Veterinary
Practice Information
The
General Statutes of
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.
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
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.