Enforcement Information

Overview

The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) investigates complaints related to:

The practice of veterinary medicine and equine dentistry.
Individuals suspected of practicing without a license.

TBVME ensures compliance with state laws and regulations to protect the public and maintain professional standards in veterinary medicine.

The TBVME conducts risk-based inspections of veterinary practices to ensure compliance with professional standards, focusing on the use and management of controlled substances, equipment, facilities, and patient records. These inspections may include reviewing equipment, business premises, client and patient records, drug inventories, and associated documentation.

Inspections may occur for any licensee identified with risk concerns.

Other licensees operating within the same clinic may also be inspected.

The Texas Legislature requires all licensees to be inspected at least once every eight years.

DEA Registration Compliance

Board Rule 573.43

Veterinarians must hold a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration when required by law.

In a statement issued on April 5, 2018, TBVME Executive Director John M. Helenberg clarified enforcement expectations under Rule 573.43.

Drug Log Violation Matrix

Board Rule 573.50

Veterinarians are required to maintain detailed records of controlled substances, including a log of the total balance on hand for each scheduled drug.

The Drug Log Violation Matrix, adopted on July 19, 2016, provides guidelines for evaluating violations of Rule 573.50.

Compliance Inspections

TBVME conducts regular compliance inspections to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. Visit the Compliance Inspection page for details on the inspection process.

Report any changes within 60 days.

Controlled Substances:

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records for all controlled substances (Rule 573.50).

Store controlled substances securely in locked, tamper-resistant cabinets (Rule 573.61).

Comply with DEA registration and state regulations (Rule 573.43).

Conduct an initial and biennial inventory of controlled substances (Title 21 CFR 1304.11).

Drug Labeling:

Label all dispensed medications with essential information, including veterinarian details, client/patient information, and dosage instructions (Rule 573.40).

Patient Record Keeping:

Maintain complete, contemporaneous, and legible patient records (Rules 573.52 / 573.53).

Document client consent for alternative therapies like acupuncture, holistic medicine, chiropractic care, and homeopathy (Rules 573.14 to 573.18).

Facility Requirements:

Ensure premises are clean, sanitary, and compliant with health regulations (Rule 573.79).

Display the license and client complaint notice prominently in the clinic (Rules 573.29 / 573.35).

Contact Information:

Keep the Board updated with current contact and practice information (Rule 573.76).

Key Compliance Focus Areas

Controlled Drugs: Monitor prescribing patterns and maintain detailed logs of acquisitions, dispensing, and usage.

Security Measures: Ensure controlled substances are securely stored to prevent unauthorized access.

Inventory Management: Maintain accurate records of all controlled substances, with a biennial review.

Labeling Standards: Ensure all dispensed drugs are appropriately labeled with required information.

Sanitation: Maintain clean and compliant facilities.

Client Information: Display complaint notices and provide clear contact details for grievances.

Duty to Cooperate

Licensees are required to fully cooperate with any TBVME inspections, including providing access to facilities and records during regular business hours (Rule 573.75).