Vets4Pets Adelaide

Vets4Pets has existed as a practice since 1972, when the Ridgehaven clinic first opened. Since then it has grown many times over, and now comprises 7 partners, employing around 20 vets, 40 veterinary nurses and 20 other ancillary staff over seven sites across the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. The clinics are situated in Ridgehaven, Golden Grove, Northgate, Mawson Lakes, Salisbury Park, Angle Vale and Dernancourt. Golden Grove Veterinary Hospital is the only 24 hour VSBSA accredited hospital in South Australia. All other Vets4Pets branches refer their patients to the Golden Grove Hospital after 7pm weekdays, and from noon on Saturdays. All sites are very well equipped, including digital radiography and on site lab facilities, while Golden Grove also has Karl Storz endoscopy and state-of-the art MyLab alpha ultrasound. The practice computer network runs RxWorks . The caseload can be very wide and varied, owing both to the after hours emergency and critical care workload, and also to the high number of vets, thus wide range of individual interests covered. This diversity of knowledge allows both for internal referral and a great opportunity for peer education. Vets4Pets believes in utilising all staff to the fullest of their abilities. This means encouraging and supporting further professional development and education in an individual’s area of interest, and any other activities which explore an individual’s abilities and goals. All staff are encouraged to use relevant external learning opportunities, eg attending conferences, seminars and evening meetings, using on-line resources etc. In order to encourage discourse between vets and nurses, we hold meetings regularly for training, discussion and policy review. More formal staff meetings are held within the branches monthly. Ideas and suggestions from staff are welcomed at any time, our aim being to constantly improve our own work standards, levels of care and job satisfaction for all concerned.