Veterinary Practice Information

 

 

The General Statutes of North Carolina and the Administrative Rules of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board, allow the Board to establish certain requirements for veterinary practice facilities. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

Approval of the practice facility name.

The inspection of practice facilities to ascertain their compliance with minimum standards.

Maintaining the minimum standards where veterinary medicine is practiced.

Only veterinarians licensed in North Carolina may own and operate a veterinary practice facility.

 

Names for Veterinary Practices Require Prior Board Approval

 

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.

Practice name approvals need to be submitted in writing to the Board office. It is recommended that several names be submitted.  Name must contain a descriptive term to accurately reflect the level of service being offered to the public. If the name is approved a letter, inspection checklist, and a copy of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act will be sent. If the 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. The professional corporation if processed does not mean the Board has approved a veterinary practice name for use. The Board only certifies that all shareholders in the corporation are licensed in North Carolina and by law can provide veterinary services. The Secretary of State approves professional corporation names only. Corporation names may be different from the practice facility providing veterinary services and are not required to contain a descriptive term.

Practice Facility Names and Levels of Service

 

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:

Animal Health Center/Animal Medical Center

A veterinary practice 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.

Emergency Facility

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.

Mobile Facility

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.

Office

A veterinary practice facility where a limited or consultative practice is conducted and which provides no facilities for the housing of patients.

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.

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.

 

 

Click Here to Download Practice Name Approval Form

 

 

Minimum Standards

 

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.

 

Practice Facility Inspections

A written request for an inspection should be made to the Board office 4 weeks prior to providing services to the public.

 

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.

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. The inspection fee is $75.00. Existing practice facilities are inspected regularly and without notice.

If checklist is not substantially completed three to four days prior to the scheduled date of inspection, contact the Board office to reschedule the inspection. If the inspector arrives for a scheduled inspection and the facility is not ready, the $75.00 fee will be applied.

 

 

Click Here to Download Sample Inspection Checklist

 

 

Example of Inspection Checklist

 

Copies of signed, written agreements must be provided to Inspector at time of inspection.

Certificate of Occupancy obtained before the Board inspection takes place.

Electricity and water have been turned on.

The water heater is functioning.

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 shall be provided 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 sample copy of a patient record is available.

Cages, pens or stalls are in good repair and ready for occupancy.

Emergency information is posted at the entrance of the facility. 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.

The practice facility sign is in place, and parking area is available.

 

 

 

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