Date of Adoption: June 2, 2003.

     Purpose: WAC 246-933-320 General requirements for all veterinary medical facilities, 246-933-501 Intent, 246-933-510 Definitions, 246-933-520 Registrations, 246-933-530 Purchase and use of drugs, and 246-933-550 Investigations.

     The proposal establishes that the veterinary board adopt rules to regulate entities that provide limited veterinary services to the low-income members of our communities.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-933-320.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.92.030.

     Other Authority: RCW 18.92.260.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-06-100 on March 5, 2003.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 5, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

June 2, 2003

Michael L. Wedam, DVM

Chair, Veterinary Board

OTS-6163.1

AUTHORIZING ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AGENCIES AND NONPROFIT HUMANE SOCIETIES TO PROVIDE LIMITED VETERINARY SERVICES
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-933-501   Intent.   It is the intent of the legislature to allow qualified animal control agencies and humane societies to provide limited veterinary services to low-income members of our communities. It is not the intent of the legislature to allow these agencies to provide veterinary services to the public at large.

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     (1) "Entity" means animal care and control agencies as defined in RCW 16.52.011 and nonprofit humane societies, which have qualified under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     (2) "Emergency care" as referred to in RCW 18.92.260 (1)(b) means an unexpected, serious occurrence or situation which urgently requires prompt action in order to prevent an animal's death or permanent injury, unless defined otherwise by local ordinance.

     (3) "Low-income household" means a single person, family or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted family income is less than eighty percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the project is located (RCW 43.185A.010(5)).

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     (a) "Legend drugs" means any drugs that are required by state law or regulation of the state board of pharmacy to be dispensed on prescription only or are restricted to use by practitioners only.

     (b) "Controlled substances" means a drug, substance, or immediate precursor in Schedule I through V of Article II of chapter 69.50 RCW.

     (2) A licensed veterinarian shall be responsible for the policies and procedures regarding the ordering, purchasing, safe storage, dispensing and administration of all drugs used at an entity registered under RCW 18.92.260 in connection with surgical sterilization or emergency care. Entities are responsible for the ordering, purchasing, and safe storage of all drugs.

     (a) The veterinarian shall comply with the state board of pharmacy requirements for controlled substances in chapter 69.50 RCW, and legend drugs in chapter 69.41 RCW.

     (b) All drugs shall be stored in accordance with WAC 246-933-320.

     (c) All controlled substances shall be stored, maintained, administered, dispensed and prescribed in compliance with federal and Washington state laws.

     (d) All legend drugs shall be dispensed in accordance with RCW 18.92.012, 18.92.013, and WAC 246-933-340(5).

     (e) A record of all drugs administered and/or dispensed shall be kept in the individual animal's record.

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OTS-6164.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 299B, filed 8/19/92, effective 9/19/92)

WAC 246-933-320   General requirements for all veterinary medical facilities.   (1) Construction and maintenance: All facilities shall be so constructed and maintained as to provide comfort and safety for patients and clients. All areas of the premises shall be maintained in a clean and orderly condition, free of objectionable odors. All facilities shall comply with applicable state, county and municipal laws, ordinances and regulations.

     (2) Ventilation: Adequate heating and cooling shall be provided for the comfort of the animals, and the facility shall have sufficient ventilation in all areas.

     (3) Lighting: Proper lighting shall be provided in all rooms utilized for the practice of veterinary medicine. Outside lighting shall be adequate to identify the building and to assist the clients.

     (4) Water: Potable water shall be provided.

     (5) Basic sanitation: Any equipment, instruments or facilities used in the treatment of animals shall be clean and sanitary at all times to protect against the spread of diseases, parasites and infection.

     (6) Waste disposal: Covered waste containers, impermeable by water, shall be used for the removal and disposal of animal and food wastes, bedding, animal tissues, debris and other waste.

     Disposal facilities shall be so operated as to minimize insect or other vermin infestation, and to prevent odor and disease hazards or other nuisance conditions.

