New
Mexico Register / Volume XXV, Number 1 / January 15, 2014
TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
CHAPTER 25 VETERINARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS
PART 9 MINIMUM STANDARDS
16.25.9.1 ISSUING AGENCY: New Mexico
Board of Veterinary Medicine.
[16.25.9.1 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.1 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.2 SCOPE: Applies to
all veterinary facilities operating in the state of New Mexico where the
practice of veterinary medicine regularly occurs. NMSA 1978, Section 61-14-2(B).
[16.25.9.2 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.2 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: NMSA 1978,
Section 61-14-5(F) and (J); Section 61-14-13.
[16.25.9.3 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.3 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[16.25.9.4 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.4 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: 01-17-2014
unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.
[16.25.9.5 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.5 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.6 OBJECTIVE: To govern
minimum standards for the practice of veterinary medicine.
[16.25.9.6 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.6 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
[16.25.9.7 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.7 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.8 GENERAL STANDARDS:
A. The
delivery of veterinary care shall be provided in a competent and humane manner.
B. Veterinary
medicine shall be performed in a manner compatible with current veterinary
medical practice.
C. The
board of veterinary medicine shall require periodic inspections of all
veterinary facilities to monitor compliance with these standards.
(1) Standards depend upon the nature, scope,
and limitations of the practice as defined by the practice manager and approved
by the board. However, in no case shall
standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation be violated.
(2) Inspections shall be conducted by the
facility inspector designated by the board.
(3) Facilities are subject to inspection at
any time during the facility’s normal hours of business.
[16.25.9.8 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.8 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.9 PREMISES - GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS:
A. All
premises where veterinary medicine including its various branches is being
practiced and all instruments, equipment, apparatus, and apparel used in
connection with those practices, shall be kept clean and sanitary and shall
conform to the standards specified for different types of facilities.
B. Emergency
service either by staff veterinarians or by pre-arranged referral to another
veterinarian within a reasonable distance shall be provided at all times. Referral must be acknowledged and agreed upon
by both the referring and referred veterinarians.
C. Every
veterinary facility shall maintain the following:
(1) A sanitary environment to include the
proper routine disposal of waste material, proper sterilization or sanitation
of all equipment used in diagnosis or treatment, and adequate storage to
provide a neat and orderly appearance;
(2) An adequate library of textbooks, journals
or other current veterinary reference materials, readily available on the premises
or available through electronic access;
(3) Proper storage and environmental control
for all medicines and biologics based on the manufacturer’s recommendations;
(4) Properly maintained records; and
(5) Legally accessible methods for the
disposal of deceased animals and infectious waste.
[16.25.9.9 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.9 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.10 PREMISES - FIXED VETERINARY
FACILITIES:
A. When
premises are closed, an answering machine or answering service shall be used to
notify the public when the veterinary premises will re-open and where
pre-arranged after hours veterinary care is available.
B. All
fixed premises shall conform to or possess the following:
(1)
Exterior:
(a) a legible sign;
(b) facility clean and in good repair; and
(c) grounds clean and maintained.
(2) Interior:
(a) indoor lighting for halls, wards,
reception areas, examination, treatment, and surgery rooms that is adequate for
the intended purposes;
(b) a reception room and office, or a
combination of the two;
(c) an examination room separate from other
areas of the facility and of sufficient size to accommodate the appropriate
hospital personnel;
(d) table tops, counter tops, and floors made
of materials suitable for regular disinfection and cleaning;
(e) facility license conspicuously displayed;
and
(f) veterinarians’ licenses and veterinary
technicians’ licenses conspicuously displayed.
C. A
veterinary facility where animals are housed or retained for treatment shall
additionally contain the following:
(1) compartments of sufficient size and construction
to maintain animals in a comfortable, safe, and sanitary manner;
(2) exercise runs or a means for providing
exercise of sufficient construction to maintain animals in a safe, clean and
sanitary manner;
(3)
effective separation of known or suspected contagious animals;
(4) maintenance of temperature and ventilation
to ensure the comfort of patients;
(5) an animal identification system;
(6)
fire precautions that meet the requirements of local and state fire
prevention codes; and
(7) if there are no personnel on the premises
during any time an animal is left at the veterinary facility, prior written or
verbal notice must be given to the client.
D. Full
service veterinary facilities shall additionally conform to or possess the
following:
(1) a surgery room separate and distinct from
all other rooms and reserved for aseptic surgical procedures requiring aseptic
preparation;
(2) the capability to render diagnostic
radiological services, either the premises or through outside sources; and
(3) the capability to provide clinical
pathology and histopathology diagnostic laboratory services, either on the
premises or through outside sources.
