A veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is the basis for interaction between veterinarians and their clients and patients.

1. (1) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists when all of the following conditions have been met:

   1. (a) The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal and need for medical treatment, and the client or key party as defined in WAC 246-934-020 has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian.

   2. (b) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate, at a minimum, a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical conditions of the animal. This means the veterinarian:

      1. (i) Has physically examined the animal within the last year, or sooner if medically appropriate; or
      2. (ii) In cases involving operations with several animals, such as encountered at farms, laboratories, or in shelters, is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animals by virtue of an examination of the animals or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animals are kept.
   3. (c) The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up evaluation or has arranged for emergency coverage and continuing care and treatment.
2. (2) The veterinarian shall not establish a VCPR solely by telehealth. Once a VCPR has been established, ongoing care can be provided via telemedicine; however, it is the responsibility of the examining veterinarian to determine if an additional physical examination is medically appropriate based on available information regardless of when the last physical examination was performed.
3. (3) Once a VCPR has been established, it extends to all veterinarians while employed/practicing at the same premises or same mobile practice entity as the veterinarian who established the most current VCPR. The VCPR cannot be extended to other veterinarians based solely on the accessibility of the medical records.

4. (4) In the absence of an established VCPR, allowable telehealth services are limited to:

   1. (a) Teleadvice;
   2. (b) Teletriage;
   3. (c) Telemedicine for the purpose of prescribing sedation, other than a controlled substance, prior to an in-person visit, and only to facilitate transportation to, examination by, or treatment by a veterinarian;

   4. (d) Dispensing drugs, other than controlled substances, prescribed by another veterinarian, including a veterinarian licensed in another state, if:

      1. (i) Failure to dispense the drug could interrupt a therapeutic regimen or cause a patient to suffer;
      2. (ii) The prescribing veterinarian has ascertained information necessary to fill the requested prescription;
      3. (iii) The quantity of the dispensed drug does not exceed a 10-day supply for each animal annually;
      4. (iv) The annual total of dosage units of drugs dispensed under this subsection is not more than five percent of the total dosage units of drugs the veterinarian dispenses in a year;
      5. (v) The veterinarian maintains records of dispensing activities under this section consistent with chapter 246-933 WAC; and
      6. (vi) Consistent with RCW 18.92.012, controlled substances can be dispensed only if prescribed by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 18.92 RCW.
5. (5) Once a VCPR has been established, all forms of telehealth, as defined in WAC 246-933-010, may be used at the discretion of the veterinarian.

6. (6) The VCPR may be terminated under these conditions:

   1. (a) The termination does not constitute patient abandonment as described in WAC 246-933-060.
   2. (b) If there is an ongoing medical or surgical condition, the client is offered a patient referral at the time of termination to another veterinarian for diagnosis, care, and treatment.
   3. (c) Clients may terminate the VCPR at any time.

7. (7) For animals or animal products for food consumption:

   1. (a) There must be a written agreement with the client that identifies the farm veterinarian of record (VOR) who is accountable for drug use and treatments administered to the animals on the farm operation;
   2. (b) The VOR is the responsible party for providing appropriate oversight of drug use on the farm operation. Oversight includes establishment of diagnostic and treatment protocols, training of personnel, review of treatment records, monitoring drug inventories, assuring appropriate labeling of drugs, and monitoring compliance and outcomes. Veterinary oversight of drug use must include all drugs used on the farm regardless of the distribution of the drugs to the farm;
   3. (c) Provision of drugs or drug prescriptions must be for specific time frames appropriate to the scope and type of operation involved and only for the management groups within the operation that the VOR has direct involvement and oversight;
   4. (d) A veterinarian issuing a veterinary feed directive (VFD) must comply with applicable federal law, including 21 C.F.R. 558.6.
8. (8) Medical records must be maintained pursuant to WAC 246-933-320(7).
9. (9) (a) A veterinarian shall use or prescribe drugs only within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship except as outlined in subsection (4) of this section. Veterinary prescription drugs are restricted by federal law, under 21 U.S.C. Sec. 353(f), to be used by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
10. (b) Extra label use is legal only when ordered by a veterinarian and within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.92.030. WSR 25-15-034, s 246-933-200, filed 7/8/25, effective 8/8/25; WSR 16-11-004, § 246-933-200, filed 5/4/16, effective 6/4/16.]