheduling appointments.

Phone calls and video chat are not included in any free follow up communication. Due to the nature of our service, we do not use the phone generally to communicate with clients in between appointments. We are with patients or on the road during business hours. We do not talk on the phone while driving or while with other patients, and therefore we do not take or make any telephone calls unless they are booked as a “telemedicine consultation” using the online scheduler. All telephone calls must be scheduled as an appointment, and be specifically planned for.

Email and text etiquette: If you email, text, and/or call us more than once within 48 hours before we have had a chance to reply, please expect that to delay our response time.

Responding to the many emails we receive on a daily basis takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. We want to continue to be available to our clients but in order to make it more equitable for the amount of time spent reviewing cases, researching options and revising treatment plans, please note the current fee structure:

• Electronic/Telephone/telemedicine consultation/ texted or emailed Q&A by Dr. Barrett is billed at a minimum rate of $200 per 60 minutes (in 15 minute increments).
• Telemedicine consultations may include but are not limited to veterinary professional services such as answering questions via text, email, video chat or telephone call, researching answers to questions asked, review of medical records, providing second opinions, and consulting with specialists on behalf of your pet, if needed. This service is offered for follow-up to existing conditions and is for your convenience. It is not a substitute for a physical exam and veterinary visit. Dr. Barrett is required by law to have done an in-person examination of your pet within the past 12 months, and recheck for any new condition that arises, to be able to make a diagnosis or prescribe medication for your pet.

PAYMENT POLICY

Cash, check, credit card, Venmo, and Paypal are acceptable forms of payment.

Payment is expected on the day of service or beforehand.

Payment is non-refundable after services have been performed. Payment that is more than 1 week late will incur late fees, unless unusual circumstances exist that have previously been discussed with Dr. Barrett.

Partially used packages are non-refundable and expire after one year. Partially used packages may be transferable to another pet in the same household or to a pet in another household in some situations, within one year from purchase, pending approval by Dr. Barrett.

Pre-paid packages, concierge service, and our work with you or your pet can be terminated by Dr. Barrett or Muse Holistic Veterinary Care at any time for any reason, including disrespectful communication, harassment, threats, cyberbullying towards any doctor or staff member of Muse Holistic Veterinary Care, unreasonable or excessive demands, pushing the boundaries of our policies, or if it is simply not a good match. If a package or concierge service is terminated, there will be a pro-rated payment return for any unfulfilled treatment or telemedicine sessions. We aim to maintain full transparency of our business structure and pricing. Our work together is meant to be nurturing and rejuvenating for everyone involved, therefore disrespectful or exploitative behavior will not be tolerated by Muse Holistic Veterinary Care under any circumstances. We reserve the right to terminate our professional rapport with you and your pet if you disregard medical recommendations in a way that we feel endangers an animal or leads to unnecessary suffering.

PHARMACY AND MEDICATION POLICY

Muse Holistic Veterinary Care works with an online pharmacy through which you can order food and medication (western, herbal, and holistic) in liquid, treat pill, or topical form, including compounded medications that are conveniently delivered to your home. All medications, herbal medicines, and/or medical equipment are non-refundable. As a matter of policy, we do NOT work with pharmacies such as Chewy or 1-800-Pet-Meds regarding filling of prescription medications, or accept calls, emails, or faxes from these companies.

Refill requests for medications must be made at least one week in advance (to allow for shipping and preparation time). E-mail is our preferred way to request medication refills. Thank you for planning in advance so that routine refill requests do not become urgent matters for our team to handle. If refill requests within 48 hours are required, unless there has been an emergency or a recent change in your pet's medical condition, there will be a $20 processing fee for our team to rush your last minute request.

To be able to prescribe/refill medications and make medical recommendations, a physical exam of the patient within 12 months is required for all veterinarians in the state of Hawaii. Likewise, for any change in medical status, or for the onset of a new health problem, an updated physical exam is required in order to make recommendations or prescribe medication.

By signing below, I acknowledge and understand the foregoing, and my questions have been answered regarding the content of this document.