[16.25.9.10 NMAC - Rp,
16.25.9.10 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.11 PREMISES - MOBILE VETERINARY
FACILITIES:
A. Small
animals. A small animal mobile
veterinary facility shall conform to or possess the following:
(1) hot and cold water;
(2) a 110-volt power source for diagnostic
equipment;
(3) a collection receptacle for proper
disposal of waste material;
(4) lighting adequate for the procedures to be
performed;
(5) table tops and counter tops which can be
cleaned and disinfected;
(6) floor coverings which can be cleaned and
disinfected;
(7) compartments to transport or hold animals;
(8) indoor lighting for halls, wards,
reception areas, examination and surgery rooms that is adequate for the
intended purposes;
(9)
An examination room separate from other areas of the facility which
shall be of sufficient size to accommodate appropriate hospital personnel
unless only one client is in the mobile unit at one time;
(10) fire precautions that meet the
requirements of local and state fire prevention codes;
(11) temperature and ventilation controls
adequate to ensure the comfort of patients;
(12) if surgical services are offered, a room
separate and distinct from other rooms reserved for aseptic surgical
procedures;
(13) the capability to render diagnostic
radiological services either in the mobile veterinary unit or through other
outside services;
(14) the capability to provide clinical
pathology and histopathology diagnostic laboratory services, either in the
mobile veterinary unit or through other outside services;
(15) ability and equipment to provide immediate
emergency care at a level commensurate with the specific veterinary medical
services provided;
(16) provide after hours emergency service,
either by staff veterinarians or by pre-arranged referral to another
veterinarian within a reasonable distance.
Referral must be acknowledged and agreed upon by both the referring and
referred veterinarians;
(17) in all types of mobile veterinary practice
adherence to minimum standards of practice and the existence of a veterinarian-client-patient
relationship; and
(18) proper instrumentation and sterilization
maintained in the vehicle to accommodate those services which the veterinarian
maintains he is capable of providing.
B. Large
animals. A large animal mobile
veterinary facility shall conform to or provide the following:
(1) maintenance of facility in a clean and
sanitary fashion; and
(2) items of equipment necessary for the
veterinarian to perform physical examinations, surgical procedures and medical
treatments consistent with the standards of the profession and the type of
veterinary services being rendered.
Standard items equipping the unit should include but not be limited to
the following:
(a) if aseptic surgery is to be performed:
sterile surgical instruments, suturing materials, syringes, and needles;
(b) protective clothing, rubber or disposable
boots and a means to clean them between each visit to each premises;
(c) current and properly stored
pharmaceuticals and biologics as per manufacturer’s label; and
(d) a means of cold sterilization.
(3) The capability to render diagnostic
radiological services, either through the mobile veterinary unit or through
other outside services.
(4) The capability to provide clinical
pathology and histopathology diagnostic laboratory services, either through the
mobile veterinary unit or through other outside services.
C. In
all types of mobile veterinary practice, minimum standards of practice must be
adhered to and a veterinarian-client-patient relationship must exist.
[16.25.9.11 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.11 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.12 PREMISES - EMERGENCY
CLINICS:
A. Emergency
clinics are facilities which advertise or otherwise purport to provide
veterinary medical services when these services are not normally available
through other facilities. Nothing
contained in this rule is intended to prohibit any licensed facility from
providing services of an emergency nature.
B. The
minimum staffing requirements for an emergency facility shall include a
licensed veterinarian on the premises at all times during the posted hours of
operation.
C. Advertisements
shall clearly state:
(1) a licensed veterinarian is on the premises
during the posted emergency hours;
(2) the hours the facility will provide
emergency services; and
(3) the address and telephone number of the
facility.
D. In
addition to the equipment for veterinary hospitals and clinics, all emergency
facilities shall have the equipment necessary to perform standard emergency
medical procedures including but not limited to:
(1) the capability to render timely diagnostic
radiological services on premises;
(2) the capacity to render timely laboratory
services on premises; and
(3) the ability to provide diagnostic cardiac
monitoring.
E. Emergency
clinics shall meet the same standards as fixed veterinary premises.
[16.25.9.12 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.12 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.13 PREMISES - NON-FULL SERVICE
FACILITIES:
A. Referral,
specialty and other facilities in which the services provided are limited in
scope shall:
(1) identify the name of the primary
veterinarian on each patient’s medical record; and
(2) possess all necessary instruments,
equipment and apparatus essential to the services rendered.
