Referral: Why and How
Why
The medical and veterinary fields contain vast pools of information that no single person can be reasonably expected to acquire and have access to, much less to retain in their head. Personal preferences for working with particular animal species have lead to the recognition of veterinary special interest groups focusing on select species, such as horses. Even within these groups, some veterinarians prefer to further hone their skills so that they can perform certain tasks very well. Surgeons, for example, get extra training in specially dedicated training programmes so they can perform surgery to the highest standard possible. Others undergo special training in such fields as veterinary internal medicine, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging and anaesthesia, to name a few. As a consequence, these individuals are focused not only on the animal but also on particular areas or problems within the animal.
Being referred to see a specialist is increasingly the expectation within the human health system. Your doctor may choose to refer you when your condition warrants specialist care and evaluation. However, there may be a situation where your doctor is unsure, or your condition is failing to improve. In those circumstances it would be worthwhile requesting a second opinion or referral to have the best opportunity to hear all the options for making a diagnosis and formulating rational treatment. It is the same in veterinary medicine, where there is also a strong tendency to recognise the extra skills, training, and interests of certain individuals. Within multi-veterinarian practices, such as the Massey University Equine Clinic and Hospital, there are active case discussions amongst those veterinarians with the strongest interest or experience. Our collective interests and special training are internationally well recognised and ensure that we can evaluate and treat any horse or pony. This makes our clinic the ideal point for referral of equine cases as well as a source for the latest veterinary information.
A referral allows you and your veterinarian to gain access to specialist diagnostic procedures and second opinions, using equipment not commonly available in general veterinary practice. A number of our veterinarians and staff have worked in some of the largest and busiest equine hospitals in the world, and bring a broad collective experience to Massey for the benefit of every patient and client. We have been trained in dedicated, specialised programmes beyond our initial veterinary education, and many of us have been field veterinarians as well. We bring to Massey a composite of our experiences with large numbers of cases, a wide variety of diagnostic and treatment methods, and exposure to the most current research and information in the veterinary profession today.
There may be several options for treating your horse. A referral for a second opinion can provide a different perspective on your horse’s treatment options. There may be good arguments for several different options; getting a referral can be a good way to hear some of those options, or reassure you that you are already following the best option available.
How
The Massey University Equine Clinic and Hospital provides a 24-hour emergency referral service that is available all year round for diagnosis and treatment of emergencies in the horse as well as our 5 days per week daytime service for non-urgent cases. If you would like a second opinion we are always available to discuss the problem with you and your veterinarian. While we can’t always come to the phone immediately during normal working hours, we always return telephone calls as soon as we are able to.
Getting a referral is as simple as asking your veterinarian to arrange to refer your horse to the Massey Equine Clinic. Your veterinarian can organise this by either contacting us over the telephone and/or by sending us a fax or email containing all the relevant information regarding you and your horse’s problem. In addition, it is important that the results of any diagnostic tests and X-rays also be provided when the horse is referred. This will minimise duplication of tests and provide us with useful data for the diagnosis and treatment of your horse.
Once your veterinarian has been in contact with us, we will then contact you to arrange a suitable time for an appointment here at the Massey Equine Clinic.
Your veterinarian will continue with the care of your horse on its return home. We keep you and your veterinarian informed of our findings and opinions throughout the whole process. In addition, you and your veterinarian will receive a full written report summarising the findings and the outcome for your horse.
Please use these directions on how to get to the Massey University Equine Clinic and Hospital.
The 5 wins of referral:
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The horse: Gets the benefit of specialised care and state of the art equipment.
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The owner: The diagnosis and treatment of your horse is confirmed, and/or other options are opened which may be more cost effective.
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The referring veterinarian: He/she gets assistance with management of equine patients and the client/veterinarian relationship is enhanced.
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The referral clinic: We see a broad spectrum of disease, we record and tell everyone about new diseases, treatment and problems, thereby improving equine management skills in our horsemen and women, and we continue to improve clinical expertise in ourselves, veterinarians, students and nursing staff.
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The New Zealand Equine Industries: Your horses are cared for and treated and disease is prevented, optimally, thus ensuring our main mission: optimising equine health and welfare.
