On behalf of the Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians (VALVT), we oppose the petition to allow unlicensed veterinary assistants to place an intravenous catheter. We believe this would enable incompetent patient care practices without direct accountability, increase hospital-acquired infections (HAI), complicate infection control practices that minimize our patients and public risk from emerging infections, and undermine the value of education strengthening our standard of practice long-established in Virginia. 

The VALVT believes that IV catheter placement and care must apply to qualified licensed personnel only. Other objections have been raised to the availability of Licensed Veterinary Technicians, however; a new program in the Tidewater region of Virginia has recently been accredited by the rigorous standards of the American Veterinary Medical Associations Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) making up three programs in total throughout the state that have traditional programs and hybrid options producing qualified individuals consistently for practices to recruit. 

We request to honor the long-standing trust our clients have placed in us, the exceptional standard of care that Virginia is known for, the importance of education, and the value of competence leading to successful outcomes in patient care and patient safety and the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine decline this petition and strengthen the current regulations. 

Sincerely, 

The Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians (VALVT)