Accreditation of Veterinary Facilities
FACILITY ACCREDITATION PRESENTS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION
Accredited facilities are central to veterinary
practice in Ontario. Accreditation brings
value to both the profession and the public
by ensuring a veterinary facility provides a
safe practise environment and contains the
essential equipment and pharmaceuticals for
patient care.
Currently, there are 12 different accreditation
titles with specific requirements appropriate
for the type of practice and the needs of
the animals served. The range of categories
ensures the public has access to appropriate
veterinary services and provides flexibility for
the profession.
There are, of course, situations where the
desired veterinary service does not align with
one specific category. When this happens,
pursuing the establishment of that veterinary
facility would require an exemption from the
Accreditation Committee.
Rather than being a stop sign as some
may perceive, the Accreditation Committee
has proven to be innovative and flexible in
using its authority to grant exemptions when
appropriate and in situations where it serves
the public interest
For example, a mobile spay/neuter clinic is
now owned and operated by the Welland
and District Humane Society, and accredited
by the College after being reviewed by the
Accreditation Committee.
The Committee merged two accreditation
categories - companion animal mobile and
spay/neuter facility - to support the facility’s
operation in First Nations communities,
particularly those in northern Ontario.
The facility’s operation helps reduce barriers
to accessing spay/neuter services, which is
consistent with the objectives of the College’s
2013 Shelter Medicine Task Force report.
Summer 2015
Vol. 31 No. 2
ISSN 0821-6320
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While taking a request to Committee is not
as complicated as some may expect, it is
not as simple as yay or nay either. Conditions
may apply. The mobile spay/neuter facility
mentioned is accredited for two years,
instead of five, and provides a report to the
Committee every six months. As well, surgery
performed in the facility is restricted to spays
and neuters.
Another application recently granted by
the Accreditation Committee enabled
the Kingston Humane Society to have an
accredited hospital with an x-ray machine
shared with the St. Lawrence College’s RVT
program.
continued on page 2
CONTENTS
Competence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Peer Advisory Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Learning in Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Facility Accreditation Emblem . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Learning Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Common Inspection Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Strengthening the veterinary profession through quality practice and public accountability.
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