Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
(1)
All permitted facilities where veterinary medicine is being practiced, and all
instruments, apparatus, and apparel used in connection with the practice of
veterinary medicine, shall be kept clean and sanitary at all times and conform
to the minimum standards specified for different types of facilities. The
ownership of the veterinary practice shall conform in all ways to the
requirements of section
340.226,
RSMo. Additionally, all permitted facilities shall have:
(A) An adequate library of textbooks or
current journals;
(B) Proper
storage and environmental control for all medicines and biologics based on the
manufacturer's recommendations;
(C)
Appropriate current licenses and permits conspicuously displayed; and
(D) Properly maintained
records.
(2) Veterinary
Hospitals or Clinics.
(A) Exterior.
1. Legible sign.
2. Facility clean and in good
repair.
3. Grounds clean and well
maintained.
(B)
Interior.
1. Indoor lighting for halls,
wards, reception areas, examining and surgical rooms shall be adequate for the
intended purpose, and all surgical rooms be provided with emergency
lighting.
2. Hot and cold running
water.
3. A reception area and
office, or a combination of the two (2).
4. An examination room separate from other
areas of the facility and of sufficient size to accommodate the doctor,
assistant, patient, and client.
5.
A designated surgery room(s) not accessible to the general public.
6. Facility permit conspicuously
displayed.
7. Veterinary license
and veterinary technician registration conspicuously displayed.
(C) Housing. In those
veterinary hospitals and clinics where animals are retained for treatment or
hospitalization, the following shall be provided:
1. Separate compartments of adequate size,
one for each animal, maintained in a sanitary manner;
2. Facilities allowing for the effective
separation of contagious and noncontagious cases;
3. Exercise areas which provide and allow
effective separation of animals and their waste products. Where animals are
kept in clinics for twenty-four (24) hours or more, walking the animal meets
this requirement. The exercise areas are to be kept clean; and
4. An animal identification system.
(D) Practice Management.
1. Veterinary facilities shall maintain a
sanitary environment to avoid sources and transmission of infection. This is to
include the proper routine disposal of waste materials and proper sterilization
or sanitation of all equipment used in diagnosis or treatment.
2. Fire precautions shall meet the
requirements of local and state fire prevention codes.
3. The temperature and ventilation of the
facility shall be maintained so as to assure the reasonable comfort of all
patients.
4. The veterinary
facility must have the capacity to render adequate diagnostic radiological
services, either in the hospital or clinic or through other commercial
facilities. If radiological services are provided through other commercial
facilities, a written agreement to provide these services must exist.
Radiological procedures shall be in accordance with federal and state public
health standards.
5. Laboratory and
pharmaceutical facilities must be available either in the hospital or clinic or
through commercial facilities.
6.
Sanitary methods for the disposal of deceased animals shall be provided and
maintained. Where neither the owner nor the owner's agent of a deceased animal
has given the veterinarian authorization to dispose of his/her animal, the
veterinarian shall comply with section
340.288,
RSMo.
(E) Equipment
Requirements.
1. Sterilization of all
appropriate equipment is required.
2. A library of textbooks or current journals
shall be available on the premises for ready reference.
3. Anesthetic equipment appropriate for the
level of surgery performed will be available at all times.
4. Oxygen equipment will be available at all
times.
5. Surgeons and assistants
shall wear clean attire and sterile gloves for any clean and sterile
procedures.
6. Surgical packs shall
be used and properly sterilized for all accepted sterile surgical procedures.
Surgical packs include drapes, gloves, sponges and proper
instrumentation.
7. Examination and
treatment rooms shall be equipped with waste receptacles, disposable towels and
examination tables with impervious surfaces.
8. Proper storage and environmental control
will be available for all medicines and biologics based on the manufacturer's
recommendations.
9. All waste
receptacles, other than those in areas where animals will not be housed,
treated or examined, will be lined with plastic or made of an impervious
material (rubber/plastic) that is easily sanitized.
(3) Central hospital shall meet
the same minimum standards as a veterinary hospital or clinic and also provide
on premises twenty-four- (24-) hour nursing care, specialty consultation on a
permanent or on-call basis, and be capable of rendering the following major
medical and surgical services:
(A) Intensive
care unit;
(B) Laboratory
facilities;
(C) Radiological
services;
(D) Cardiac monitoring;
and
(E) Positive ventilation gas
anesthesia.
(4)
Satellite or Out-Patient Clinic.
(A) These
clinics shall be owned by or associated with a permitted full-service
veterinary hospital or clinic or a central hospital.
(B) At a minimum, these clinics shall have-
1. Hot and cold running water;
2. A one hundred ten (110) volt power source
for diagnostic equipment;
3. A
collection tank for disposal of waste material;
4. Adequate lighting;
5. Table tops and counter tops, such as
formica or stainless steel, which can be cleaned and disinfected;
6. Floor coverings which can be cleaned and
disinfected;
7. Adequate heating,
cooling and ventilation;
8. All
necessary equipment compatible with the services rendered; and
9. Separate compartments when it is necessary
to hold animals.
(C)
These clinics also shall comply with the sanitary and sterilization provisions
of
20 CSR
2270-4.011(2).
(5) Mobile Small Animal Clinic.
(A) These clinics shall be owned by or
associated with a permitted full-service veterinary hospital or clinic or a
central hospital.
(B) These clinics
shall be maintained in a clean fashion.
(C) At a minimum, these clinics shall have-
1. A method for disposal of waste
materials;
2. A procedure for
disposal of deceased animals;
3.
The capability to sterilize or sanitize equipment;
4. Surgical packs; and
5. Separate compartments to transport
animals.
(6)
Large Animal Mobile Clinic.
(A) These clinics
shall be maintained in a clean fashion.
(B) The vehicle shall contain those items of
equipment that are 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:
1. If sterile surgery is to be
performed, sterile surgical instruments, suturing materials, syringes and
needles should be carried;
2.
Protective clothing, rubber or disposable boots and a means to clean them
between each visit to each premises as the disease warrants;
3. Current and properly stored
pharmaceuticals and biologicals;
4.
A means of cold sterilization; and
5. Obstetrical sleeves for rectal palpation
which shall be cleaned and sanitized between each premises. If disposable
sleeves are used, a new sleeve shall be used at each premises.
(7) Specialty
Facilities.
(A) An application for a facility
permit to practice veterinary medicine appropriately limited to procedures such
as training, rehabilitation, and other modalities not requiring facilities
otherwise permitted by the board, shall be submitted in writing and include:
1. A description of the procedures to be
utilized;
2. The classes of
practitioners who will practice in the facility;
3. The design of the facility; and
4. The location of the facility.
(B) Specialty facilities shall
comply with the following:
1. All applicable
building codes and zoning regulations;
2. The name of the
facility shall be prominently displayed on a legible sign;
3.
The name of the veterinarian responsible for the facility legibly posted on the
sign;
4. The facility maintained in a clean and sanitary
manner; and
5. The practice of the facility strictly limited to
that approved by the board, except in an emergency. Such emergencies shall be
reported to the board in writing within seventy-two (72) hours of the
occurrence.
*Original authority: 340.210, RSMo 1992, amended 1993,
1995, 1999; 340.224, RSMo 1992; and 340.264, RSMo 1992,
1999.