The VCPR

What Is It and Why Is It Necessary?

By Cervid Solutions

The Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship is a necessary tool to maintain and ensure all guidelines are followed between the Veterinarian and the patient. The term VCPR was derived from federal legislation enacted in 1994 called the American Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA), which specifies the conditions a veterinarian must consider before using or recommending drugs in an extra-label manner. Considering many medications used in the Cervid industry do not have guidelines for deer, most treatments end up falling under AMDUCA and therefore the VCPR is crucial.

Each veterinarian may have a different requirement on establishing and maintaining a current VCPR with you and your ranch. While the time between visits and requirements will differ slightly, the main premise of the VCPR remains the same. Oftentimes, if you have a good, ongoing relationship with your veterinarian they will not have a formal written VCPR but rely on their records of visits and treatments.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association a VCPR is present when all the following requirements are met:

• The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the patient and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarians’ instructions.

• The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the patient. This means that the veterinarian is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the patient by virtue of a timely examination of the patient by the veterinarian, or medically appropriate and timely visits by the veterinarian to the operation where the patient is managed.

• The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up evaluation or has arranged for the following: veterinary emergency coverage, and continuing care and treatment.

• The veterinarian provides oversight of treatment, compliance, and outcome.

• Patient records are maintained.

Each state may choose to further define and make requirements for large operations when establishing a VCPR.

Another area the VCPR is important when working with Cervid, is when you are looking to obtain further testing and diagnostics on your animals. Diagnostics are a great tool to assess your herd health and further improve their physical condition and productivity. As the owner/or ranch manager, you can take various samples from your animals and send them in to a diagnostic laboratory for further testing and analysis. At the completion of the diagnostic testing, the results are sent to your veterinarian as they must oversee and understand what pathogens are in your herd.

Additionally, a key aspect of the VCPR is the implementation of the Cervid Solutions vaccine products, PV2 and EV1. Under the direction of your herd veterinarian these products can be administered and act as part of your herd health program.

Having a good relationship with your veterinarian is extremely important and a key to successful health and management of your herd.