Veterinary house call practices

All veterinarians wishing to conduct a house call practice must make written application to the Board addressing each of the applicable standards.  (No fee is applicable).

All acts of veterinary science must be performed under conditions where their performance could not be construed to be negligent or incompetent under Section 22F of the Act (professional misconduct).

It is incumbent on the Board to document minimum standards which must be maintained by veterinarians conducting veterinary practice at the premises of clients to ensure the competency and professionalism of the services provided.

Particular note should be taken of standard number 6 – limits of practice, and standard number 12 – practices based in established veterinary premises.

Definition of veterinary house call practice

A veterinary practice which offers house call veterinary services exclusively.  The standards should be met by all veterinary practices which provide house calls as a service of the practice. The standards do not apply in total in the case of a mobile practice treating and servicing horses and production animals.

General standards

1. A record of veterinary examinations and procedures performed must be maintained in the format defined in Regulation 25 of the Veterinary Surgeons Regulation 2002 and the confidentiality of these records must be ensured. 

2. A house call practice should have a permanent communication base, which can be mobile, for clients.  A specific non-mobile area must be set aside for the storage of drugs (complying with Queensland Health requirements) and sterilisation of instruments and other items necessary for minor surgery.  This area is subject to Veterinarians Board inspection.

3. It must not be suggested in any way that it is the only practice in a given location providing such a service or seek to disadvantage other established practices which provide a similar service.

4. In accordance with acceptable veterinary practice it is essential when called to give a second opinion, to consult with the original veterinarian before undertaking the case.  On completion of this consultation the client should be referred back to the original veterinarian.

Practice standards

5. Instrumentation for a competent clinical examination and the performance of minor surgery must be provided.

6. Practice undertaken at the animal owner’s premises must be limited to medical examinations and local anaesthetic or sedation procedures.

7.  A house call practice is to have access to Board approved premises of a standard where cases requiring hospitalisation and/or procedures requiring general anaesthetic or intensive care can be treated.

8. Initial information to clients is to include details of out-of–hours services and how they can be obtained and the location of veterinary premises.

Vehicle standards

9. Vehicle used for house calls must meet any government and local authority requirements which may apply.

10. Vehicle used for house calls is to be clean and hygienic at all times and have secure drug storage capability.

Identification standards

11. If a business name is to be used to identify the practice, it must first be considered by the Board. If it is not, or does not include the name of the principal veterinarian, the client’s ability to identify the bona fides of the person entering their dwelling or with whom they are dealing must be demonstrable.

12. Practices based in veterinary premises which offer house call services to clients must not represent their house call service under any name but the base practice name.