Please note: Information regarding the budget, strategic plan,
standards, questionnaires and the standard operating procedures can now be found
in the member section under VetZone.
To view the member section click here.
The NZVA BESTPRACTICE has been established as
a mechanism by which the profession can promote and maintain an excellent
standard of veterinary practice in New Zealand.
BESTPRACTICE has two tiers:
The top tier is BESTPRACTICE Hospital
Standards.
The second tier is BESTPRACTICEClinic
Standards. The level at which the clinic standards are set should be
achievable by most New Zealand veterinary practices.
There are three modules in the clinic standards:
Companion Animal and Large Animal Combined Practice
Standards
Companion Animal Practice Standards
Large Animal Practice Standards
The standard have been modelled on equivalent overseas
standards and adapted to the New Zealand situation. BESTPRACTICE Clinic
Standards itemises the standards of service, facilities, equipment, and
management considered essential in veterinary practice. BESTPRACTICE
Hospital Standards are more demanding and represent an advanced level of
veterinary treatment and care. People choosing to take their animals to an
accredited hospital can expect to find skilled and experienced veterinarians
working with trained support staff in a modern, well-equipped facility.
The standards encourage the ongoing critical evaluation
of the practice’s surgical, medical, diagnostic and nursing protocols in order
to maintain a high level of excellence. There is a strong emphasis on compliance
with current New Zealand legislation as it affects veterinary practices and NZVA
policy.
A separate BESTPRACTICE Questionnaire is a self
assessment tool which shall be completed by practices prior to
accreditation/re-accreditation. A practice participating in the scheme is
required to declare that it fulfils all of the conditions laid down in the
BESTPRACTICE Questionnaire for each of the premises specified by the
practice. Accreditation is based on audit of a particular site.
Practices are audited by independent veterinary auditors
prior to initial accreditation and then every two years. The current auditors
are the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Verification Agency. The scheme
auditing requirement is put up for tender every three years.
The initial subscription includes a
BESTPRACTICE Toolkit, glass door sticker
and promotional poster to use in an accredited clinic. The Toolkit provides
accredited practices with information on products such as pamphlets, door
stickers, clinic signage, T-shirts, postcards, vaccination reminders and
stickers for mail-outs that are available for practices to purchase for
self-promotion.
Some of the requirements are purposefully broad in their
definition. This recognises that there are a variety of methods and types of
equipment in use that can be of an acceptably high standard.
Once ready for accreditation the practice contacts the NZVA office to
request an invoice for initial accreditation and Questionnaire. The practice
completes the Questionnaire and Declaration of Compliance and forwards these to
the NZVA. All Partners/Directors, or the Senior Veterinarian in a Club Practice,
shall sign the Declaration of Compliance. If all aspects are compliant, the
BESTPRACTICE Committee Convenor arranges for an audit of the practice.