B.
Non-full service facilities shall meet the same standards as fixed veterinary
premises.
[16.25.9.13 NMAC - Rp,
16.25.9.13 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.14 PREMISES - FOOD ANIMAL
FACILITIES:
Veterinary premises where food animal medicine is practiced shall have a
reception room and office or a combination of the two. The premises shall contain the following:
A. facilities for cleaning and
sterilizing instruments and equipment;
B. telephone and answering services;
C. record keeping system;
D. facilities for proper storage of
pharmaceuticals and biologics;
E. holding pens;
F. capability for providing restraint;
and
G. a sanitizable area for clean
surgery.
[16.25.9.14 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.14 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.15 RADIOLOGICAL SERVICES:
A. Full
service veterinary practices must have the capacity to render adequate
diagnostic radiological services either in the facility or through an agreement
to provide these services through another facility.
B. All
exposed radiographs shall be the property of the veterinary facility that
originally ordered them to be prepared and shall be stored where easily
maintained and accessible by that facility for a period of three years.
C. All
radiographs shall have a permanent, legible identification and shall include
the following information:
(1) the hospital, clinic or veterinarian name;
(2) the location, city and state of the
facility;
(3) client identification;
(4) patient identification;
(5) the date the radiograph was taken; and
(6) anatomical orientation, left or right, as
indicated.
D. Radiographs
shall be temporarily released in a timely manner to another veterinarian who
has the authorization of the owner or agent or directly to the owner or
agent. Return of said radiographs to the
originating veterinarian shall also be accomplished in a timely manner. Transfer of radiographs shall be documented
in the medical record.
E. If
radiographs are transferred permanently, the transfer shall be documented in
the medical record.
F. Radiographs
originating at an emergency hospital shall become the property of the next
attending veterinary facility upon receipt of the radiographs. Transfer of radiographs shall be documented
in the medical record.
G. Pursuant
to the state of New Mexico Environmental Protection Act, 20.3.6 NMAC, each
facility shall maintain an x-ray log containing the examinations and the dates
the examinations were performed. The log shall indicate when techniques for
procedures vary from those specified in Subparagraph (c), Paragraph (1),
Subsection A of 20.3.6.602 NMAC.
[16.25.9.15 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.15 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.16 LABORATORY SERVICES AND
EQUIPMENT:
A. Clinical
pathology and histopathology diagnostic laboratory services must be readily
available within the veterinary facility or through outside services.
B. Laboratory
data is the property of the veterinary facility that originally ordered it to
be prepared.
C. A
copy of laboratory data shall be released in a timely manner to another
veterinarian who has the authorization of the owner or agent or directly to the
owner or agent.
D. A
laboratory must be equipped with a microscope and a centrifuge.
[16.25.9.16 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.16 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.17 PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES:
A. No
legend or controlled drug shall be prescribed, dispensed or administered
without the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
B. All
legend drugs shall be stored in a secure manner limiting public accessibility.
C. No
expired drug or biologic shall be administered or dispensed.
D. All
expired drugs or biologics shall be stored away from the working pharmacy while
awaiting disposal.
E. All
drugs and biologics shall be maintained, administered, dispensed and prescribed
in compliance with state and federal laws.
F. Unless
otherwise requested by the owner, and noted in the medical record, all
repackaged legend and dangerous drugs shall be dispensed in safety closure
containers.
G. All
drugs shall be labeled with:
(1) name, address, and phone number of the
facility;
(2) client’s name;
(3) patient’s name;
(4) date dispensed;
(5) name and strength of drug;
(6) directions for use;
(7) quantity dispensed;
(8) expiration date of drug;
(9) name of prescribing veterinarian; and
(10) the words "for veterinary use
only" and "keep out of reach of children."
H. Veterinarians
shall honor client requests to dispense a drug(s) or provide a written
prescription for a drug(s) that has been determined by the veterinarian to be
appropriate for the patient.
[16.25.9.17 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.17 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.18 SURGICAL SERVICES:
A. Aseptic
surgery means a procedure that is performed under sterile conditions.
(1) Sterile surgery shall be defined as
procedures in which aseptic technique is practiced in patient preparation,
instrumentation and surgical attire.
(2) Clean surgery means the performance of a
surgical operation for the treatment of a condition and under circumstances
which, consistent with the standards of good veterinary medicine, do not
warrant the use of aseptic surgical procedures.
