News – Page 5 – College of Veterinarians of BC

Introduction of Interim Registrar

April 22, 2020

We are pleased to announce that as of April 20th Dr. Jane Pritchard has stepped into the Registrar duties as an Interim Registrar of the CVBC. Dr. Pritchard has very recently retired as the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Province and Director of the Animal Health Branch. Dr. Pritchard comes with a long and distinguished history of public service spent with the Province. Her knowledge and experience with the Ministry of Agriculture, regulation and governance, and the veterinary profession in general will prove invaluable to help the College through this next transition phase.

Notice to Registrants

March 12, 2020

As communicated by e-blast to registrants on March 4, 2020, Ms. Luisa Hlus has left the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia. Dr. Stacey Thomas (Deputy Registrar) has been appointed by Council to the role of Acting Registrar while Council conducts a formal search for a new Registrar.

Results of the 2020 Election

March 4, 2020

The following three registrants have been elected to Council, effective March 6, 2020:

Dr. Maarten Hart
Dr. Jane Mancell
Dr. Michele Martin

Voter turnout amounted to 611 eligible registrants. Thank you for participating.

Renewed Council Election Cycle 2020

February 11, 2020

As messaged to the profession on January 28, 2020, nominations are open again to fill three positions on Council, each for a three-year term. Below is a revised election schedule applicable only to the current circumstances, modified by Council at its January 24, 2020 meeting (pursuant to Bylaw s. 1.8(4)):

Nominations Deadline – February 13, 2020 at noon

Candidates Declared by February 17, 2020
Electronic Election Opens on February 18, 2020
Voting Deadline – March 2, 2020 at midnight
Outcome Announcement by March 4, 2020
First Council Meeting – March 6, 2020

Unauthorized Practice Alert – Pampered Pets Ultrasonic and Rhonda Marie Hiebert

January 2, 2020

On December 20, 2019, the CVBC obtained a Court Order by consent, prohibiting a non-veterinarian from offering oral hygiene, dental care and other health services. A copy of entered Court Order may be found here. In 2017, the BC Supreme Court delivered reasons for judgement in a similar case Dentapet decision. Please visit our website page Public Protection/Unauthorized Practice/Injunctions for more information and contact the office if you have any questions.

Antimicrobial Resistance

November 14, 2019

All CVBC registrants are encouraged to review the following material which is of relevance (by extrapolation) to the care of veterinary patients, but also with regards to every veterinarian’s responsibility to practice within the principles of antimicrobial stewardship in the “One Health” model.

In Canada, 26% of infections in humans are resistant to the medicines that are generally first prescribed to treat an infection, a rate that could rise to 40% or beyond in the coming decades, according to an expert panel convened by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). By 2050, a total of 396,000 lives could be lost and the Canadian economy could lose $338 billion.

When Antibiotics Fail is an independent expert assessment of the best available evidence of the potential impact of antimicrobial resistance, produced by the CCA at the request of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Visit www.cca-reports.ca to download this report.

Understanding the Cannabis Act and Regulations

September 26, 2019

The Canadian Council of Veterinary Regulators’ (CCVR) Cannabis Working Group has developed the following resource for Canadian veterinarians regarding the Cannabis Act and Regulations. Please follow this link.

Application of the CVBC’s New Professional Practice Standard: Small Animal Anesthetic Monitoring

February 25, 2019

On February 21^st, the CVBC circulated a message to all registrants advising of a new practice standard to be in effect as of March 1, 2019, reflecting the importance of monitoring and record keeping during anesthetic procedures.

If your clinic currently does not have the equipment necessary to comply with the standard, proof of having placed an equipment order on or before March 1, 2019 will avoid adverse consequences until you are able to take delivery and train your staff.

Update: Council amended the PPS: Small Animal Anesthetic Monitoring on March 1, 2019. Section 2 – Blood Gases now requires that every facility monitor and record either oxygenation (via pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas analysis of PaO2) OR end-tidal CO2 (via capnography) at a minimum of 5-minute intervals. The amended Standard is effective April 1, 2019. Please click here to review the standard.