By Caroline Bulger
At its April 18, 2024 meeting, the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) moved to adopt the Strategic Plan for 2024–2025. The Board first introduced the plan at the Strategic Planning Session in October 2023. The plan outlines the mission, vision, and values for VMB, as well as various objectives for the upcoming year. The goals span five topic areas, including: (1) customer service; (2) licensing and examinations; (3) enforcement; (4) legislation and regulations; and (5) outreach. The Board discussed some of the plan’s specific objectives at the April meeting, with Objectives 4.9, 4.11, and 3.5 being a few of the more notable changes since VMB’s 2019 Sunset Review.
Objective 4.11 would pursue legislation to repeal VMB’s authority to approve continuing education (CE) courses and providers. In its 2019 Sunset Review Report, VMB stated that the Board delegates CE provider and course approval to a subcommittee of its national regulatory agency, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). At the April meeting, VMB’s Executive Officer, Jessica Sieferman, stated that due to this delegation, VMB has little to no part in proactively approving CE matters. She expressed her belief that Objective 4.11 would remove the “misconception” that VMB itself is actively involved in CE approval.
Objective 4.9 would similarly pursue legislation to repeal the requirement that Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) programs obtain the Board’s approval to operate in California. Dr. Noland voiced concern over repealing authority entirely. Sieferman reported that she felt there would be “no extra consumer protection benefit” in maintaining VMB authority due to the Bureau for Private and Postsecondary Education’s current oversight of RVT programs.
Objective 3.5 seeks to “develop specific disciplinary guidelines for RVTs and the Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP).” Sieferman stated that the purpose behind this objective is to lessen the disciplinary guidelines for RVTs and veterinary assistants due to the oversight inherent in their positions. It is unclear how exactly the disciplinary guidelines would change. In its 2019 Sunset Review, VMB did not treat RVTs or veterinary assistants differently than other practitioners when reporting on disciplinary actions and measures. At the time, VMB reported an increase in filed disciplinary accusations, with an average of 23 more accusations per year since the prior Sunset Review.
VMB’s president, Dr. Bradbury, requested a motion to adopt the Strategic Plan for 2024–2025. Dr. Noland moved, and Dr. Grant seconded the motion. There was no public comment on the motion, which carried unanimously.