As a practice owner in rural Virginia, I am very concerned about the restrictions on duties that can be delegated to an assistant.  Our practice has been actively seeking a liscensed technician for several years but have yet to have one interested in moving to Halifax.  By my interpretation of the proposed rules, our practice would no longer be able to offer surgical services due to a lack of availability of someone to monitor anesthesia.  Furthermore, none of the 3 other practices in our county would be able to either.  Our practice has enjoyed great success utilizing talented, well trained assistants to work along side our doctors.  The assistants do not perform their duties without the doctor present and are trained to communicate with the doctor to provide high quality  care. I feel that the intent of the new regulations is to improve patient care.  However, the end result will be a lack of care provided in rural Virginia.  I strongly suggest removing the proposed restrictions on veterinary assistants duties as I truly believe that it will be in the best interest of the profession as well as the patients.