Policy Statement
Published: July 2022
Application for Inspection - Dispensing from an Accredited Facility through a Satellite Location
Accreditation Requirements for Dispensing from an Accredited Facility through a Satellite Location
Dispensing from an Accredited Facility through a Satellite Location Acknowledgement and Undertaking
Introduction
Veterinarians are privileged in their ability to both prescribe and dispense drugs to their clients. This privilege assists veterinarians with offering services that provide safe and timely animal care and rely on their unique professional expertise. Despite this ability, there are clients across all species where veterinarians encounter challenges with timely and secure delivery of needed drugs. Given these challenges, Council has approved the dispensing of pharmaceuticals and biologics, excluding controlled substances, from an accredited facility through a satellite location, pursuant to a prescription from a veterinarian and within a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). This approach is designed to facilitate expanded channels of delivery and access to drugs that complement the legislated veterinary facility structure.
Purpose and Scope
This policy statement applies to all veterinarians who are considering dispensing pharmaceuticals and biologics, excluding controlled substances, from an accredited facility through a satellite location. A satellite location functions as a component of an existing accredited facility. The satellite location must be accredited by the College and be listed on the Public Register. A veterinarian must practice at an accredited facility that has an accredited satellite location in order to dispense remotely from that satellite location.
The facility director of an accredited facility interested in dispensing from a satellite location must apply to the College to determine if the proposed location meets regulatory requirements. Such requirements consider the safety, the security and storage of drugs at point of delivery, the confidentiality and integrity of medical records, the identification of the dispenser, and inventory control. The dispenser can be a veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician working under a veterinarian’s delegation and indirect supervision. Once a satellite location is approved and accredited, the facility director must sign an undertaking with the College acknowledging that all veterinarians at the accredited facility have the ability to dispense through the satellite location as needed
The College accredits satellite locations in accordance with its legislative authority and issues amended certificates of accreditation to each designated facility director with a current signed undertaking. An accredited facility with an accredited satellite location and signed undertaking will be listed and directly linked on the Public Register.
Records related to dispensing must be maintained as per the College’s Professional Practice Standard on Medical Record Keeping.
Legislative Authority
Ontario Regulation 1093 R.S.O. 1990 s. 11(1),15 (1) made under the Veterinarians Act.
College publications contain practice parameters and standards which should be considered by all Ontario veterinarians in the care of their patients and in the practice of the profession. College publications are developed in consultation with the profession and describe current professional expectations. It is important to note that these College publications may be used by the College or other bodies in determining whether appropriate standards of practice and professional responsibilities have been maintained. The College encourages you to refer to the website (www.cvo.org) to ensure you are referring to the most recent version of any document.