Originally published in the September/October 2017 issue of the OVMA Observer.

By Jack Advent, CAE
OVMA Executive Director

On Sept. 1, 2017, modifications to the continuing education rule that outlines how veterinarians and technicians can earn CE credits for veterinarians and technicians officially went into effect. The rule (Ohio Administrative Code 4741–1–11) was adopted and reported on earlier this year, but implementation did not officially take effect until now.

While slightly reorganized, most of the provisions of the rule are the same as the previous version, including the following:

• Veterinarians are still required to get 30 hours every two years, 20 of which must be scientific. Technicians still need 10 hours, with six needing to be scientific.
• State veterinary associations such as OVMA or OAVT for technicians, accredited veterinary colleges such as The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, AVMA and recognized national specialty groups, and RACE-approved programs are still recognized as valid CE providers. Others can submit program content to OVMLB for approval.

A few notable changes have been made, however. The rule changes clarify how many hours can be used for online courses: Six hours total are permitted within scientific and/or non- scientific hours. Unlike in the past, they do not need to be “real time” offerings.

Acceptable non-scientific programming is now described following language used in the AAVSB’s RACE standards. Permissible hours in this area still include practice management and professional development; the rule changes further specify regulatory compliance, medical records, software management, ethics, and wellness as acceptable topics. Formats for acquiring non-scientific hours cannot exceed two hours in online formats and two hours in reading professional journals.

The Board of Pharmacy reports that it has gotten several inquiries from veterinarians regarding the new rules announced this summer that would limit opioid prescriptions to a seven-day supply, with exceptions allowed when used with certain human health diagnostic codes. The rules also require diagnostic codes to be used when an opioid prescription is entered into the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). Please note that these rules specifically exclude veterinarians. As a general reminder, veterinarians are not required to participate in OARRS.

Ohio Department of Health regulations (Ohio Administrative Code sections 3701–3–28, 3701–3–29, and 3701–3–30,) require that when a “dog or other animal” bites a person, that bite shall be reported within 24 hours to the health commissioner of the district in which such bite occurred. That report is supposed to be made by a healthcare provider (defined in the regulation as: “any person or government entity that provides healthcare services to individuals”) or by the person bitten.

When a client or employee is bitten in your clinic, as a veterinarian, you are required to report the bite to the local health commissioner based on new language in rule 3701–3–28. Reporting it also makes sense from a public safety and liability standpoint.

In addition, it is important to keep this in context with Rule 3701–3–29, which states that when a dog or cat has bitten a person and it is reported to the health commissioner, they shall order the animal to be quarantined not less than 10 days (it may be quarantined at the owner’s home); if unvaccinated or the animal dies in the 10-day period, then the head shall be submitted for rabies testing. The health commissioner may also require for the dog or cat to be examined by a veterinarian at the owner’s expense, and the veterinarian should share any findings with the health commissioner.