Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024
All fixed premises where veterinary medicine and its various
branches are being practiced, and all instruments, apparatus and apparel used
in connection with those practices, shall be kept clean and sanitary at all
times and shall conform to or possess the following minimum standards:
(a) Indoor lighting for halls, wards,
reception areas, examining and surgical rooms shall be adequate for their
intended purpose.
(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 doctor,
assistant, patient and client.
(d)
If animals are housed or retained for treatment, the following shall be
provided:
(1) Compartments for animals which
are maintained in a comfortable and sanitary manner.
(2) Effective separation of known or
suspected contagious animals.
(3)
If there are to be no personnel on the premises during any time an animal is
left at the veterinary facility, prior notice of this fact shall be given to
the client. For purposes of this paragraph, prior notice may be accomplished by
posting a sign in a place and manner conspicuous to the clients of the
premises, stating that there may be times when there is no personnel on the
premises.
(e) When a
veterinary premises is closed, a sign shall be posted and visible outside the
primary entrance with a telephone number and location where emergency care is
available. An answering machine or service shall be used to notify the public
when the veterinary premises will be re-opened and where after hours emergency
care is available. If no after hours emergency care is available, full
disclosure shall be provided to the public prior to rendering
services.
(f) The veterinary
premises shall meet the following standards:
(1) Fire precautions shall meet the
requirements of local and state fire prevention codes.
(2) The facility, its temperature, and
ventilation shall be maintained so as to assure the comfort of all
patients.
(3) The disposal of waste
material shall comply with all applicable state, federal, and local laws and
regulations.
(4) The veterinary
premises shall have the capacity to render diagnostic radiological services,
either on the premises or through other commercial facilities. Radiological
procedures shall be conducted in accordance with Health and Safety Code
standards.
(5) Clinical pathology
and histopathology diagnostic laboratory services shall be available within the
veterinary premises or through outside services.
(6) All drugs and biologicals shall be
maintained, administered, dispensed and prescribed in compliance with state and
federal laws.
(7) Sanitary methods
for the disposal of deceased animals shall be provided and
maintained.
(8) Veterinary medical
equipment used to perform aseptic procedures shall be sterilized and maintained
in a sterile condition.
(9) Current
veterinary reference materials shall be readily available on the
premises.
(10) Anesthetic equipment
in accordance with the procedures performed shall be maintained in proper
working condition and available at all times.
(11) The veterinary premises shall have
equipment to deliver oxygen in emergency situations.
(12) Appropriate drugs and equipment shall be
readily available to treat an animal emergency.
(g) A veterinary premises which provides
aseptic surgical services shall comply with the following:
(1) A room, separate and distinct from all
other rooms shall be reserved for aseptic surgical procedures which require
aseptic preparation. A veterinarian may perform emergency aseptic surgical
procedures in another room when the room designated for aseptic surgery is
occupied or temporarily unavailable.
(A) A
veterinary premises which is currently registered with the board, but does not
have a separate room reserved for aseptic surgical procedures, shall obtain
compliance with the subdivision on or before January 1, 2014.
(B) The board may exempt a veterinary
premises which is currently registered with the board, but does not have a
separate aseptic surgery room, where it determines that it would be a hardship
for the veterinary premises to comply with the provisions of this subdivision.
In determining whether a hardship exists, the board shall
give due consideration to the following factors:
1. Zoning limitations.
2. Whether the premises constitutes a
historical building.
3. Whether
compliance with this requirement would compel the veterinary practice to
relocate to a new location.
(2) Storage in the surgery room shall be
limited to items and equipment normally related to aseptic surgery and surgical
procedures. Equipment not normally related to surgery and surgical procedure
includes, but is not limited to, equipment used for dental prophylaxis,
autoclaves and non-surgical radiographic equipment.
(3) Open shelving is prohibited in the
surgical room.
(4) The surgery room
shall not contain a functional sink with an open drain.
(5) The doors into the surgery room must be
able to be fully closed, fill the entire door space, be made of non-porous
material and not provide access from outside the hospital. In cases where the
size of the animal prevents entry to the hospital via a regularly-sized door,
doors for outside access are permitted as long as such doors are able to be
fully closed, fill the entire door space and be made of non-porous
material.
(6) The surgery room
shall be well-lighted, shall have equipment for viewing radiographs and shall
have effective emergency lighting with a viable power source.
(7) The floors, table tops, and counter tops
of the surgery room shall be of a non-porous material suitable for regular
disinfecting, and cleaning, and shall be cleaned and disinfected
regularly.
(8) Surgical instruments
and equipment shall be:
(A) Adequate for the
type of surgical procedures performed.
(B) Sterilized as required by the surgical
procedure performed and instruments used.
(9) In any sterile procedure, a separate
sterile pack shall be used for each animal.
(10) All instruments, packs and equipment
that have been sterilized shall have an indicator that reacts to and verifies
sterilization.
(11) The following
attire shall be required for aseptic surgery:
(A) Each member of the surgical team shall
put on an appropriate sanitary cap and sanitary mask which covers his or her
hair and mouth, nose and any facial hair, except for eyebrows or eyelashes. All
members of the surgical team who will be handling the instruments or touching
the surgical site shall wear sterilized surgical gowns with long sleeves and
sterilized gloves.
(B) Ancillary
personnel in the surgery room shall wear clean clothing, footwear, sanitary cap
and mask.
(h)
When performing clean surgery, the instruments used to perform such surgery
shall have been sterilized and the surgeon(s) and ancillary personnel shall
wear clean clothing and footwear when appropriate.
For purposes of this section, "clean surgery" shall mean 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.
1. New Article
4 (Section
2030) filed 6-29-79, effective
thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 26). For prior history, see Register
77, No. 8.
2. Amendment filed 1-22-80 as an emergency; effective
upon filing. Certificate of Compliance included. (Register 80, No.
4).
3. Amendment and renumbering from 2031 to 2030 filed 7-16-80;
effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 29).
4.
Amendment of subsection (d) filed 12-29-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter
(Register 82, No. 11).
5. Amendment filed 10-12-83; effective
thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 42).
6. Amendment of
section heading, section and NOTE filed 5-25-2000; operative 6-24-2000
(Register 2000, No. 21).
7. Amendment filed 9-27-2013; operative
1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 39).
Note: Authority cited: Section
4808,
Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections
4854
and
4883,
Business and Professions Code.