Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-933 - Veterinarians-Veterinary board › FACILITIES AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS › Section 246-933-320 - General requirements for all veterinary medical facilities

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(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 records of the animals he or she treats.
(b) Separate records for companion animals
				  shall be kept for each animal.
(c)
				  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.
(d)
				  Records for food and fibre producing animals and animals kept in herds or
				  flocks, etc., may be maintained on a group or owner or authorized agent
				  basis.
(e) All records shall be
				  legible, readily retrievable and shall be kept for a period of three years
				  following the last treatment or examination.
(f) The author of all medical record entries
				  must be identified by code or employee number, or initials.
(g) The records shall include, but not be
				  limited to, the following:
(i) Name, address
				  and telephone number of the owner or authorized agent.
(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.
(h) The
				  records must include sufficient information to justify the tentative diagnosis
				  and to warrant the treatment. This would include, but not be limited to:
(i) A short history of the animal's condition
				  as it pertains to its medical status.
(ii) Physical examination findings and any
				  laboratory or other diagnostic tests performed or recommended.
(iii) Provisional or final
				  diagnosis.
(iv) Treatment
				  administered or recommended.
(v)
				  Dosage and route of medications administered, prescribed or
				  dispensed.
(vi) Anesthesia dosage
				  and route of administration.
(vii)
				  Description of surgery performed.
(viii) Progress of the case.