Surgical Services

Client Expectations

It’s no surprise that clients in general practice expect practitioners to be proficient in a range of surgical procedures in addition to the routine desexings and dentals.

They still expect their vets to be able to do “most things.”

While we live in a world where referrals for surgery are now common and generally more accepted by clients this solution may not always be feasible, particularly for those in rural areas where access to specialty centres requires extensive travel.

But there’s more

As well as inconveniencing your clients and potentially losing them to a competitor who can perform the procedure in house, it represents a missed opportunity for revenue generation within your practice.

Are you referring on surgeries that you or your associates could potentially perform and actually enjoy?

Reflecting on my 40+ years experience in General Practice and training dozens of recent grads, I know many of them were keen to pursue surgery but they lacked both the skills and confidence to fully embrace this role without proper support and guidance.

Learning surgical techniques parallels mastering any other skill—it demands time, patience, and dedicated mentoring. But for this growth to occur, someone within the practice must invest time and effort into supporting and guiding these aspiring surgeons.

I know from my own experience how difficult this can be.You’re busy and you know that you can bowl over those procedures in less than half of the time it takes a less experienced vet to do them. And if you both scrub in then that knocks 2 vets out of your day’s schedule which is not always practical or affordable.

But unless you allow this process to happen your vets will never reach the stage where they can actually take the load off your hands and confidently work through the day’s surgery list.

Fostering this growth within your team is essential for long-term success. By providing mentorship and opportunities for hands-on learning, your vets can gradually gain the confidence and proficiency needed to handle surgeries independently.

Ultimately, this investment not only benefits the professional development of your team but also enhances the overall service and reputation of your practice.

Would love to upskill my vets in surgery but I don’t have the time to teach them

I’ve heard this before.

I’ve sent my vets to surgery courses but they still don’t have the confidence to perform the procedures by themselves.

Surgery is too hands-on to simply learn through observation, theory or a weekend practical workshop which are often focused on specific procedures rather than teaching the fundamentals that can be applied across multiple scenarios.

What if you could hire a Surgical Mentor for a day or two? Or even on an occasional basis?

An experienced surgeon who could come to your practice and guide your aspiring surgeons through the day’s surgery schedule?

This means your team is learning using your own familiar resources and equipment which is critical to building confidence.

Having performed thousands of surgeries over the years in practice I can assist with all types of soft tissue and orthopaedic cases depending on your available resources and equipment.

The goal here is to assist YOUR vets to perform the surgery as distinct from a mobile surgical service that performs the procedures on your behalf.

These situations don’t provide a learning opportunity for your team.

Why Offer this Service?

Because I feel the increasing trend of outsourcing surgery isn’t serving the business of general practice, the vets or the clients.

It’s removing valuable career paths for aspiring surgeons and even nurses who enjoy the challenge of working in theatre.

I fear that this skill will be lost in general practice when it doesn’t have to be.

I know for a fact that surgery contributed significantly to our practice revenue and was a preferred shift among many of our young veterinarians – and nurses.

FAQs

What is the cost of hiring you for a day?

Please contact me for my fee schedule

How many surgeries can we book in on the day?

I can efficiently manage a full day’s surgery schedule. It’s up to you as to how many you’d like to book in for the day.

Which areas can you travel to?

I can travel to most areas in Regional Victoria. My goal is to support Country Practices.

Do you charge for Accomodation?

No I don’t charge for Accomodation

What if I can’t fill a full surgery day?

You can consider training in other areas that I also provide to supplement the surgery component.

Would this be suitable for a new or recent grad?

Absolutely. I encouraged my new grads to scrub into surgery whenever it was practical. It gives them the opportunity to participate without the stress of going it alone. It’s a perfect learning environment.

I have more questions. How do I find out more?

I’m happy to answer any questions you have about me or my services. Just fill in the contact information below and I’ll be in touch. No hard sell I promise.

Do you provide any post training support?

Yes. I offer a full month of virtual support (phone or zoom) after the training to any member of your team. This is why I take on only one practice at a time.