The California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) accepted into the regulatory process the proposal to expand the role of registered veterinary technicians (RVTs). Under the proposal, RVTs will be allowed to act as agents of the veterinarian to establish a veterinary client-patient relationship (VCPR) for the purpose of vaccines and parasite preventive drug suspension.
Work began on the proposal in 2021 when the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) formed a task force “in response to the overwhelming need in California to receive veterinary care for their animals, especially those in economic hardships”, says Nicole Dickerson, an RVT on the CVMA RVT Committee and a member of the task force.
The proposal contains position statements and actionable recommendations to address the availability of enough veterinarians, especially in rural or economically depressed areas which is a present barrier to access care. The proposed regulatory process was unanimously approved by the CVMB and will now undergo a 45-day public comment period, which then will follow several steps to become law.
When passed into law, CVMA believes that the big step of expanding the role of RVTs in veterinary practices will benefit both the profession and the public. The regulation will alleviate the financial barrier as RVT visits cost less than with a DVM. RVT becomes a source of information and other preventive health measures, suggesting follow–up appointments with the veterinarians should there be other concerning conditions found in the animals upon physical exam.
The approval of the California proposal is believed to set a national precedent, says. “At the very least, we are laying the groundwork for conversations surrounding the ability of an expanded role of RVT to help address access to care.”
The proposed regulatory package is the beginning of a long process, Keith Rode, CVMA’s 2022-2023 president, said. “The CVMA will continue to work with stakeholders to maximize the chance of a successful implementation, but there is a long way to go and nothing is certain.”
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