After due notice in the Delaware Register of Regulations and two Delaware newspapers, a public hearing was held on August 13, 2013 at a scheduled meeting of the Delaware Board of Veterinary Medicine ("the Board") to receive comments regarding proposed amendments to the Board's rules and regulations. The Board proposed amendments to Rule 11.1.2, addressing licensure of veterinary technicians. The revisions clarify that applicants seeking licensure pursuant to the educational and/or experiential alternatives set forth in Rule 11.1.2 must have their applications approved by October 1, 2013. If an application is not approved by October 1, 2013, the applicant must show graduation from an AVMA approved program. The revisions also provide that if an applicant does not pass the examination set forth in Rule 11.1.4 within one year after the date of approval of the application, in order to pursue licensure, the applicant shall re-apply for licensure and submit the application fee. Any applicant who re-applies after October 1, 2013 shall have received a degree from a veterinary technician program accredited by the AVMA or from a foreign veterinary program approved by the AVMA.
The proposed changes to the rules and regulations were published in the Delaware Register of Regulations, Volume 16, Issue 12, on June 1, 2013. Notice of the August 13, 2013 hearing was published in the
News Journal (Exhibit 1) and the
Delaware State News. Exhibit 2. Pursuant to
29 Del.C. §10118(a), the date to receive final written comments was August 28, 2013, 15 days following the public hearing. The Board deliberated on the proposed revisions at its regularly scheduled meeting on September 10, 2013.
Board Exhibit 1: News Journal Affidavit of Publication.
Board Exhibit 2: Delaware State News Affidavit of Publication.
Pursuant to 24 Del.C. §3306(a)(1), the Board has the statutory authority to promulgate rules and regulations. The proposed amendments implement and clarify
24 Del.C. §3319(a)(1), which provides that the Board may license veterinary technicians who meet certain educational and/or experiential qualifications. However, those alternative methods to licensure are an option only until October 1, 2013, with the Board given the authority to shorten that time period. The proposed rule revisions specify the time parameters and requirements for applicants who wish to become licensed through the alternative methods.
SO ORDERED this 10th day of September, 2013.
1.1 Supervision refers to the oversight of any person performing non-licensed support activities and/or licensed veterinary technician activities by a licensed Delaware veterinarian. Oversight includes control over the work schedule of the person performing support and/or veterinary technician activities and any remuneration the person receives for performing such activities.Oversight does not include remuneration paid directly to support personnel or veterinary technicians by the public. Supervision of veterinary technicians and support personnel is based on the following:
1.5 If the veterinarian concludes based on the initial examination (required by paragraph 1.1.1) that delegation is appropriate, support personnel may perform the following tasks only under the following supervision:
1.7 Veterinarians (24 Del.C. §3315(a)) and veterinary technicians (
24 Del.C. §3320 (a)) who are temporarily licensed shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
2.1.1 Allowing support personnel to perform the acts forbidden under Section 1.2 or allowing licensed veterinary technicians to perform the acts forbidden under Section 1.3 of the Rules and Regulations.
2.1.2 Allowing support personnel to perform tasks in Section 1.5 of the Rules and Regulations without the specified supervision or allowing veterinary technicians to perform the tasks in Section 1.6 without the specified supervision.
2.1.3 Failing to be accessible to support or veterinary technician personnel by electronic means in a reasonable timeframe to provide off-site supervision for activities requiring indirect supervision as required by Section 1.4 of the Rules and Regulations.
2.1.5 Representation of conflicting interests except by express consent of all concerned. A licensee represents conflicting interests if while employed by a buyer to inspect an animal for soundness he or she accepts a fee from the seller. Acceptance of a fee from both the buyer and the seller is prima facie evidence of fraud.
2.1.6 Use by a veterinarian of any certificate, college degree, license, or title to which he or she is not entitled.
2.1.7 Intentionally performing or prescribing treatment, which the veterinarian knows to be unnecessary, for financial gain.
2.1.8 Placement of professional knowledge, attainments, or services at the disposal of a lay body, organization or group for the purpose of encouraging unqualified groups or individuals to perform surgery upon animals or to otherwise practice veterinary medicine on animals that they do not own.
