ASAV Accredited Veterinary Hospital Scheme – Narellan Animal Hospital

The ASAV Accredited Veterinary Hospital Scheme (AVHS) recognises companion animal practices that achieve the highest levels of quality care and practice management in innovative hospital facilities.

Those hospitals that gain accreditation set a benchmark to inspire other small animal practitioners when assessing their own facilities and standards. It also operates as a quality assurance program for clients, promoting excellence in three main areas: medical records, radiological records and the facility itself.

There are currently 57 Accredited Veterinary Hospitals of Excellence Australia-wide. Read more about the Accredited Veterinary Hospital Scheme, including how to submit and expression of interest.

The following article was originally published in the ASAV Members Magazine 'Companion', Q2 2024.

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Narellan Animal Hospital is an attractive and welcoming veterinary business based in the Sydney region of Macarthur, about 60 km south-west of the CBD. It first opened its doors way back in 1986 and is very much part of the local community. But these days, it’s a far cry from its humble beginnings in an old fibro house.

During the 1990s, the original owner, Dr Will D’Arcy, decided to rebuild the hospital as a purpose-built facility and in the years since then, the veterinary business has gone from strength to strength.

Helen McNiece is the practice manager at Narellan Animal Hospital and she has been part of the team for the past 13 years. She explains that they currently have six vets on staff (with some working flexible hours).

“Most days the clinic runs on four vets a day,” she says.

The hospital also employs eight veterinary nurses, including one head vet nurse, and three work placement students.

A couple of years ago, the hospital changed ownership when Dr D’Arcy retired from clinical practice. Dr Mimi Nguyen is the new lead vet on the team, and the veterinary business is now part of the Vets Central group.

Narellan Animal Hospital is a small animal practice with a range of clientele.

“We've got a mix of clientele,” Helen says. “There are ones that have been coming to us for many, many years, and then we've got many new families moving into the area.”

The patients at Narellan are primarily companion animals, with a few exceptions.

“We do also see wildlife when it’s been injured, and administer veterinary treatment,” she adds. “We get a lot of birds with the occasional, echidna and joeys from a WIRES carer.”

The Narellan team have a long and proud history of being part of the ASAV accredited hospitals’ family. They first earned the coveted credential in 1997, and since then have been rigorously re-evaluated every four years to maintain their status as an accredited veterinary hospital.

“We look at it always as a learning experience and it just makes sure that we are keeping up with the excellence standards,” Helen explains.

At a previous inspection in 2021, the hospital team were given a pending pass, further to some issues identified by the inspector being addressed to improve the clinic. These improvements were actioned in time for re-inspection in May 2023.

As with all previous inspections, the changes that were implemented have worked well for the hospital.

For example, one practical improvement that Helen mentions is that the veterinary team are now using disposable, waterproof surgical gowns for all surgical procedures instead of the “green cloth” surgical gowns that they had used previously.

The new disposable gowns are considered a better option because they not only reduce the risk of surgical site infections and the transmission of bacteria but also eliminate the need for reusable gowns to be washed, sterilised and stored.

Similarly, the Narellan team have also moved to using disposable drapes to wrap surgical kits or equipment, instead of the green cloth ones they used previously.

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They are also making sure they are actively following the ASAV’s and Veterinary Surgeons Board guidelines for the storage and use of S8 drugs and monitoring this on an ongoing basis.

Although Helen was away sick on their 2023 inspection day, her former boss Dr Will D’Arcy was there and he spent a lot of time with AVHS inspector Dr David Mason on the day.

She says that when she spoke to Will afterwards, he had the feeling that they had passed.

And he was right!

Looking back at the experience now, Helen says what stands out most for her about going through the re-accreditation process is the satisfaction of the team’s shared achievement in maintaining very high professional standards.

“At the end of the day, it's a rewarding experience when you do get the notice that we have achieved accreditation. It's confirmation that we are providing a gold standard of care.

“They do come in with a fine-tooth comb and look at the clinic as a whole ... which helps you to go, ‘OK, well, that's an area we can work on too, or that's what we do need.’

“So, that helps with your planning, but it helps also keep you up to speed with the latest standards and providing great service for your clients.”

In terms of any advice that Helen might have for other veterinary teams or practice owners who might be thinking about going for ASAV hospital accreditation in their own practice or clinic, she says: “I would recommend it ... because it's like anything – people get set in their ways.

“When you’re told something new or that there’s a better way to do something, you can go, ‘OK, we can look at that. We need to make sure that we move towards that ... as it's a positive improvement.’

“It’s a great team project and we all take pride in knowing that our hospital has been independently assessed as meeting the ASAV’s standards of excellence and that we are providing the best possible care for patients that we can.

“It’s a win-win situation, any way you look at it.”