Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1730-01-.01

Current through October 22, 2024

Section 1730-01-.01 - DEFINITIONS

As used in these rules, the terms and acronyms shall have the following meanings ascribed to them.

(1) Acupuncture - The insertion of needles into the body of an animal, which may then be twirled, electrically stimulated, or warmed, in an effort to treat, correct, change, alleviate or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, defect, injury, or other physical or mental condition.

(2) Advertisement - Information communicated to the public, in any manner, designed to attract public attention to the practice of veterinarians or facilities licensed in Tennessee.

(3) Advertising - Includes, but is not limited to business solicitations, with or without limiting qualifications, in a card, sign, or device issued to a person; in a sign or marking in or on any building; or in any newspaper, magazine, directory, or other printed matter. Advertising also includes business solicitations communicated by individuals, radio, video, television broadcasting, electronic communication, or any other means designed to secure public attention.

(4) Anesthesiology - The branch of veterinary medicine which involves inducing a state of unconsciousness in an animal for the purpose of treating and/or preventing pain and/or distress in the animal.

(5) Applicant - Any individual requesting licensure by the board by submitting a completed application and application fee.

(6) Bait and Switch Advertising - An alluring but insincere offer to sell a product or service which the advertiser in truth does not intend or want to sell. Its purpose is to switch consumers from buying the advertised service or merchandise, in order to sell something else, usually for a higher fee or on a basis more advantageous to the advertiser.

(7) Behavioral Medicine - The branch of veterinary medicine that involves diagnosing animal behavioral conditions and treating those behavioral conditions by prescribing or administering any drug, medicine, biologic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance.

(8) Board - The Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

(9) Cardiology - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or conditions that affect an animal heart and its functions.

(10) Castration - The removal of the testicles of a male by surgical, chemical, or other means.

(11) Chiropractic Therapy - The manipulation and treatment of the structures of the animal body, especially those of the spinal column, for the treatment, correction, alleviation or prevention of any animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury or other physical condition.

(12) Client - The patient's owner, owner's agent, or other person responsible for the patient.

(13) Collection of Blood - The act of removing the fluid that circulates through an animal's heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins for the purpose of analyzing such fluid for diagnostic, therapeutic, or other treatment purposes.

(14) Consultation - Shall have the meaning as established in T.C.A. § 63-12-103(6).

(15) Dentistry - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with an animal's teeth, oral cavity, and associated parts, including the diagnosis and treatment of their diseases and the restoration of defective or missing tissue.

(16) Department - Tennessee Department of Health.

(17) Dermatology - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect animal skin.

(18) Discounted Fee - A fee offered or charged by a person or organization for any veterinary product or service that is less than the fee usually offered or charged for the product or service. Products or services expressly offered free of charge are not considered to be offered at a "discounted fee."

(19) Division - The Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards, from which the Board receives administrative support.

(20) Floating - The rasping or cutting of enamel points from the cheek teeth of an equine.

(21) House Call - A scheduled visit for the purpose of providing veterinary services to an individual client outside of a veterinary facility at the client's residence, business, or property. A veterinarian who conducts a house call shall have a permanent base of operations with a published address and telephone facilities for making appointments or responding to emergency situations.

(22) Infertility - Inability to produce offspring; sterility.

(23) Laser Therapy - The use of intense beams of light to treat, correct, change, alleviate or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury or other physical, dental, or mental conditions.

(24) Licensee - Any person that has been lawfully issued a license to practice veterinary medicine or as a veterinary technician in the State of Tennessee or any licensed facility where veterinary medicine is practiced in the State of Tennessee.

(25) Massage - The systematic therapeutic friction, stroking, and kneading of the animal body for the treatment, correction, alleviation or prevention of any animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions.

(26) Material Fact - Any fact which an ordinary, reasonable, and prudent person would rely upon in making an informed decision on which veterinarian or veterinary facility to choose.

(27) Neuter - The removal of an animal's reproductive organs.

(28) Obstetrics - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the management of pregnancy and labor in animals as well as the management and treatment of sterility or infertility.

(29) Oncology - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of animal tumors and cancer.

(30) Ophthalmology - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the animal eye and its diseases.

(31) Patient - An animal that is examined or treated by a veterinarian.

(32) Premises - Any veterinary facility where a licensed veterinarian practices or where the practice of veterinary medicine occurs.

(33) Premises Owner - Any person, corporation or other similar organization, public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, holding title to a facility where a licensed veterinarian practices or where the practice of veterinary medicine occurs.

(34) Premises Permit - A permit issued by the Board to operate a veterinary medicine facility when the premises meet minimum standards established by the Board.

(35) Public Rabies Vaccination Clinic - A clinic sponsored by a local health department to provide vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies, under the local health department's ordinances and regulations.

(36) Radiology - The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the use of radiant energy in the diagnosis and treatment of disease in animals.

(37) Retail Establishment - Any retail store in excess of two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet that primarily sells goods not related to the practice of veterinary medicine, or any veterinary facility located in an enclosed shopping mall or enclosed shopping center.

(38) Spay - The surgical removal of the ovaries or ovaries and uterus from a female animal.

(39) Sterility - Inability to produce offspring.

(40) Supervising Veterinarian - A person who is validly and currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Tennessee, who shall be accountable to the board for the facility's compliance with the laws and rules governing the practice of veterinary medicine in this state, and is responsible for the supervision of a temporary licensee, veterinary student intern, employee, or consulting veterinarian.

(41) Surgery - The art, practice, or work of treating disease, injuries, deformities, or conditions by manual or operative procedures. The castrating or dehorning of any wild or domestic animal is not considered veterinary surgery.

(42) Ultrasound - The application of ultrasonic waves for the purpose of diagnosing or treating an animal.

(43) Veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) has the same meaning as established by T.C.A. § 63-12-103(17).

(44) Veterinary Facility has the same meaning as established by T.C.A. § 63-12-103(18).

(45) Veterinary Practice means:

(a) Large Animal Practice - A practice in which ninety percent (90%) or more of the animals seen/treated are equine, farm animal, or any other animals deemed as "large animal" by the Board.

(b) Small Animal Practice - A practice in which ninety percent (90%) or more of the animals seen/treated are companion animals or any other animals deemed as "small animal" by the Board.

(c) Mixed Animal Practice - A practice in which both large and small animals are seen or treated and the percentage of animals seen/treated exceeds ten percent (10%) for both types of animals.

(46) Veterinary Rehabilitative Therapy - Therapeutic or rehabilitative interventions that are used to treat, correct, change, alleviate, or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical conditions for the purpose of physical rehabilitation.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1730-01-.01

Original rule filed November 22, 1978; effective January 8, 1979. Amendment filed August 21, 1984; effective September 20, 1984. Repeal and new rule filed April 28, 1995; effective July 12, 1995. Amendment filed June 15, 1999; effective August 29, 1999. Amendment filed June 25, 2003; effective September 8, 2003. Amendment filed October 18, 2004; effective January 1, 2005. Amendment filed July 18, 2007; effective October 1, 2007. Amendment filed May 23, 2014; effective 8/21/2014.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-12-102, 63-12-103, 63-12-105, 63-12-106, and 63-12-133.