10 guidelines to help vets know when to make the decision to refer their patients.

When should you refer a surgical patient? 10 guidelines to help vets know when to make the decision to refer their patients.From a legal standpoint, any licensed veterinarian can perform any surgery on any patient. But just because you can doesn’t mean that you should. So how do you know when to refer? How do you know which patient you can handle and which one you should refer? What if there is no surgeon within hours of your practice? How do you balance keeping income at your practice, the patient’s needs, and the client’s convenience and finances, all while keeping both hungry lawyers and your friendly state board out of your hair? These 10 guidelines can help you when making decisions about a controversial, sensitive, and diplomatically delicate situation: the surgical patient referral. Be realistic Let’s get the most sensitive subject out of the way—honesty. Be honest with yourself and your clients about your abilities and experience. Trust your gut. Refer if you have a feeling you should. If a procedure is on the fringe of what you feel comfortable doing, let your clients know that. If you’ve never performed a certain procedure before, tell your client upfront. If your facility and your team will have difficulty performing the procedure and especially providing the aftercare, make your client aware. Put your patients before your ego. Know your options Get to know the specialists in your area. Obtain a list of services provided and modalities offered. Encourage feedback from your clients to gain their perspective on the referral practice, the specialist in question, and the staff. This will help refine your future recommendations. continue