Newsletter

              Oklahoma Veterinary Board
Newsletter
April 2011
Board Members: Staff Members:
President Jim P. Lee, D.V.M. Executive Director Cathy Kirkpatrick
Vice-President Dan G. Danner, D.V.M. Chief Investigator G. Dale Fullerton
Secretary/Treasurer Paul Q. Sells, D.V.M. Administrative Assistant Kelly D. Rahill
Member Jeff L. Tidwell, D.V.M. Investigative Assistant Melody Thompson
Member Frank O. Denney, D.V.M.
Member Carole Houghton, Esq.
President’s article
By Jim P. Lee, DVM
The past 2 years have seen several legislative actions which had the
consequence of affecting veterinarians or veterinary medicine both
directly and indirectly. The message is clear. As veterinarians, our
professional improvement cannot be limited to medicine and practice
management. We need to become more familiar with the legislative
process and be vigilant of upcoming legislative bills and their potential
consequences on veterinary medicine.
We need to become friends with our individual Representatives and
Senators so that when issues affecting veterinary medicine arise, they
have an expert from whom to seek advice.
We are fortunate to have 3 veterinarians in the House – Dr. Lee
Denney, Dr. Brian Renegar, and Dr. Phil Richardson. All of us should
express our gratitude to these 3 fine veterinarians and legislators for all
their efforts on our part. They have carried a tremendous load for all of us
the past 2 years and should be recognized. A simple call, an e-mail, or
handshake expressing our thanks is warranted.
Finally, veterinary medicine is under scrutiny these days. So it is vitally
important that we conduct ourselves in a most ethical and professional
manner. Veterinarians have consistently been ranked within the top 10
most trusted professions. It is imperative that we continue to practice in a
manner that reflects that trust and public confidence. Strong positive
public opinion will carry a great deal of influence with legislators.
As I write this, the Texas A & M women's basketball team has just won
the women's national championship. Congratulations to all you Aggies out
there!
Legislative Update
As of April 8, 2011
HB 1310 – Has passed the House and is in
the Senate for consideration
This Bill requires the State Board of
Veterinary Medical Examiners to certify
individuals providing non veterinary
reproductive services. It establishes
qualifications and continuing education
requirements. The bill also establishes the
Animal Technology Advisory Committee to
be established by the board to advise and
make recommendations to the board
regarding any new and evolving technologies
and procedures related to animal husbandry.
HB1471 – Has passed the House and is in
the Senate for consideration
This Bill directs the State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners to consist of five licensed
veterinarian members, the state veterinarian,
one lay person representing the general
public and a registered veterinarian
technician. It requires that for each
congressional district, veterinary members
shall be nominated to serve by the
veterinarians residing in that congressional
district and the names of the three veterinary
members receiving the most nominations
from each congressional district shall then be
given to the governor who shall appoint one
veterinary member to represent each district.
The bill requires the board's lay member and
registered veterinary technician to be
appointed by the governor, subject to
confirmation by the Senate. The bill states
that veterinarian members of the board
appointed by the governor prior to Nov. 1,
2011, shall be allowed to serve out the
remainder of their terms, and nominations
shall be collected as seats become vacant.
Continued on page 2
Use of Succinylcholine
Reprint from November 2008
It has come to the attention of the Board that some veterinarians are
using succinylcholine as their sole euthanasia solution. The use of
succinylcholine as a form of euthanasia without any other form of
sedation/anesthesia is considered to be inhumane by the Board, and
veterinarians utilizing this type of euthanasia are in violation of the
Practice Act and will be sanctioned. With the variety of humane
commercial euthanasia solutions available, the Board sees no reason for
succinylcholine to be used as a euthanasia agent except in rare
emergency settings, and in those settings, all attempts at establishing an
unconscious state with narcotics/anesthesia/etc should be used.
2010 Upcoming Dates
May 13th 4:00pm Board meeting at Board office
June 30th Renewals Due
July 15th 4:00pm Board meeting at Board office
Sept 9th 4:00pm Board meeting at Board office
Download latest version of the
OKLAHOMA VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT
Effective 2/22/11
www.okvetboard.com
Defeat Drug Impairment
Effective help is available. If you know someone we encourage you to get
involved and if you personally have a problem, seek drug treatment
assistance. Call ExecuCare at (405) 427-4391 to arrange a confidential
telephone interview with one of their doctors.
Online Renewal
Instructions
First Time Users:
• Go to www.okvetboard.com and
click “Renew Online”.
• Select “First Time User?” on the left
and enter your email when
prompted.
• Enter your first name and last name
as listed on your wallet card,
choose the license type, and enter
your License/ Registration/
Certification number. Complete the
required fields on the next screen
and “submit”.
• You will receive an email with your
Login Activation Number. Choose
the link the email provides and enter
your number.
• Return to the log in Renewal page
to start the renewal process.
To Renew:
• Go to www.okvetboard.com and
click “Renew Online”.
• Log in on the left side.
• Click “Start Here–Step 1” to review
the Personal Information and enter
your Congressional District #.
• Click “Step 2” to review the My
Clinics/Employment section. Select
each clinic to answer a mandatory
“CDS” question (except RVTs).
• Click “Step 3” to report your
Continuing Education. You may list
seminars and conferences in one
entry with the total number of hours
received and the date it began.
• Click the “Continue Renewal” button
to complete the renewal, answering
several questions and paying the
renewal fee with MasterCard, Visa,
Discover, and EFTs.
Legislative Update Continued from page 1
SB772 - Has passed the Senate and is in the House for consideration
This Bill is a consolidation bill which includes the Veterinary Medical Examiners. It creates the Office of Business and
Professional Facilitation within the Department of Commerce. It requires the office to oversee the transfer of required
authority, powers, duties and responsibility and oversee certain trades. It requires the under secretary of commerce for
the Office of Business and Professional Facilitation be appointed by the governor. It gives the under secretary of
commerce the power, duty and responsibility to administer all industries, trades, occupations and professions transferred
to be under his or her power. It requires the under secretary of commerce to develop and implement a consolidation and
transfer plan showing a demonstrable 15 percent savings for each transferred agency, board of commission. It requires
all unexpended funds, property, furnishings, equipment, supplies, records, personnel and outstanding financial
obligations and encumbrances relating to the transfer to be transferred to the Office of Business and Professional
Facilitation within the Department of Commerce.
Renewal Tips
• ADDRESS INFO: List home and employment information then check
one box to indicate which address is to be used for correspondence.
• CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: This will be necessary if HB 1471 is
passed. The Board appointments will be through secret ballot
nominations from the licensed veterinarians in that District where a
vacancy occurs. If you are unsure, please go to
http://www.okhouse.gov/Documents/Districts/CongressionalDistricts.pdf.
Mark N/A if not an Oklahoma resident.
• QUESTIONS PAGE 1: All four of these questions must be answered.
• CONTINUING EDUCATION: You can obtain the two hours of Mandatory
Review of CDS Laws by reviewing the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act
(www.okvetboard.com) or any CDS laws.
• SIGNATURE: Before returning the form, please be sure you have signed
and dated it.
• Send it immediately! If you do not have your renewal to us by June 30th,
the cost will be $500 to reactive it. If received after August 29th, the cost
is $625.