La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LXXXV-711

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section LXXXV-711 - Definitions and Classification of Practice Facilities

A. In order to be classified as, advertised as, or use the word "hospital" as defined in §700 in the name of a veterinary facility, all of the following minimum standards and requirements shall be met.

1. Facility shall have a reception room and office, or a combination of the two.

2. An examination room separate from other areas of the facility and of sufficient size to accommodate the doctor, assistant, patient and client shall be maintained. This room shall have:

a. adequate materials and instrumentation to perform a thorough physical examination; and

b. adequate lighting to perform a thorough physical examination; and

c. immediate access to a sink with hot and cold running water; and

d. an examination table with impervious surface which can be easily cleaned and disinfected.

3. Facility shall have a surgery room which is separate and distinct from all other rooms. This room shall have:

a. lighting adequate to perform surgery;

b. a surgery table with an impervious surface which can be cleaned and easily disinfected;

c. appropriate anesthesia equipment;

d. oxygen readily available;

e. emergency drugs for cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation; and

f. walls and floors constructed with materials capable of being cleaned and disinfected.

4. Facility shall have a surgical scrub or preparation area containing pre-anesthetic medications and surgical scrub.

5. Facility shall have access to a diagnostic X-ray machine and development equipment area kept in compliance with state and federal regulations.

6. A clinical laboratory area shall be available containing diagnostic laboratory equipment, test kits and materials to perform necessary tests. This may be an in-house laboratory or an outside diagnostic laboratory facility which is capable of returning diagnostic results in 24 hours.

7. Facility shall have a kennel or housing area where animals can be retained for treatment and post-surgical observation. This area shall have at a minimum:

a. separate compartments for each animal which provide for comfortable and sanitary conditions; and

b. exercise areas which provide and allow effective separation of animals and their waste products and appropriate cleaning.

8. Facility shall have adequate indoor lighting for halls, wards, reception areas, examining rooms and surgical rooms.

B. Clinic

1. In order to be classified as, advertised as, or use the word "clinic" as defined in §700 in the name of the facility, all standards described under §711 A, shall apply.

2. A facility defined as a clinic is not required to meet the requirements for kennels as described in §711.A.7 except where surgery is being performed.

3. A clinic performing surgery shall provide adequate kennel facilities as per §711.A.7 until the patient is discharged.

C. A mobile clinic as defined in §700 shall have a permanent base of operations with a published address, telephone facilities for making appointments or responding to emergencies, and the following.

1. A veterinarian operating or working in a mobile clinic must have a written agreement with a local veterinary hospital or clinic to provide hospitalization, surgery, and radiology if these services are not available at the mobile clinic. Local means within a 30-mile radius.

2. A veterinarian operating or working in a mobile clinic must have a written agreement with a local veterinary hospital or clinic to provide emergency services and must display a notice to that effect in public view. The phone number and address for this emergency service provider must be provided to each patron of the mobile clinic. Local means within a 30-mile radius.

3. A veterinarian operating or working in a mobile clinic must remain on site until all patients are discharged to their owners and must maintain autonomy for all medical decisions made.

4. A physical examination and history must be taken for each patient at a mobile clinic and the medical records for such patients must meet the requirements for record keeping in §701 These records must be maintained by the veterinarian for five years and must remain accessible to the client for that period.

5. The veterinarian operating or working in a mobile clinic is responsible for consultation with clients and referral of patients when disease is detected or suspected. The veterinarian is also responsible for information and recommendations given to the client by the mobile clinic's staff.

6. The veterinarian operating or working in a mobile clinic must have his current Louisiana veterinary license on display to the clients.

7. Operation of the veterinary medical mobile clinic requires the following:

a. a clean, safe location;

b. the mobile clinic must meet local sanitation regulations;

c. lined waste receptacles;

d. fresh, running water for cleaning and first aid;

e. examination areas with good lighting and smooth, easily disinfected surfaces;

f. examination and surgery preparation areas;

g. surgical area must be sterile, and the surgery table must have an impervious surface which can be cleaned and easily disinfected;

h. drugs must be kept according to federal, state, and local laws. If controlled drugs are kept on the premises, they must be kept in a locking, secure cabinet for storage and an accurate controlled substance log must be maintained and available for inspection;

i. all equipment must be kept clean and in working order;

j. the mobile clinic must have the capability to deal with sudden emergencies and should have oxygen, resuscitation drugs and equipment, treatment for shock, and fluid administration materials readily available; and

k. the mobile clinic must have all biomedical waste properly disposed of and must have documentation to prove that fact on the premises for inspection.

D. Emergency Facilities

1. An emergency facility as defined in §700 shall have the following:

a. doctors;

b. support staff;

c. instrumentation;

d. medications; and

e. diagnostic equipment sufficient to provide an appropriate level of emergency care during all hours of operation.

2. If an emergency facility offers surgery services and retains patients in the emergency facility, all facility standards pertaining to hospital facilities as defined in §711.A shall be furnished and maintained.

E. A wellness or preventative care clinic shall have a published physical address for the specific location, telephone facilities for responding to emergency situations, and the following.

1. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall have a prior written agreement with a local veterinary hospital or clinic, within a 30 mile or 30 minutes travel time, to provide laboratory services, hospitalization, surgery, and/or radiology, if these services are not available at the wellness or preventative care clinic.

2. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall have a prior written agreement with a local veterinary hospital or clinic, within a 30 mile or 30 minutes travel time, to provide emergency care services. A notice of available emergency care services, including the telephone number and physical address of the local veterinary hospital or clinic, shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the wellness or preventative care clinic, and a copy of the notice or information shall be given to each client prior to the administration of a vaccine, the performance of an examination and/or a diagnostic procedure to promote good health.

3. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall physically remain on site until all patients are discharged to their respective owners, or authorized agents.

4. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall comply with the requirements for record keeping regarding the storage, maintenance and availability to the client of the medical records for the patients as set forth in the board's rules on record keeping. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall be the owner of the medical records of the patients.

5. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall be responsible for consultation with clients and the prompt referral of patients when disease, illness or a medical condition is diagnosed.

6. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall be responsible for the information and representations provided to the clients by the staff at the wellness or preventative care clinic.

7. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall have his license or current renewal, in good standing, to practice veterinary medicine in Louisiana on display in a conspicuous place at each location of a wellness or preventative care clinic.

8. Operation of a wellness or preventative care clinic shall also have the following on site at each location:

a. a clean, safe location;

b. meet local and state sanitation requirements;

c. lined waste receptacles;

d. fresh, running water for cleaning purposes and first aid;

e. an examination area with good lighting and smooth, easily disinfected surfaces;

f. all drugs, medicines, or chemicals shall be stored, inventoried, prescribed, administered, dispensed, and/or used in accordance with federal, state and local laws and rules;

g. all equipment shall be kept clean and in proper working order;

h. the ability to address sudden life-threatening emergencies which may arise, including the availability, on site, of oxygen, resuscitation drugs, treatment for shock, and fluid administration materials; and

i. the proper disposal of biomedical waste and the required facilities, on site, for such disposal, as well as documentation on site to verify the proper disposal of biomedical waste.

9. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall make all decisions which involve, whether directly or indirectly, the practice of veterinary medicine and will be held accountable for such decisions in accordance with the Veterinary Practice Act, the board's rules, and other applicable laws.

10. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall be responsible for compliance with all standards and requirements set forth in the Veterinary Practice Act, the board's rules, and other applicable laws.

11. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall provide a copy of any signed written agreement, including renewal, extension or amendment, required by this rule to the board prior to commencement of the terms of the agreement.

12. The veterinarian operating or providing permissible services in a wellness or preventative care clinic shall provide the board, upon written demand, a copy of the written agreement with the local veterinary hospital or clinic required by this rule.

F. A mobile practice vehicle shall comply with the following requirements.

1. A mobile practice vehicle shall provide veterinary care where the patient is not taken into the vehicle.

2. A mobile practice vehicle may be an extension of an existing hospital and/or clinic defined in §700 The hospital or clinic associated with the mobile practice vehicle shall operate in compliance with Subsections 711.A and B.

3. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle which does not have the capabilities of providing aftercare and/or emergency care services, and/or which is not an extension of an existing hospital or clinic, shall have a prior written agreement with a local veterinary hospital or clinic, within a 30 mile or 30 minutes travel time, to provide aftercare and/or emergency care services. The written agreement to provide aftercare and/or emergency care services in this Rule shall not be required if the mobile practice vehicle is an extension of an existing hospital or clinic, and/or has the capabilities of providing aftercare and/or emergency care services.

4. A notice of available aftercare and/or emergency care services, including the telephone number and physical address of the local veterinary hospital or clinic, or hospital or existing clinic associated with the mobile practice vehicle if applicable, shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or on the mobile practice vehicle, and a copy of the notice or information shall be given to each client prior to the provision of veterinary care.

5. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall physically remain on site until all patients are discharged to their respective owners, or authorized agents.

6. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall comply with the requirements for record keeping regarding the storage, maintenance and availability to the client of the medical records for the patients as set forth in the board's rules on record keeping.

7. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall comply with the requirements for maintaining, administering, dispensing, and prescribing any drug, medicine, chemical, and/or biological agent as set forth in the board's rules.

8. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall be responsible for the information and representations provided to the clients by the staff of the mobile practice vehicle.

9. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall have his license or current renewal, in good standing, to practice veterinary medicine in Louisiana on display in a conspicuous place on or in the mobile practice vehicle.

10. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall make all decisions which involve, whether directly or indirectly, the practice of veterinary medicine and will be held accountable for such decisions in accordance with the Veterinary Practice Act, the board's rules, and other applicable laws.

11. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall be responsible for compliance with all standards and requirements set forth in the Veterinary Practice Act, the board's rules, and other applicable laws.

12. The veterinarian operating or providing veterinary care in a mobile practice vehicle shall provide the board, upon written demand, a copy of the written agreement with the local veterinary hospital or clinic required by this rule, if such is not the hospital or clinic associated with the mobile practice vehicle and/or the mobile practice vehicle does not have the capabilities of providing aftercare and/or emergency care services.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LXXXV-711

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Veterinary Medicine, LR 19:1330 (October 1993), amended LR 23:969 (August 1997), LR 24:2123 (November 1998), LR 31:3162 (December 2005), LR 33:2424(November 2007), LR 35:244 (February 2009), Repromulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Board of Veterinary Medicine, LR 501141 (8/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1518 et seq.