Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
(24 Del.C. §
3303(10) and (11))
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:
1.1.1 The initial examination of the animal by the veterinarian is to be performed prior to the delegation of work to be performed by support personnel. The veterinarian may, however, authorize support or veterinary technician personnel to administer emergency measures prior to the initial examination.
1.1.2 The veterinarian shall develop a treatment plan to be referenced by support and/or veterinary technician personnel.
1.1.3 The veterinarian must authorize the work to be performed by support and/or veterinary technician personnel. Whether tasks are appropriate to be delegated may differ from case to case.
1.2 At no time may support personnel perform the following activities (24 Del.C. §
3303(10)):
1.2.1 Diagnosing.
1.2.2 Prognosing
1.2.3 Prescribing.
1.2.4 Inducing Anesthesia
1.2.5 Performing Surgery.
1.2.6 Administration of Rabies vaccinations.
1.2.7 Operative dentistry and oral surgery.
1.2.8 Centesis of body structures (not to include venipuncture) in other than emergency situations.
1.2.9 The placement of tubes into closed body structures, such as chest tubes, in other than emergency situations (not to include urinary or IV catheters; see subsection 1.5.1).
1.2.10 Splinting or casting of broken bones in other than emergency situations.
1.2.11 Euthanasia, subject to Section 2.0 of the Board's Rules and Regulations.
1.2.12 Issue health certificates.
1.3 At no time may licensed veterinary technicians perform the following activities (24 Del.C. §
3303(11):
1.3.1 Diagnosing.
1.3.2 Prognosing.
1.3.3 Prescribing.
1.3.4 Performing Surgery (excluding the tacking/suturing of intravenous and urinary catheters and nasal cannulae to skin).
1.3.5 Administration of Rabies Vaccinations.
1.3.6 Operative dentistry and oral surgery.
1.3.7 Centesis of body structures (not to include venipuncture and cystocentesis) in other than emergency situations.
1.3.8 The placement of tubes into closed body structures, such as chest tubes, in other than emergency situations (not to include urinary or IV catheters; see subsection 1.6.2).
1.3.9 Splinting or casting of broken bones in other than emergency situations.
1.3.10 Euthanasia, subject to Section 2.0 of the Board's Rules and Regulations.
1.3.11 Issue health certificates.
1.4 Levels of Supervision. All acts by support personnel and veterinary technicians not prohibited by subsection 1.2 and subsection 1.3 which constitute the practice of veterinary medicine under 24 Del.C. §
3302(6) must be performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian(s). Levels of supervision are to include:
1.4.1 Immediate Supervision - A licensed veterinarian is within direct eyesight and/or hearing range.
1.4.2 Direct Supervision - A licensed veterinarian is physically present on the premises and is readily available.
1.4.3 Indirect Supervision - A licensed veterinarian is not on the premises but is able to perform the duties of a veterinarian by maintaining communication with and is accessible to support personnel, such as by electronic means.
1.5 If the veterinarian concludes based on the initial examination (required by subsection 1.1.1) that delegation is appropriate, support personnel may perform the following tasks only under the following supervision:
1.5.1 Immediate supervision: intubation, urethral catheterization (except in the case of known urinary blockage or pre-existing urethral or urinary bladder disease); dental extractions with no periosteal elevation, no sectioning of tooth and no resectioning of bone.
1.5.2 Direct supervision: anesthesia maintenance and dental procedures including, but not limited to, removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque and stains, smoothing, filing, polishing of teeth.
1.6 If the veterinarian concludes based on the initial examination (required by subsection 1.1.1) that delegation is appropriate, veterinary technicians may perform the following tasks only under the following supervision:
1.6.1 Immediate supervision: induction of anesthesia.
1.6.2 Direct supervision: intubation, anesthesia maintenance; arterial catheterization; urethral catheterization (except in the case of known urinary blockage or pre-existing urethral or urinary bladder disease); cystocentesis; dental extractions with no periosteal elevation, no sectioning of tooth and no resectioning of bone; and dental procedures including, but not limited to, removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque and stains, smoothing, filing, polishing of teeth.
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.
1.8 Activities that may be performed under emergency conditions. Under conditions of emergencies, the following activities, which would be otherwise prohibited in the absence of veterinary supervision, may be performed by veterinary technicians or support personnel prior to the veterinarian's initial examination:
1.8.1 application of tourniquets and/or pressure bandages to control hemorrhage,
1.8.2 administration of pharmacological agents, only to be performed after communication with a veterinarian authorized to practice in Delaware, and such veterinarian is either present or enroute to the distressed animal,
1.8.3 administration of parenteral fluids,
1.8.4 resuscitative procedures,
1.8.5 application of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones or soft tissues,
1.8.6 application of appropriate wound dressings and external supportive treatment in severe wound and burn cases,
1.8.7 external supportive treatment in heat prostration cases,
1.8.8 and any other reasonable treatments necessary to an animal's welfare in an emergency situation.
