Referrals

Policy type : Policy
Reference: 1l
Status: Current
Date ratified: 1 February 2016

The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) believes that where it is practical, veterinarians should refer clients to specialists or to colleagues with special skills and/or equipment in all cases where the competency required is beyond that which they possess themselves.

Explanation

The practice of veterinary medicine has become very complex. It is not possible for all veterinarians to provide a full range of skills even within a multi person practice. The Code of Professional Conduct states: ‘Veterinarians must recognise when either their competence, or the resources available to them place limits on their ability to perform to an acceptable standard. All reasonable steps must be taken to avoid exceeding those limits. Veterinarians should recognise when a case is outside their area of competence and be prepared to refer it to a colleague whom they are satisfied is competent to carry out the investigations or treatment involved. Veterinarians must exercise their professional judgement in deciding when to offer clients this option’ Therefore it is incumbent on a veterinarian to discuss referral of any case that requires competencies or capabilities that they lack, or that are unable to be provided by another veterinarian within the same practice.

Referral is the professional approach to increasing the range of services available through a practice without that practice having to actually provide the skills, equipment and knowledge required. If handled appropriately, the client, the referring veterinarian and the veterinarian being referred to, can benefit from the process of referral. The Code of Professional Conduct sets out expectations of referring and referral veterinarians under the Professional Relationships section (Part 4). Veterinarians should familiarise themselves with this section of the Code of Professional Conduct and its explanatory notes.

The public is aware of the option of referral and it should be encouraged if the veterinarian considers it appropriate to best meet the needs of the animal and the client.

Veterinarians may also consider the use of expert advice from outside the veterinary profession.

Guidelines

1. Under the Veterinarians Act 2005, veterinarians can only be registered as specialists if they meet the required criteria laid down by the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. A list of registered specialists can be found in the VCNZ Register of Veterinarians – this can be found online here.
2. Referring veterinarians should consult with the chosen expert on all relevant matters before referral proceeds. These would include:
   a. work up of the case
   b. provision of existing information about the case
   c. attendance of the referring veterinarian during specialist treatment if requested
   d. return of the case to the referring veterinarian
   e. follow up visits
   f. supply of medication
3. Upon discharge of the case, the veterinarian with special expertise should supply the referring veterinarian with immediate information about the case and any relevant instructions, followed up with a timely formal written and/or oral report describing actions taken. The Professional Relationships section of the Code of Professional Conduct provides clear guidance on the expectations for communication between veterinarians throughout the referral process.
4. The veterinarian with special expertise should not encourage the client to revisit for matters unrelated to the previous treatment unless requested to do so by the referring veterinarian.

References

Veterinarians Act 2005

Veterinary Council of New Zealand Code of Professional Conduct