2.1.9 Destruction of any part of a patient's records before a minimum of three (3) years have elapsed from the last entry in the medical record shall be considered unprofessional conduct. Records are to include, but are not limited to, information such as written or electronic documentation, rabies records, radiographs, ultrasounds, laboratory, and histopathological results.
2.1.10 Cruelty to animals. Cruelty to animals includes, but is not limited to, any definition of cruelty to animals under
11 Del.C. §1325.
2.1.10.1
Animal housing (such as cages, shelters, pens and runs) should be designed with maintaining the animal in a state of relative thermal neutrality, avoiding unnecessary physical restraint, and providing sanitary conditions and convenient access to appropriate food and water. If animals are group housed, they should be maintained in compatible groups without overcrowding.
2.1.10.2
Housing should be kept in good repair to prevent injury to the animal.
2.1.10.3
Precautions should be taken to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in housing animals.
2.1.11 Improper labeling of prescription drugs. The package or label must contain the following information, either typed or in legible handwriting:
2.1.11.3 Name, strength and quantity of the drug, and date dispensed;
2.1.11.4 Specific usage directions, describing the exact method by which the drug must be administered. A prescription without specific directions, or a prescription bearing the notation "as directed" without specific directions, may not be prepared or dispensed.
2.1.12 Failure to make childproof packaging available for prescription drugs upon the request of a client.
2.1.13 Misrepresenting continuing education hours to the Board.
2.1.14 Failure to obey a disciplinary order of the Board.
2.1.15 Prescribing medication without examining the animal(s) within a period of one year.
2.1.16 Advertising an emergency hospital or clinic or emergency services without including in the advertisement the hours during which such emergency services are provided and the availability of the veterinarian who is to provide the emergency services, or failing to provide such services during the hours advertised. The availability of the veterinarian who is to provide emergency service shall be specified as either "veterinarian on premises" or "veterinarian on call" The phrase "veterinarian on call" shall mean that a veterinarian is not present at the hospital, but is able to respond within a reasonable time to requests for emergency services and has been designated to so respond.
5.1.2 Official transcript from an AVMA approved veterinary college or university. If an applicant is not a graduate of an AVMA-accredited veterinary school or college, the applicant must possess either a certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), or its successor, or a Certificate of Qualification issued by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, or its successor.
9.2.1.1 Lapse of 12 to 24 months. Twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education credits must be completed. The 24 hours of continuing education credits must have been completed within 2 years prior to the request for reinstatement.
9.2.1.2 Lapse of over 24 months. Thirty-six (36) hours of continuing education credits must be completed. The 36 hours of continuing education credits must have been completed within 4 years prior to the request for reinstatement.
11.1.2 Official transcript from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program or from a foreign veterinary program approved by the AVMA or documentation of completion of acceptable educational and/or experiential alternatives. For a period of seven years following the effective date of 24 Del.C. §3319(a(1), The following educational and/or experience qualifications
shall be considered acceptable alternatives for the purpose of veterinary technician licensure provided that the Board may shorten this period. The following qualifications shall be considered acceptable alternatives
to licensure only if the applicant's application has been approved by the Board no later than October 1, 2013.
If an applicant does not pass the examination set forth in Rule 11.1.4 within one year after the date of approval of the application, in order to pursue licensure, the applicant shall re-apply for licensure and submit the application fee. Any applicant who re-applies after October 1, 2013 shall have received a degree from a veterinary technician program accredited by the AVMA or from a foreign veterinary program approved by the AVMA. 14.2.1.1 Lapse of 12 to 24 months. Twelve (12) hours of continuing education credits must be completed. The 12 hours of continuing education credits must have been completed within 2 years prior to the request for reinstatement.
14.2.1.2 Lapse of over 24 months. Eighteen (18) hours of continuing education credits must be completed. The 18 hours of continuing education credits must have been completed within 4 years prior to the request for reinstatement.
14.5.4 The NAVTA Journal, NAVTA-approved online continuing education