Accreditation Process - opening a new practice and changing a practice name
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As of July 1st, 2022, owners of accredited veterinary facilities can name their facility as they wish if it is in accordance with the new regulatory language related to advertising which is outlined in the Professional Practice Standard - Advertising.
The facility name will need to comply with the following rules:
1. It must be factual, accurate and verifiable.
2. It must not,
- Be false, misleading, or deceptive by the inclusion or omission of words,
- Contain any comparative or superlative words, or
- Contain any endorsement or promotion of drugs or third-party service providers.
3. It must not reasonably be regarded by members as likely to demean the integrity or dignity of the profession or to bring the profession into disrepute.
4. It shall not contain a term, title or designation which indicates specialization in veterinary medicine or represents to the public that the member is a specialist or is specially qualified in a branch of veterinary medicine, unless the member is qualified in that specialization.
For additional information please refer to the Professional Practice Standard - Advertising
Note: Any facility using the term “emergency” in its name must have met the appropriate accreditation standards.
Step 1: Submission of a new facility name
- Log into the Professional Practice Portal
- Click on Forms and Applications
- Click on Facility Accreditation
- Click on Submission of New Facility Name – complete and submit the form. There is no fee, and you will receive a confirmation email.
Once you’ve received the confirmation email, you may advertise the opening of your facility but you cannot include an opening date on signage or book appointments, as it is subject to the successful completion of the inspection.
Step 2: Prepare for the inspection
Preparing for the inspection is key to ensuring a successful inspection. We have put together information and resources on our Prepare for Inspection webpage that can guide you and your team as you prepare your facility for the inspection. There are checklists available for download, specific to the type of facility that will familiarize you with the accreditation standards. Printing the checklist can be helpful in preparing for the upcoming inspection. Please ensure that you read through this webpage prior to the inspection.
In the interest of public safety, the inspector, on the date of the inspection of your new facility, will ensure that your facility meets:
- The applicable requirements as outlined in the Minimum Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario (MSVFO) pertinent to your facility type;
- The records portion of the facility standard by confirming that you have in place medical/surgical protocols, patient record templates, pharmaceutical registers, and anesthetic/surgical logs. Link to sample documents; and
- If applicable, the municipality has granted you occupancy and issued an occupancy permit.
If the inspector arrives for the inspection, and it is evident that the facility is not ready to be inspected or be permitted to open as a result of not meeting the requirements of the MSFVO pertinent to your facility type, you will incur a fee for a second inspection. Please note that inspectors schedule inspections based on geography and may only be in your region infrequently. The inspector will attempt to re-schedule as soon as possible, however, scheduling conflicts may arise.
Step 3: Application for Opening a New Facility
- Log into the Professional Practice Portal
- Click on Forms and Applications
- Click on Facility Accreditation
- Click on Opening a New Facility – Inspection Application – complete and submit the form. The inspection fee must be paid before an inspection will be scheduled.
You will be contacted directly by an Inspector to schedule the inspection and you will receive a confirmation email once the date has been confirmed. Please Note: Inspectors are generally booking 3-4 weeks in advance.
“What happens after the inspection is complete?”
- An inspection report will be emailed to the facility director.
- If the facility has met the standards, the facility director will sign an Acknowledgement and Undertaking, and will be provided with a Temporary Waiver of Enforcement, permitting the facility to open.
- Any deficiencies noted during the inspection will be outlined in this report and instructions on how to submit proof of correction of these deficiencies through the Professional Practice Portal will be included. The facility director has 30 days to provide proof of correction of any noted deficiencies.
- In 90-120 days, the inspector will return to check the medical records.
- If the medical records check is satisfactory, the certificate of accreditation will be issued for a 5-year term.
Authority of the Accreditation Committee
The Accreditation Committee is a statutory committee of the College with the primary responsibility for deciding upon and directing the issuance of Certificates of Accreditation for those facilities that are referred to it by the Registrar. The Accreditation Committee may not pass a regulation, by-law or standard.
The Accreditation Committee:
- May exempt an applicant or veterinary facility from compliance with any qualification, requirement or standard for a Certificate of Accreditation
- Determines the eligibility of applicants and facilities for Certificates of Accreditation that have been referred to the committee and after considering application for issuance or renewal of the Certificate of Accreditation, may direct Registrar:
- To issue or to renew the Certificate of Accreditation
- To refuse to issue or to renew the Certificate of Accreditation
- To issue or to renew the Certificate of Accreditation subject to the conditions and limitations the Accreditation Committee specifies
- Reviews existing policy and considers new policy items, as directed by Council, and makes recommendations for changes or additions to/updates of the Minimum Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario
- Has the authority over facility name approvals
- Shall appoint a time for, give notice of and hold a hearing to determine the allegations in respect of a Certificate of Accreditation
- Make referral to the Registrar over concerns about potential professional misconduct
Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB):
The HPARB is an independent tribunal established by the provincial government whose function is to review decisions of statutory committees of all the regulated health professions in Ontario.
If the facility director of the veterinary facility is not satisfied with a decision of the Accreditation Committee, they have 30 days from receipt of the decision to file an appeal with HPARB.
The powers of HPARB regarding certificates of accreditation are as follows:
- Confirm the proposed decision of the Accreditation Committee;
- Require the Accreditation Committee to direct the Registrar to issue or renew a certificate of accreditation for the appropriate class of veterinary facility; or
- Refer the matter back to the Accreditation Committee for further consideration and the Board may make recommendations.