     The facility shall use refrigeration and employ a procedure for the prompt, sanitary and esthetic disposal of dead animals which complies with all applicable state, county and municipal laws, ordinances and regulations.

     (7) Records:

     (a) Every veterinarian shall keep daily written reports of the animals he or she treats. Separate records for companion animals shall be kept for each animal. The medical record for a litter may be recorded either on the dam's record or on a litter record until the individual animals are permanently placed or reach the age of three months. Records for food and fibre producing animals and animals kept in herds or flocks, etc., may be maintained on a group or client basis. ((These)) All records shall be legible, readily retrievable and shall be kept for a period of three years following the last treatment or examination. ((They)) The author of all medical record entries must be identified by code or employee number, or initials. The records shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (i) Name, address and telephone number of the owner.

     (ii) Name, number or other identification of the animal or group.

     (iii) Species, breed, age, sex, weight and color of the animal.

     (iv) Immunization record.

     (v) Beginning and ending dates of custody of the animal.

     (vi) Sufficient information in the history and examination portions of the record to justify the tentative diagnosis and to warrant the treatment. This would include, but not be limited to:

     (A) A short history of the animal's condition as it pertains to its medical status.

     (((vii))) (B) Physical examination findings and any laboratory ((data)) or other diagnostic tests performed and/or recommended.

     (((viii))) (vii) Provisional or final diagnosis.

     (((ix))) (viii) Treatment ((and medication administered, prescribed or dispensed.

     (x) Surgery and anesthesia.

     (xi) Progress of the case)) administered and/or recommended.

     (ix) Dosage and route of medications administered, prescribed or dispensed.

     (x) Anesthesia dosage and route of administration.

     (xi) Description of surgery performed.

     (xii) Progress of the case.

     (xiii) If applicable, documentation of the low-income status for persons that seek the limited veterinary services provided by qualified animal care and control agencies and humane societies.

     (b) Veterinary medical records and radiographs are the property of the veterinarian or the veterinary facility ((which)) that originally ordered their preparation. When requested by the client, copies of records will be made available as promptly as required under the circumstances, but no later than fifteen working days upon the client's request. The veterinarian may charge a reasonable copying fee, not to exceed the actual cost for providing the veterinary care information. A radiograph shall be released upon the request of another veterinarian who has the authorization of the owner of the animal to which it pertains. Such radiograph shall be returned to the originating veterinarian or veterinary facility within fifteen working days of receipt of a written request.

     (8) Storage: All supplies, including food and bedding, shall be stored in facilities which adequately protect such supplies against infestation, contamination or deterioration. Refrigeration shall be provided for all supplies that are of a perishable nature, including foods, drugs and biologicals.

     (9) Biologicals and drugs: Biologicals and other drugs shall be stored in such a manner as to prevent contamination and deterioration in accordance with the packaging and storage requirements of the current editions of the U.S. Pharmacopeia, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852, and the National Formulary, Mack Publishing Company, 20th and Northampton Streets, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042 and/or manufacturers' recommendation.

     All controlled substances shall be maintained in a locked cabinet or other suitable secure container in accordance with federal and Washington state laws.

     Controlled substance records shall be readily retrievable, in accordance with federal and Washington state laws.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.92.030. 92-17-076 (Order 299B), § 246-933-320, filed 8/19/92, effective 9/19/92; 91-24-098 (Order 221B), § 246-933-320, filed 12/4/91, effective 1/4/92; 91-02-060 (Order 108B), recodified as § 246-933-320, filed 12/28/90, effective 1/31/91; 88-08-033 (Order PM 719), § 308-153-020, filed 4/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.92.030, 18.130.050 (1) and (12) and 1986 c 259 § 139. 86-13-070 (Order PM 600), § 308-153-020, filed 6/18/86; Order PL-236, § 308-153-020, filed 2/18/76.]

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