making Specialty Veterinary Care accessible and convenient
As a clinician at multiple veterinary specialty and emergency hospitals in Central and Western New York, Dr. Michael Koch witnessed the growing need for expeditious access to specialty level veterinary care. Unfortunately, caseload often exceeded the capacity of staffing and scheduling at these clinics, resulting in examinations and treatments being delayed by weeks or even months. With a desire to improve patient care and diagnostic accessibility for patients and clinicians in the region, Veterinary Internal Medicine Consulting (VIMC) was formed in 2022. By bringing specialty medicine into local clinics, VIMC reduces wait time for your patients and provides the comfort and convenience of your own office.
making Specialty Veterinary Care accessible and convenient
As a clinician at multiple veterinary specialty and emergency hospitals in Central and Western New York, Dr. Koch witnessed the growing need for expeditious access to specialty level veterinary care. Unfortunately, caseload often exceeded the capacity of staffing and scheduling at these clinics, resulting in examinations and treatments being delayed by weeks or even months. With a desire to improve patient care and diagnostic accessibility for patients and clinicians in the region, VIMC was formed in 2022. By bringing specialty medicine into local clinics, VIMC reduces wait time for your patients and provides the comfort and convenience of your own office.
Michael Koch, VMD
Board Certified in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Dr. Koch received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and completed a veterinary business certificate program through the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Small Business Development Center. He completed an internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, a busy specialty and emergency hospital in New Jersey, followed by a small animal internal medicine residency at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Koch is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in small animal internal medicine.
Dr. Koch has extensive experience diagnosing and managing complicated medical cases at a small animal specialty and emergency hospital in Western New York. In addition to being a full-time hospital clinician, Dr. Koch has held various roles consulting on cases for commercial veterinary laboratories as well as other specialty practices throughout New York State.
Dr. Koch’s attention to detail is coupled with an ability to holistically evaluate problems and provide balanced solutions. His passion for veterinary internal medicine, and desire to continuously improve the medical care delivered to patients, results in higher quality outcomes for his patients and the practices with whom he partners.
SERVICES
Ultrasound imaging has become a standard of care in diagnosing and monitoring countless diseases in veterinary patients. Dr. Koch uses his expertise as a board-certified internist to not only perform a thorough ultrasound but also interpret the findings and provide insight from a specialist’s perspective.
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ENDOSCOPY
Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy continues to revolutionize the practice of veterinary medicine. As a less invasive approach to visualizing and sampling tissues, endoscopically performed procedures are associated with reduced pain, reduced risk of blood loss, reduced risk of infection, and quicker recovery.
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ARTHROCENTESIS
Clinical presentation of immune mediated joint disease can be ambiguous. Patients can present with fever, lameness, poor appetite, or just non-specific biochemical or hematologic abnormalities. As part of a workup for patients suspected of having immune mediated polyarthritis (IMPA), arthrocentesis can be performed.
BONE MARROW SAMPLING
Bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy is indicated in evaluating various hematologic abnormalities, including certain non-regenerative anemias, as well as bicytopenia or pancytopenia. Sampling can also be valuable as part of an evaluation for patients with fever, hypercalcemia, hyperglobulinemia, and to confirm suspicion of or stage myeloproliferative disorders.
ASSISTED ENTERAL NUTRITION
Hyporexia or anorexia in a sick patient adds a tremendous amount of physiologic stress to the patient, as well as emotional distress for their caretakers. Addressing these nutritional concerns while awaiting diagnostic results or clinical response to disease treatment is invaluable. These nutritional interventions are not used to prolong end-of-life care, but rather to support patients with treatable or manageable disease conditions. Assisted enteral feeding, along with a nutritional support plan formulated with EmerAid brand products, can be accomplished via:
• Esophagostomy tube
• Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube
CASE CONSULTATION
Every diagnostic procedure performed by Dr. Koch includes a clinical interpretation and recommendation from the perspective of an experienced internist. If more comprehensive assistance with disease evaluation and management is needed, a detailed case consultation can be requested. This consultation can be done as an adjunct to diagnostic procedures provided by VIMC or as a separate service for patients that may not require diagnostics offered by VIMC. Medical record review is done offsite and a comprehensive report with recommendations for further diagnostics and appropriate treatment is provided directly to the primary clinician. Follow up consultation and recommendations for the same problem are provided for up to two months.
VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS
State-of-the-art Technology
Progressive medicine is supported by state-of-the-art equipment and VIMC utilizes the latest technology by:
PET OWNERS
VIMC is a mobile, specialty veterinary service based in Central and Western New York. By partnering and working directly with your general practice veterinarian, VIMC brings specialized internal medicine services to your local clinic. This convenient arrangement reduces the stress and the wait time for your pet to receive advanced level care utilizing the latest diagnostic technology.
Recommended by Veterinary Professionals
“…diagnostic evaluations are very well calculated and logical…”
“Dr. Koch is clearly committed to a job well done. Quality of medicine is superb.”
“He is thorough and knowledgeable.”
“Dr. Koch has been invaluable to me and my referred clients. He has gone out of his way to provide info/advice with each case.”
“Very timely and comprehensive reporting.”
“Great clinician; great teacher; great attitude.”
“Michael’s approach to clinical problem solving is focused, but thorough.”
Recommended by Veterinarian Professionals
Veterinary Internal Medicine Consulting (VIMC) partners with and supports veterinary practitioners in Central and Western New York. By sharing expert knowledge of disease pathophysiology, as well as extensive experience with advanced diagnostics and therapeutics, we help improve the quality of care delivered to canine and feline patients.