Veterinary services offered to the public in BC must occur from a CVBC accredited practice facility. This facility may be a mobile house or farm call practice, or it may be a brick-and-mortar fixed facility. There are facilities that have both components, and others that are comprised of only one or two services being offered (e.g., mobile ultrasound-only practice).
In the CVBC practice facility model, a registrant declares their intended scope of practice for a new facility. The scope of practice of the facility as a whole is the location and type of facility, the species seen, and the services offered. Sub-categories of services are often referred to as a “scope of practice” (e.g., surgery, radiology).
All facilities must meet the “core” standards for medical records, biosecurity, cleanliness and supplies for basic care and emergency resuscitation relevant to the declared scope of practice. The declared scope of practice will determine what other standards are applicable. Some facilities will have a broad scope of practice, whereas for others it may be quite narrow. This model allows for a “mix and match” of scopes of practice.
For example, a primarily large animal mobile facility may be accredited to provide small animal wellness and euthanasia if the relevant standards are met. The PFAC does not assess the competency of registrants in what services are offered, only that the appropriate accreditation standards are met.
The facility annual declaration can be used to determine the intended scope of practice. The self-assessment mirrors the accreditation standards and can be used to determine which standards are applicable and aid the registrant in preparing their facility for inspection.
The summary of how a facility is approved is as follows:
- Once a facility has a name approved and is set up so that the designated registrant feels it meets the relevant standards for the declared scope of practice, and the necessary documents are submitted to the CVBC and payments made, an inspection can take place.
- The inspection may take place in-person or via a live virtual meeting.
- The inspector’s report will be presented to the PFAC (usually their sub-panel). If the standards are met to a level the PFAC determines meets the standards to an adequate level, the facility will be granted provisional approval to operate.
- The facility may not offer services until provisional approval to operate is granted.
- Once approval is granted, the declared services may be offered, subject to any terms or conditions placed by the committee.
- At that time, the inspection outcome declarative form will be sent to the DR, and they will have 30 days to resolve the identified deficiencies.
- Extensions of 30 days may be allowed by the committee to resolve deficiencies.
- Once deficiencies are resolved, the facility will be presented to the PFAC for full accreditation.
- Full accreditation remains in place until the DR notifies the CVBC the facility is closed, or if PFAC makes a reaccreditation decision to limit or cancel the accreditation.
- Accredited facilities pay an annual accreditation fee and are inspected on a schedule set by the registrar as per Bylaw 3.4.
