Quality Team-Based Care
Status: The Transition Council has unanimously approved the proposed regulatory concepts in the area of Quality Team-Based Care. These regulatory concepts focus on the veterinarian-client-patient relationship and informed client consent, drugs, and quality assurance. The Transition Council will review a proposed regulatory concept on after-hours veterinary care at a later date.
Replay from Transition Council: A replay of the Transition Council's discussions and decisions from the May 14, 2025 meeting is available below. The proposed regulatory concepts under "Quality Team-Based Care" include: Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship and Informed Client Consent, Drugs, and Quality Assurance.
Members' Obligations Prior to Providing Veterinary Services
The Veterinarians Act outlines a member's obligations prior to providing veterinary services to an animal(s) or group of animals. These obligations are currently referred to as the veterinarian-client-patient relationship and informed client consent.
The proposed regulatory concept on members' obligations prior to providing veterinary services, approved by the Transition Council at its May meeting, includes the following:
- continuation of regulation language related to members' obligations prior to providing veterinary services, applying to veterinarian and veterinary technician members
- the terms veterinarian-client-patient relationship and informed client consent will be revisited through College policy
Learn more about the regulatory concept on Licensure
Drugs
Veterinarian's ability to prescribe, dispense, administer, and/or sell drugs is regulated by a broad legislative framework, both federal and provincial. The inclusion of veterinary technicians as members of the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario requires an update to regulation language related to the use of drugs in veterinary medicine. The proposed regulatory concepts reflect the different responsibilities of the two professionals and provide guidance and direction related to public protection and choice.
The proposed regulatory concept on drugs, approved by the Transition Council at its May meeting, includes the following:
- updates language on prescription portability indicating the veterinarian member is responsible for informing clients they can receive a written prescription to obtain drugs from a licensed pharmacist
- language that reflects that veterinarians and veterinary technicians have different responsibilities related to prescribing, dispensing, compounding, administering, and/or selling drugs, and indicates only veterinary members are permitted to prescribe drugs
- maintains language related to drugs in the current regulatory framework
Learn more about the regulatory concept on Drugs
Quality Assurance
The College’s quality assurance program is aimed at ensuring the ongoing quality and safety of veterinary medicine in Ontario to mitigate risks to the public and instill public confidence in veterinary medicine and regulation of the profession. The current quality assurance program is voluntary.
Under the Veterinary Professionals Act, veterinarian and veterinary technician members will be required to participate in a quality assurance program. Frequency of requirements would be determined by the Quality Assurance Committee and outlined in College policy.
The proposed regulatory concept on quality assurance, approved by the Transition Council at its May meeting, includes the following:
- definitions to support clarity around the quality assurance program
- details of the quality assurance program such as the appointment of assessors, continuing professional development activities, participation in self-assessments, and peer and practice assessments