Agreed. I've never heard of techs being able to close up at the end of a surgery. However, it wouldn't surprise me if they were allowed to suture after, say, a tooth extraction, which is something techs often do.
Illegal to draw blood
- Thread starter rachroo
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Agreed. I've never heard of techs being able to close up at the end of a surgery. However, it wouldn't surprise me if they were allowed to suture after, say, a tooth extraction, which is something techs often do.
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It could be dangerous to say techs can suture in this instance but not in that instance (creating a gray area). Nevertheless, I agree with you. Suturing a small cut/injury or the site of a tooth extraction seems WAY different to me than closing up after abdominal surgery (which, I'll admit, is the first image that jumped to mind). It even seems different to me than closing up after a neuter.
And in response to David...everyone is so quick to say that cat neuters are no big deal, but I just can't stomach the idea of a tech performing surgery, any surgery. I think this should only be performed by a doctor. Especially in light of the debate about whether or not states require their techs to be licensed or not. Even if I could see my way clear to thinking a licensed tech should be allowed to do some surgery, I cannot imagine any circumstance under which I think it would be ok for a tech who has only received OJT to be able to perform surgery. That' just be way too far, IMO.
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I agree with VAgirl. I don't think anyone but a veterinarian should be performing surgery on animals. I don't care how "easy" the procedure is, if you want to do surgery, become a veterinarian.
I only say that because techs are allowed to do extractions, even though they cannot perform surgery. It makes little sense to let techs perform extractions but not allow them to close the open wound. If that were the case, then the veterinarian needs to perform the extraction.
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My mistake. That makes sense.
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I totally agree. I am just saying thats fairly common practice in parts of canada. I also have no desire to do extractions for that matter(which techs are not allowed to do in my state).
I just think its a little over the top to say that someone with OJT shouldn't be allowed to draw blood.
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Agreed on that front, too.
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The same goes in CA, where techs can perform tooth extractions, but not suture a gum flap closed. However, we have one tech at my hospital who is a Registered Veterinary Technician and also a Registered Veterinary Dental Technician (VTS-Dentisty). This is a very difficult thing to get, in which 80% of your time is dedicated to prophys and you have to log a huge variety of cases etc. before you can even take the test. And the test is HARD, the questions were in depth. But my point is that we should have more of this, techs with specialized training and experience should be able to do more (say suture the extraction, but not neuters, etc.)
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Hi, we just received this email at the clinic I work at in Ohio regarding a change in the law:
4741-1-14 Animal Aide Duties:
A) After appropriate training consistent with generally accepted standards of veterinary medical practice, an animal aide may under the supervision of a licensed veterinarnarian or RVT:
1) Prepare patients, instruments eqiupment, and medications for sx, exclusice of anesthetic agents and controlled substances
2)Collect and prepare voided specimens and perform laboratory procedures
3) Administer topical, oral and subcutaneous medications exclusice of anesthetic agents and controlled substances
4)perform diagnostic radiographic procdures
B) After appropriate training with generally accepted standards of veterinary medical practice, an animal aide may perform venipuncture for the purpose of collecting blood samples under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian
Effective 1/8/08
D) "Veterinary Supervision" ,eams omstricotpm amd directions by a licensed veterinarian on the premises of by a licensed veterinarian who is readily available to communicate with a person requiring supervision.
G) "Animal Aide" means a person who is employed by a licensed vet and super vised by a licensed ve or a RVT to perform duties such as record keeping, animal restraint, and such other duties that the board, by rule, establishes. In adopting the rules, the board shall include rules regarding the degree of supervision required for each duty. The rules shall be consistent with tgenerally accepted standards of veterinary medical practice.
K)"Direct veterinary supervision" means a licensed vet is in the immediate area and within audible range, visual range, or both, of a patient and the person administering to the patient.
At our clinic in OH, animal aides (vet assistants) are going to start learning to draw blood due to this change in the law.
4741-1-14 Animal Aide Duties:
A) After appropriate training consistent with generally accepted standards of veterinary medical practice, an animal aide may under the supervision of a licensed veterinarnarian or RVT:
1) Prepare patients, instruments eqiupment, and medications for sx, exclusice of anesthetic agents and controlled substances
2)Collect and prepare voided specimens and perform laboratory procedures
3) Administer topical, oral and subcutaneous medications exclusice of anesthetic agents and controlled substances
4)perform diagnostic radiographic procdures
B) After appropriate training with generally accepted standards of veterinary medical practice, an animal aide may perform venipuncture for the purpose of collecting blood samples under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian
Effective 1/8/08
D) "Veterinary Supervision" ,eams omstricotpm amd directions by a licensed veterinarian on the premises of by a licensed veterinarian who is readily available to communicate with a person requiring supervision.
G) "Animal Aide" means a person who is employed by a licensed vet and super vised by a licensed ve or a RVT to perform duties such as record keeping, animal restraint, and such other duties that the board, by rule, establishes. In adopting the rules, the board shall include rules regarding the degree of supervision required for each duty. The rules shall be consistent with tgenerally accepted standards of veterinary medical practice.
K)"Direct veterinary supervision" means a licensed vet is in the immediate area and within audible range, visual range, or both, of a patient and the person administering to the patient.
At our clinic in OH, animal aides (vet assistants) are going to start learning to draw blood due to this change in the law.
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Wow, thanks so much for posting that! Since I live in OH too, I wonder if my clinic would be willing to allow me to do some of these things (with the appropriate training of course!)
Do you happen to know if there is a website that this information is available on?
Do you happen to know if there is a website that this information is available on?
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I did a search and I found this
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4741-1-14
Hopefully your clinic will start training you to do these procedures🙂
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4741-1-14
Hopefully your clinic will start training you to do these procedures🙂
