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LOUISIANA BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Report to Licensees

Vol. 10, No. 2    DECEMBER 2000

Table of Contents

2000/2001 LICENSE RENEWAL

The year 2001 license renewal period concluded on September 30, 2000 with approximately 898 actively licensed veterinarians and 283 veterinarians holding inactive status, which consist mainly of veterinarians practicing in other states and retirees. There were 64 licenses that expired, 54 already expired licenses still not renewed, and 14 licenses cancelled for continued expiration and non-renewal over the past five years. To date, there have been 38 new DVM licenses issued. There are 66 individuals registered as veterinary technicians. There are 121 individuals certified as animal euthanasia technicians for approximately 45 animal shelter facilities, animal control departments, humane societies, and even a military establishment. And, there are two individuals registered as equine dentist.

REMINDER: Continuing Education

The CE renewal period for the year 2002 (renewal period July 1 through September 30, 2001) is in progress. CE for the 2002 renewal must be taken between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001. CE taken prior to July 1, 2000 is not acceptable.

As per the Board's CE Policy Statement, acceptable proof of CE attendance must be an attendance certificate as provided by the sponsoring organization and must consist of the following information for verification by board office personnel:

1. your name - if the attendance certificate requires you to complete or sign your name as participant, please make sure to print or sign your name legibly.
2. name of the conference/program - this should show as evidence of the topic covered at the program;
3. date the program was held/attended; and
4. the actual hours you personally attended - when attending a large, multi-day/multi-subject, conference/program, evidence (i.e. an attendance log) of the actually sessions (topics) personally attended must be submitted along with any attendance certificate provided by the sponsor.

Rules Update
Please contact the board office for a copy of any Notice of Intents or Rules described below.

Prescribing and Dispensing Drugs
The Board has issued a Notice of Intent, dated September 20, 2000, regarding amendments to Rules 700 and 705 relating to the defining of prescriptions, establishing of minimum requirement for record keeping, delegation to authorized employees for the communication of refills, and establishing the minimum standards for a protocol for refill delegation. These rule amendments are anticipated to take effect January 20, 2001.

Preceptorship Program
The Board intends to issue a Notice of Intent in December 2000, regarding amendments to Rules 1101 through 1123 and 700 relating to the clarification of the Board's current preceptorship program by explicating the required paperwork, clarifying preceptee and preceptor duties and responsibilities, and creating the allowance for and defining limited approval of specialty facilities. These rule amendments are anticipated to take effect April 2001.

Disciplinary Cases

QUESTIONS FROM THE REAL LIVES OF VETERINARIANS

Can veterinary technicians vaccinate under direct supervision?

Pursuant to its delegated authority, the Board promulgated Rule 702D(2)(a) which provides that a registered veterinary technician (RVT) may administer medications and/or treatments to non-boarding (hospitalised or ill) animals without direct supervision by a licensed veterinarian. However, the licensed veterinarian must charge the precise treatment plan to be used in the animal's medical record and the treatment plan may include oral, topical and injectable treatments. The licensed veterinarian has the ultimate responsibility for the proper diagnosis and treatment of the animal including the work delegated to the RVT pursuant to Board Rule 702D(2)(d). Therefore, certain injections may be provided by a RVT under the appropriate supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Although, pursuant to the Louisiana Sanitary Code, LSA R.S. 3:001 et seq., vaccinations for rabies control can only be administered by a licensed veterinarian and cannot be delegated by a veterinarian to a RVT.

Can a licensed veterinarian provided Ketamine to a township that has no animal control facility for use in animal capture?

A licensed veterinarian who holds current, valid DEA and CDS registration at his/her clinic may keep and store vial(s) of Ketamine at his facility from which appropriate doses of Ketamine may be distributed for use in animal capture to an authorized town official who has been trained in chemical capture. The veterinarian is ultimately responsible for the Ketamine and is responsible for maintaining the drug with proper record keeping and secure storage and distribution. The veterinarian is advised to maintain on file a copy of the certificate of completion from a board-approved chemical capture course for the town official who will be administering the chemical capture drug.

Can a duragesic transdermal patch (particularly fentanyl) be sent home with a patient so that the analgesia can be provided at home for the 3-4 days after a procedure is performed?

The Board is of the opinion that if an animal's medical condition is serious enough to prescribe and administer the patch, then the animal should remain at the facility during the use of such patch. The Board's main concerns with the use of the patch in the home environment is the possible misuse and/or lack of appropriate attention with regard to application; the possibility that another animal in the household could obtain and ingest the patch potentially resulting in the animals death; and the possibility that a small child could obtain the patch and absorb such medications through the skin causing adverse effects. It is the Board's recommendation that the use of the duragesic (fentanyl) transdermal patch be applied to an animal only during its stay at the veterinary facility. Private legal counsel should be consulted with any questions regarding civil liability with regards to this matter.