Updated Recommendation Concerning Curbside Service
(April 22, 2021) – Back in September 2020, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners recommended that curbside service was the safest way for most hospitals to operate. Though this was never a requirement, many hospitals implemented and continue to maintain curbside service because it was the Board’s best advice at the time.
Governor Hogan recently announced increased capacity limits on outdoor and indoor dining, retail businesses, religious facilities, and personal services. Masking, physical distancing, and other safety protocols remain in place. ( Read the Press Release.) (Read the Order ).
Because the risk varies widely across the state, and from practice to practice, the Board does not have one recommendation that is now suitable for all practices. The Board is encouraging each practice to consider its own risk and set of circumstances and determine the safest way to operate while following all laws, public health guidance, and keeping the safety of the veterinary staff and clients as the top priority.
If you have not been vaccinated yet, you can sign up for text alerts by texting MdReady to 898211 and visiting the official website often for the most current information at https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/
Helpful Resources: –
- OSHA Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace (Jan 29, 2021): https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework#roles-employers-workers
- CDC Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes (April 5, 2021): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html
- CDC Cleaning and disinfecting your facility (April 5, 2021): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
- CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease (March 8, 2021): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
CDC Resuming Business Toolkit (May 21, 2020): https://www.cdc.
License Renewal Opens June 1. Be Sure We Have your Current Contact Info
The portal will open for license renewal on June 1, 2021. All veterinary and hospital licenses must be renewed by June 30, 2021. If you are not practicing, you can renew as late as June 30, 2022, however, a late fee will be charged. RVT licenses are good for three years. RVTs should check their registration certificate to see if they need to renew.
State regulations require that both your personal contact information as well as your employment information be current with the Board.
You can check your personal/home information by logging into your portal account and checking your profile.
Most licensees can check their employment info by going to the public portal , searching on your name and then click on it. If you are practicing at a Maryland hospital, the name of the hospital should come up. If it doesn’t, you need to let us know where you’re working. If you are not practicing in Maryland or you are working in some other area, such as in research or government, please ensure that we have that information in our database. If you’re not sure whether we have it, send it in again.
You can update your personal and employment information online easily . (Please use the email we have on file for you to make any changes.)
IMPORTANT NOTE : If you are a Responsible Veterinarian (which is sometimes referred to as the Medical Director), then you and your hospital owner must notify us within 30 days if you are joining or leaving a practice. You both must send a letter to the Board office. (A signed letter on letterhead that is scanned and emailed in is sufficient.)
REMINDER TO HOSPITAL OWNERS . Every veterinary hospital must have a designated responsible veterinarian at all times and must inform the Board of any change in responsible veterinarians within 30 days . We suggest verifying who the responsible veterinarian of record is, making certain that the responsible veterinarian is aware of the designation and understands the responsibilities that go with it.
Remember – any change in ownership requires a new license and, in some cases, an inspection. For more information.
The Veterinary Practice Act and related Code of Maryland Regulations are on our website for easy reference HERE.
If you have any questions, contact us at mda.veterinaryboard@maryland.gov
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