Mid-Coast Veterinary Medical Association

Thanks to our Sponsors

MCVMA would like to thank our vendors and suppliers for helping with the December 2011 Holiday Party

Veterinary Technician Awards for 2011

Last year, area veterinary practices were asked to nominate one or more of their technicians for an award. The nominees's names were then placed in a drawing to receive one of ten new Littman Veterinary Stethoscopes, which were presented to the winners at the annual Holiday Party.

Hospital Standards Self Evaluation Checklist Updated

As of February 2012, California Veterinary Medical Board has updated their Hospital Standards Self Evaluation Checklist. The document is intended to help veterinary hospital directors review their practices and facilities to achieve compliance with the law. The Board strongly recommends that the entire staff of each veterinary hospital participate as a team in these self evaluations to become familiar with and maintain required standards of practice. You can download the document here.

Volunteers Needed

MCVMA is seeking two members who would like to serve as MCVMA's representatives to the California Veterinary Medical Association's (CVMA) House of Delegates (HOD). One member will be our representative and the other will serve as alternate. The HOD meets twice annually, usually once in the Northern California and once in Southern California. The meetings last one or two days. The positions are appointed by the MCVMA Board of Directors; if you would like to volunteer, please contact MCVMA President Kristi Schmidt.

The California Veterinary Medical Reserve Core (CVMRC) is also seeking volunteers to help with the veterinary aspect of emergency situations in Northern Santa Barbara County. There are FEMA courses you can take, and other great opportunities to learn how to interact with other professionals during emergencies (earthquakes, fires, floods, terrorism). For information, or to volunteer, contact Grant Miller D.V.M., Director of Regulatory Affairs for the CVMA. Telephone:916-649-0599, Fax: 916-646-9156, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Unlicensed Veterinary Activities

The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) are working together to address this unlicensed activity. The VMB focuses mainly on regulating activity in licensed professionals. There is more legal authority for taking disciplinary action against the members of a profession. The licensed professional has more to lose: their licenses, high fines. The VMB has difficulty prosecuting unlicensed activity because of the low legal priority assigned to unlicensed activity. They send a letter to the party offering the illegal service and to the owner of the facility allowing the illegal procedures. Sometimes this works and the facility owner will stop activity. If the activity continues the parties can be fined $50.00. This is the extent of the legal action the VMB can take against unlicensed individuals or businesses. Many of these individuals pay the fine and continue their unlicensed activity.