B. The
surgeon is responsible for the surgical case until it is completed and there is
adequate recovery of the patient from anesthesia.
C. Surgery
room.
(1) A room shall be designated for aseptic
procedures only, in which no other uses are permitted;
(2) The room shall be well lighted and have
available an operational viewing device for reviewing radiographs;
(3) The floors, tabletops, and countertops of
the surgery room shall be of a material suitable for disinfection and cleaning
and shall be cleaned and disinfected regularly;
(4) Storage in the surgery room is limited to
surgically related items only; and
(5) Nothing in this section shall preclude the
performance of emergency aseptic surgical procedures in another room when the
room designated for that purpose is occupied.
D. Instruments
and equipment.
(1)
Instruments and equipment shall be:
(a) adequate for the type of surgical service
provided; and
(b) sterilized by a method acceptable for the
type of surgery for which they shall be used.
(2) In any sterile surgical procedure, a
separate sterile pack and gloves shall be used for each animal;
(3) All instruments, packs and equipment that
have been sterilized shall have an indicator that reacts to and verifies
sterilization within one year; and
(4) Suture material shall not be used beyond
the manufacturer’s expiration date.
E. Surgical
attire.
(1) Each member of the surgical team shall wear
an appropriate sanitary cap and sanitary mask which covers his hair, mouth,
nose and any facial hair, except for eyebrows and eyelashes;
(2) All members of the surgical team who will
be handling sterile instruments or touching the surgical site shall wear
sterilized surgical gowns with long sleeves and sterilized gloves;
(3) Ancillary personnel in the surgery room
shall wear clean clothing;
(4) Ancillary personnel in immediate proximity
to the sterile field shall wear sanitary cap and mask; and
(5) When performing "clean surgery",
the instruments used to perform such surgery shall have been properly sterilized
or disinfected and the surgeon and ancillary personnel shall wear clean
clothing as appropriate.
F. Anesthesia.
(1) General anesthesia is a condition caused
by the administration of a drug or combination of drugs sufficient to produce a
state of unconsciousness or dissociation and blocked response to a given pain
or alarming stimulus.
(2) Administration of appropriate and humane
methods of anesthesia, analgesia and sedation to minimize pain and distress
during any procedures and shall comply with the following standards:
(a) with the exception of feral or dangerous
animals, every animal shall be given a physical examination within two weeks
prior to the administration of an anesthetic;
(b) the animal under general anesthesia shall
be under continuous observation until, at minimum, the swallowing reflex has
returned and shall not be released to the client until the animal demonstrates
a righting reflex. This shall not
preclude direct transfer of an animal under anesthesia to a suitable facility
for referred observation;
(c) provide a method of respiratory monitoring
that may include observation of the animal’s chest movement or observing the
rebreathing bag or respirometer;
(d) provide a method of cardiac monitoring
that may include the use of stethoscope or electrocardiographic monitor;
(e) clean endotracheal tubes of assorted sizes
shall be readily available;
(f) oxygen equipment shall be available at all
times;
(g) anesthetic equipment will be maintained in
proper working condition; and
(h) effective means shall be provided for
exhausting waste gasses from hospital areas in which inhalation anesthesia is
used.
G. A surgical log shall be maintained
that includes the following information:
(1) date of procedure;
(2) client identification;
(3) patient identification;
(4) type or name of procedure;
(5) pre-anesthetic or sedative used;
(6) anesthetic or induction agent used;
(7) anesthesia maintenance agent used; and
(8) duration of procedure.
[16.25.9.18 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.18 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.19 DENTAL SERVICES:
A. Dental
operation or procedure is the application or use of any instrument or device to
any portion of an animal’s tooth, gum or related tissue for the prevention,
cure or relief of any wound, fracture, injury, disease or other condition of an
animal’s tooth, gum or related tissue.
Dental operations or procedures shall be performed only by licensed
veterinarians except for those preventive veterinary dental procedures as
specified below.
B. Preventive
veterinary dental procedures including but not limited to the removal of
calculus, soft deposits, plaque and stains; the smoothing, filing, polishing of
tooth surfaces, or floating or dressing of equine teeth, shall be performed
only by licensed veterinarians or under the direct supervision of a licensed
veterinarian.
C. Preventive
veterinary dental procedures including but not limited to the removal of
calculus by either manual or ultrasonic rescaling shall be done in a location
specifically designated for such procedures or in a treatment area.
D. This
rule does not prohibit any person from utilizing cotton swabs, gauze, dental
floss, dentifrice, toothbrushes or similar items to clean an animal’s teeth.
