Also don't work for VEG, but have looked into it and have spoken to several VEG docs over the last two months. Most have said that they like the model and it works well, though those in retrofitted hospitals that VEG bought (rather than built from the ground up) were more difficult to maneuver.
In regards to non-boarded clinicians performing emergency surgery and critical care, that is the norm in the general real world. Do we offer referral to clients for boarded surgeons if appropriate and critical care with a criticalist if we feel it's necessary? Absolutely. But more often than not, clients can't afford a 2500/day bill for that kind of CC or the boarded surgeon where their emergency c section is 50% more than mine. My hospital does both CC and ER surgery with no one boarded, and has done so for decades. In my 7 months as a baby vet, I've been able to convince 2 ERs to head straight for a criticalist for emergency management. Everyone else elected to stay in house.
Keep in mind the vast majority of vet surgeons and emergency doctors aren't boarded. It's not a bad thing as long as there are realistic expectations of what the practice can handle and when to know when you're put of your depth.
