Virginia Law

A. Stationary establishments. A stationary establishment shall provide surgery and encompass all aspects of health care for small or large animals, or both. All stationary establishments shall meet the requirements set forth in this subsection:

1. Buildings and grounds must be maintained to provide sanitary facilities for the care and medical well-being of patients.

a. Temperature, ventilation, and lighting must be consistent with the medical well-being of the patients.

b. There shall be on-premises:

(1) Hot and cold running water of drinking quality, as defined by the Virginia Department of Health;

(2) An acceptable method of disposal of deceased animals, in accordance with any local ordinance or state and federal regulations; and

(3) Refrigeration exclusively for carcasses of companion animals that require storage for 24 hours or more.

c. Sanitary toilet and lavatory shall be available for personnel and owners.

2. Areas within building. The areas within the facility shall include the following:

a. A reception area separate from other designated rooms;

b. Examination room or rooms containing a table or tables with nonporous surfaces;

c. A room that is reserved only for surgery and used for no other purpose. In order that surgery can be performed in a manner compatible with current veterinary medical practice with regard to anesthesia, asepsis, life support, and monitoring procedures, the surgery room shall:

(1) Have walls constructed of nonporous material and extending from the floor to the ceiling;

(2) Be of a size adequate to accommodate a surgical table, anesthesia support equipment, surgical supplies, and all personnel necessary for safe performance of the surgery;

(3) Be kept so that storage in the surgery room shall be limited to items and equipment normally related to surgery and surgical procedures;

(4) Have a surgical table made of nonporous material;

(5) Have surgical supplies, instruments, and equipment commensurate with the kind of services provided;

(6) Have surgical and automatic emergency lighting to facilitate performance of procedures; and

(7) For establishments that perform surgery on small animals, have a door to close off the surgery room from other areas of the practice.

3. The veterinary establishment shall have, at a minimum, proof of use of either in-house laboratory service or outside laboratory services for performing lab tests, consistent with appropriate professional care for the species being treated.

4. For housing animals, the establishment shall provide:

a. An animal identification system at all times when housing an animal;

b. Accommodations of appropriate size and construction to prevent residual contamination or injury;

c. Accommodations allowing for the effective separation of contagious and noncontagious patients; and

d. Exercise areas that provide and allow effective separation of animals or walking the animals at medically appropriate intervals.

5. A veterinary establishment shall either have radiology service in-house or documentation of outside services for obtaining diagnostic-quality radiographs. If radiology is in-house, the establishment shall:

a. Document that radiographic equipment complies with Part VI (12VAC5-481-1581 et seq.), Use of Diagnostic X-Rays in the Healing Arts, of the Virginia Radiation Protection Regulations of the Virginia Department of Health, which requirements are adopted by this board and incorporated herewith by reference in this chapter.

b. Maintain and utilize lead aprons and gloves and individual radiation exposure badges for each employee exposed to radiographs.

6. Minimum equipment in the establishment shall include:

a. An appropriate method of sterilizing instruments;

b. Internal and external sterilization monitors;

c. Stethoscope;

d. Equipment for delivery of assisted ventilation appropriate to the species being treated, including endotracheal tubes;

e. Adequate means of determining patient's weight; and

f. Storage for records.

B. Additional requirements for stationary establishments.

1. A stationary establishment that is open to the public 24 hours a day shall have licensed personnel on premises at all times and shall be equipped to handle emergency critical care and hospitalization. The establishment shall have radiology/imaging and laboratory services available on site.

2. A stationary establishment that is not open to the public 24 hours a day shall have licensed personnel available during its advertised hours of operation and shall disclose to the public that the establishment does not have continuous staffing in compliance with § 54.1-3806.1 of the Code of Virginia.

3. All stationary establishments shall provide for continuity of care when a patient is transferred to another establishment.

C. Limited stationary establishments. When the scope of practice is less than full service, a specifically limited establishment registration shall be required. Upon submission of a completed application, satisfactory inspection, and payment of the veterinary establishment registration fee, a limited establishment registration may be issued. Such establishments shall have posted in a conspicuous manner the specific limitations on the scope of practice on a form provided by the board.

D. A separate establishment registration is required for separate practices that share the same location.