[16.25.9.19 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.19 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.20 DIRECT SUPERVISION OF
NON-VETERINARIANS: Non-licensed individuals are prohibited from
practicing veterinary medicine which includes but is not limited to
chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, homeopathy,
therapeutic massage, dentistry, embryo transfer or any other related services
on animals as defined in NMSA 1978, Section 61-14-2(B)(1), except under the
direct supervision of a New Mexico-licensed veterinarian.
A. Direct
supervision includes the following:
(1) the licensed veterinarian must have
established a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship;
(2) the treatment must be performed on the
order of a licensed veterinarian;
(3) the licensed veterinarian must be on the
premises and readily available;
(4) the licensed veterinarian must assume
liability for the quality of any treatment performed; and
(5) the fee for services rendered shall be
paid to the licensed veterinarian or licensed facility.
[16.25.9.20 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.20 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.21 RECORD KEEPING:
A. Every
veterinarian involved in a veterinarian-client-patient relationship performing
any service requiring a license to work on any animal or group of animals in
his custody or in the custody of a veterinary facility, shall prepare a legible
individual or group animal and client record concerning the animal(s) which
shall contain the following information:
(1) name, address, and phone number of the
animal’s owner or agent; and
(2) name or identity of animal(s), including
species, breed, age, sex, weight, and color where appropriate
(3) The medical record shall contain:
(a) a history of pertinent information as it
pertains to the animal’s medical status;
(b) notation of the physical examination
findings;
(c) treatment or intended treatment plans or
both, including medications, medication strengths and amounts administered,
dispensed or prescribed and frequency of use as well as method of
administration including those medications used for sedation, induction and
maintenance of anesthesia;
(d) data and interpretation(s) of diagnostic
procedures including but not limited to radiographs, laboratory, ultrasound and
ECG;
(e) a diagnosis or tentative diagnosis;
(f) when pertinent, a prognosis;
(g) progress notes and disposition of the
case;
(h) beginning and ending dates of custody of
the animal with daily notations;
(i) in the case of vaccination clinics, a
certificate including the information required by Subsections (1) and (2) above
may serve as the medical record;
(j) name or initials of the veterinarian
responsible for entries; and
(k) name or initials of all ancillary and
authorized individuals responsible for entries.
(4) Group records are acceptable for herds,
flocks or litters of animals that lack individual identification by name or
that include a number of individuals to which the same medical record applies.
Records for surgical procedures that include a description of the procedure,
surgical findings when pertinent and response to or recovery from anesthesia
shall contain the requirements listed in Subsection (3) above.
B. Record
storage.
(1) All records shall be the property of the
veterinary facility or practice that created such records and shall be kept where
easily accessible for a minimum of four years after the animal’s last visit.
(2) Upon closure of a facility or practice,
notice must be published twice in the local newspaper announcing where records
can be obtained for 90 days.
(3) Copies of records and radiographs or a
summary of records will be made available within 10 working days upon the
client’s written request.
C. Controlled
substances.
(1) A separate log shall be maintained on each
controlled substance and shall contain the following information:
(a) date and time of administering or date of
dispensing;
(b) name of owner or agent;
(c)
name or identification of animal;
(d) amount dispensed or administered;
(e) balance remaining; and
(f) authorizing veterinarian and identification
of authorized individual dispensing or administering the controlled substance.
(2) For each controlled substance, there shall
be an annual inventory that includes:
(a) the date of inventory, May 1 annually,
unless prior written notice is submitted to the appropriate agency by the
licensee manager;
(b) a physical count identifying the quantity
of each controlled substance on hand on the date of inventory;
(c) the "balance remaining" from the
individual controlled substance log;
(d) the discrepancy between (b) and (c); and
(e) the percent the annual use (d) represents.
(3) All New Mexico board of pharmacy, New
Mexico Controlled Substances Act, federal drug enforcement administration (DEA)
and federal food and drug administration requirements shall be complied with,
including but not limited to the following:
(a) controlled substances must be kept
securely locked in a closet, safe or fixed cabinet;
(b) access to the controlled substance storage
area should be restricted to the absolute minimum number of employees;
(c) the recommendation that controlled
substances stock is kept to a minimum.
Should it be necessary to have a substantial quantity of controlled
substances stored in the office or facility, the DEA encourages having security
which exceeds the minimum requirements such as a safe and alarm system;
(d) the reporting of lost or stolen controlled
substances to the appropriate agency;
(e) the disposal of controlled substances
through a DEA licensed disposer; and
(f) the DEA and NMCS licenses shall be kept
where easily accessible in the pharmacy area but not in public view.
