Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technician - Code of Ethics
The veterinary technician credentialed in veterinary physical rehabilitation should strive to promote the advancement of rehabilitation in veterinary medicine, increase public awareness regarding veterinary rehabilitation, promote the development of credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technicians in veterinary medicine and further the professional growth of credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technicians by encouraging education focused on veterinary rehabilitation The veterinary technician credentialed in veterinary physical rehabilitation will make every effort to work under the supervision of a credentialed rehabilitation veterinarian. In those states or regions where no credentialed rehabilitation veterinarian is readily available for consultation, the rehabilitation credentialed veterinary technician will, in accordance with individual state practice acts, work under the direct supervision of a state licensed veterinarian who has an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) and has seen the patient recently. In addition, the rehabilitation credentialed veterinary technician shall consult with a veterinarian who has a VCPR regarding therapeutic rehabilitation protocols. Patient care standards should model those described by the American Academy of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV) and credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technicians shall strive to follow those standards by documenting patient trends, including pain scores, at each visit. Any changes in patient pain scoring shall immediately be communicated to the veterinarian with the VCPR. Under direction of the rehabilitation veterinarian or the veterinarian with the VCPR, the credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technician will teach the client how to assess their pet’s pain. Credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technicians are not to diagnose, prescribe, or perform procedures that are considered to be the practice of veterinary medicine; and will obey all individual state and regional laws and regulations pertaining to the field of veterinary physical rehabilitation. In addition, credentialed veterinary technicians shall participate in annual continuing education in the field of veterinary physical rehabilitation or pain management. In those states or regions where continuing education is mandatory for veterinary technician state licensure, at least half of the hours required by the state shall be in veterinary physical rehabilitation or pain management.
