Information
on Veterinary Practices
The
General Statutes of
Approval of the Veterinary Practice Facility Name.
The inspection of practice facilities to ascertain their compliance with minimum standards.
Maintaining the minimum standards where veterinary medicine is practiced.
The veterinarian who is the
owner and/or operator of a veterinary practice facility is charged with knowing
the minimum standards of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act. All locations
where veterinary medicine is practiced shall be adequate for the maintenance
of good hygiene at all times. All areas of the premises shall be maintained
in a clean, odor free, and orderly condition at all times. General Statute
90-186 allows the Board to inspect any Hospitals, Clinics, Mobile units or
any other facilities where the practice of veterinary medicine is taking place.
Existing veterinary practice facilities are inspected regularly and without
notice.
Prior Board Approval is
Required for use of Veterinary Practices Names
Administrative Rule .0202
states the adoption or use of a name for the entity authorized by law though
which the licensed veterinarian practices and delivers veterinary services
shall have prior Board approval in order to avoid duplication or confusion
of names and to prevent use of names, which might be misleading. No proper
names of persons other than licensees may be included in the name. It is a
requirement of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act to use the name,
as approved by the Board, for your veterinary practice.
Do not abbreviate, use acronyms, or use parts of the approved name. Signs,
letterhead, labels, etc, must reflect the approved practice name.
Practice name approvals need to be submitted in writing to the Board office. It is recommended that several names be submitted. Practice name must contain a descriptive term to accurately reflect the level of service being offered to the public. If the use of a practice name is approved a letter, inspection checklist, and a copy of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act will be sent. If the use of a practice name can not be approved, a letter stating the reason of disapproval, and a request to submit new names will be sent. Failure to obtain a practice facility name approval before providing services to the public is a violation of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act.
The practice facility name approval process is different from forming a professional corporation. Click here to see professional corporation process.
Levels of Service for use
in Practice Facility Names
Click here to print practice name approval form
General Statute 90-181.1. requires that a veterinary practice facility use in its name a descriptive term to accurately reflect the level of service being offered to the public. The following descriptive terms are applicable:
Mobile
Practice
A veterinary practice conducted from a vehicle with special medical or surgical
facilities or from a vehicle suitable only for making house or farm calls;
provided, the veterinary medical practice shall have a permanent base of operation
with a published address and telephone facilities for making appointments
or responding to emergency situations.
Veterinary Clinic/Animal Clinic
A veterinary practice facility in which the practice conducted is essentially
an out-patient practice.
Veterinary Hospital/Animal Hospital
A veterinary practice facility in which the practice conducted includes the
confinement as well as the treatment of patients.
Office
A veterinary practice facility where a limited or consultative practice is
conducted and which provides no facilities for the housing of patients.
Emergency Practice
A Veterinary medical facility whose primary function is the receiving, treatment,
and monitoring of emergency patients during its specified hours of operation.
At this veterinary practice facility a veterinarian is in attendance at all
hours of operation and sufficient staff is available to provide timely and
appropriate emergency care. An emergency facility may be an independent veterinary
medical after-hours facility, an independent veterinary medical 24-hour facility,
or part of a full-service hospital or large teaching institution.
On-Call Emergency Service
A veterinary medical service at a practice facility, including a mobile facility,
where veterinarians and staff are not on the premises during all hours of
operation or where veterinarians leave after a patient is treated. A veterinarian
shall be available to be reached by telephone for after-hours emergencies.
Animal Health Center/Animal
Medical Center
Is a veterinary facility in which consultative, clinical, and hospital services
are rendered and in which a large staff of basic and applied veterinary scientist
perform significant research and conduct advanced professional educational
programs.
When Practice Inspections
are Required
Change of ownership of a practice, new veterinary practices, and veterinary practice that are moving or having construction done need to be inspected and approved by the Board prior to providing veterinary services to the public.
A written request for an inspection should be made to the Board
office 4 weeks prior to providing services to the public.
Click
here to print sample of inspection checklist
Below is an example of the Inspection checklist
An inspection checklist
is provided during the name approve or change of ownership process and tailored
for the type of practice
Copies of signed, written agreements must
be provided to Inspector at time of inspection.
Electricity and water have been turned on.
Functioning water heater.
Heating and air-conditioning are functional.
Public bathrooms are ready for use.
Lined waste receptacles are in place.
A freezer for deceased animals is available on premises.
Examination rooms are ready for treatment of patients.
Surgery room is ready for use with surgery table, working surgery lighting in place. Autoclave or steam pressure sterilization is available. Instruments, emergency drugs, oxygen under positive pressure and endotracheal tubes are supplied. Sterile gowns, gloves, towels are available. Masks and caps are available as well as brushes for hand washing. If not providing this service arrangements has been made with other practice facility by signed, written prior agreement. Copies to be provided to Inspector at time of inspection.
In house laboratory tests shall include: urinalyses, hematocrits, flotations, skin scrapings, microfilaria tests or heartworm antigen tests. Provision has been made for blood chemistries, bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivity testing, complete blood counts, necropsies, and histopathology.
X-ray equipment is in place. Have radiation badges or has service pending. "Notice to Employees" and "Caution Radiation" signs have been posted or are on order. If not providing this service arrangements has been made with other practice facility by signed, written prior agreement. Copies to be provided to Inspector at time of inspection.
Please Note X-ray equipment must be inspected by NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources which supplies "Notice to Employees" and "Caution Radiation" signs, and the Model Guide for preparation of Safety procedures.
A refrigerator available for drugs and biological only.
A lock-box/locked-drawer shall be provided for controlled drugs.
A controlled drug logbook is available and maintained.
Prescription drug labels are available.
A copy of client/patient records. Client/patient records should contain the approved practice name on the pages to help identify practice.
Cages, pens or stalls are in good repair and ready for occupancy.
Emergency information is posted at the entrance of the practice. Arrangements for this service has been made with other veterinary practice facilities, with signed, written prior permission. Copies to be provided to Inspector at time of inspection.
It is a requirement to use the Board approved
veterinary practice name, do not abbreviate, use acronyms , or use parts of
the approved name.
The practice facility sign is in place, and
parking area is available.