D. Computer
records.
(1) There shall be reasonable security of a
facility’s computer(s) with access limited to authorized individuals only.
(2) A daily and cumulative monthly back-up on
a separate disk, magnetic tape or other acceptable device or method shall be
made.
[16.25.9.21 NMAC - Rp
16.25.9.21 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.9.22 MANAGEMENT OF WASTE:
A. A
licensed veterinarian shall oversee the handling, treatment and disposition of infectious
waste including but not limited to carcasses, anatomical body parts,
excretions, blood soiled articles or bedding that are generated from an animal
that the licensed veterinarian knows or has reason to suspect has a disease
that is capable of being transmitted to humans as provided under this section:
(1) all infectious waste will be sterilized or
disinfected by heat, steam, chemical disinfection, radiation or desiccation;
and
(2) infectious waste held for disposal shall
be collected in sanitary leak resistant bags clearly labeled for biohazard
disposal. The bag shall contain the
gloves worn while collecting the waste and those used in treatment and
post-mortem examinations of suspect animals.
B. All
sharps shall be disposed of in appropriately labeled sharps containers. Such containers shall be rigid sided, solidly
sealed containers that are highly resistant to puncture. These containers shall be incinerated or
disposed of in an environmentally safe manner by a duly licensed disposer, an
approved medical sharps incineration facility or shall be disposed of in such a
way as to render the sharps harmless.
This disposal shall not apply to infectious waste sharps contained in a
puncture resistant container which should be disposed of as described in
infectious waste disposal. Due to the
small volume of sharps generated in a veterinary clinic, transportation of the
filled, sealed containers shall not be mandated by nor limited to commercial
haulers.
C. Drug
disposal.
(1) When feasible, unused or outdated drugs
shall be returned to the manufacturer for disposal in accordance with the
policies and procedures of the manufacturer.
(2) All scheduled controlled substances which
cannot be returned to the manufacturer shall be disposed of at one of the
approved controlled drug disposers as approved by the board of pharmacy. A list of these disposers will be provided by
the board of pharmacy.
(3) Drugs which do not pose a problem for
environmental hazard or are not controlled drugs may be disposed of in a
sanitary, non-offensive manner by means of regular solid waste disposal
methods.
D. A
licensed veterinarian shall oversee the handling of waste materials that are
generated from an animal that does not have a disease transmissible to humans
or suspected of being contaminated with an agent capable of infecting humans as
provided under this section:
(1) Animal carcasses.
(a) An animal carcass shall be disposed of
promptly by release to owner, burial, cremation, incineration, commercial
rendering or if permitted by local ordinance, placed in a public landfill.
(b)
If prompt disposal of an animal carcass is not possible, it shall be
contained in a freezer or stored in a sanitary, non-offensive manner until such
time as it can be disposed of as provided in (1)(a) above.
(c) All
remains stored at a veterinary clinic shall be duly identified with the case
number or the owner's name and the name of the animal to prevent improper final
disposal.
(2) Tissues, specimens, bedding, animal waste
and extraneous materials, not suspected of harboring pathogens infectious to
humans shall be disposed of by approved city or county disposal methods.
E. In
the event of the occurrence of a suspected foreign animal disease or disease of
potential concern to state or national security, the licensed veterinarian will
immediately contact the state department of agriculture, the U. S. department
of agriculture and other departments that have jurisdiction over such an
occurrence. The licensed veterinarian
shall oversee the handling of all tissues, laboratory samples and biomedical
waste associated with such cases in accordance with the recommendations made by
the department of agriculture and other departments and agencies which are
deemed necessary and appropriate in such cases.
[16.25.9.22 NMAC Rp,
16.25.9.22 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
HISTORY OF 16.25.9 NMAC:
Pre-NMAC History:
BVE 88-7, Rules Governing
Minimum Standards for the Practice of Veterinary Medicine, 10-14-88.
BVE 92-8, Rules Governing
Minimum Standards for the Practice of Veterinary Medicine, 5-22-92.
BVE 93-8, Rules Governing
Minimum Standards for the Practice of Veterinary Medicine, 6-3-93.
History of Repealed Material:
16 NMAC 25.9, Minimum
Standards - Repealed, 9-1-00.
16.25.9 NMAC, Minimum
Standards - Repealed, 6-7-02.
16.25.9 NMAC, Minimum
Standards - Repealed effective 01-17-14.