Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong Designation of Veterinary Practice

Designation of Veterinary Practice as a Training Clinic
Procedures for Admission of Trainees and
Conducting of Assessments on Trainees

Rule 5(1)(b) of the Veterinary Surgeons Board (Registration of Veterinary Surgeons) Rules stipulates that a person is qualified to be registered as a veterinary surgeon if he holds a qualification listed in Schedule 2 and has successfully completed not less than 6 months' clinical training in a designated veterinary practice. At present, a bachelor degree in veterinary medicine granted by the National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan is listed in Schedule 2. Rule 5(3) of the Veterinary Surgeons Board (Registration of Veterinary Surgeons) Rules further stipulates that the Board may from time to time designate any veterinary practice in Hong Kong for the purpose of providing the training.

The Board has recently approved the general design of the training programme and the facilities required of a training facility. It has circulated the requirements to all local veterinary clinics as well as training hospitals of overseas institutions listed in Schedule 1 of the Board's Registration Rules, and invited interested parties to apply for designation as training clinics. The Peace Avenue Veterinary Clinic (「the Clinic」) located at Shop B & 1/F, 7 Liberty Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, subsequently applied to the Board for designation as a training clinic.

The Board has considered the training programme submitted by the Clinic and formed a 3-member evaluation team comprising a member of the Board, an officer of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and an overseas expert experienced in clinical training to evaluate the Clinic. Having evaluated the facilities, equipment, staffing, administrative support and caseload of the Clinic, the team has come to the view that the Clinic is suitable for designating as a training clinic to provide the clinical training required for registration with the Board. The Board has subsequently endorsed the recommendations made by the team and designated the Clinic as a training clinic for the said clinical training purpose.

From now on, any person holding a qualification as listed in Schedule 2 of the Veterinary Surgeons Board (Registration Rules) may approach the Peace Avenue Veterinary Clinic for undertaking the 6 months' clinical training required for registration with the Board. Detailed information regarding the procedures for admittance and assessment of trainees are as follows :

The procedures for admission of trainees -

(a)

Candidate making application

i.	The Board publishes a list of designated training clinic(s) and the contact person(s).

ii.	The candidate applies to any one of the designated training clinics to undertake training.

iii.	The training clinic should inform the Board of the applications/enquiries and the date(s) of the interview by completing a standard proforma.

iv.	The training clinic interviews the candidate and decides whether to accept him/her for training.

(b)

Candidate accepted for training

i.	The candidate applies to the Board for a permit to undertake clinical training.

ii.	The clinic names the supervising veterinary surgeon(s) and informs the Board of the intended starting date.

iii.	The permit application is processed.

iv	The Secretary, VSB, notifies the candidate and the clinic whether the application has been successful.

v	Where the application is successful, the Secretary issues the candidate with the permit and supplies the clinic with a copy.

(c)

Monitoring training progress

In monitoring training progress, the Board is concerned as to whether any steps should be taken to withdraw the permit, if the trainee is performing unsatisfactorily, or to issue a further permit if there are reasons to do so. It does not take part in assessing the trainee(s).

i.	The supervising veterinary surgeon completes the first assessment report at the end of the first month of the training period and returns it to the Board together with copies of the signed activity logs and clinical task list.

ii.	In the report, he/she highlights any unsatisfactory performance and remedial plans to rectify the deficiencies.

iii.	The Board reviews the report, the activity logs and the clinical task list, and where necessary, assigns member(s) or authorizes suitable veterinary surgeon(s) to visit the training clinic to verify the reports.

vi.	The supervising veterinary surgeon completes similar reports towards the end of the 3rd and 6th month of training.

(d)

Satisfactory completion of training

i.	The supervising veterinary surgeon submits the final assessment report and confirms that the trainee has satisfactorily mastered the clinical tasks required.

ii.	The trainee applies to the Board for registration.

iii.	The Registration Committee reviews all available information and makes recommendation to the Board.

(e)

Trainee assessed as unsatisfactory

i.	The training clinic submits final assessment report and identifies the clinical area(s) where the trainee is assessed as unsatisfactory.

ii.	The training clinic considers and decides whether to extend the clinical training for a period between two and four months to remedy deficiencies in the identified area(s).

iii.	The Board reviews and verifies the reports.

(f)

Extended training

i.	The training clinic informs the Board of the intended start date and names the supervising veterinary surgeon.

ii.	The trainee applies to extend his permit and commences the extended training.

iii.	The supervising veterinary surgeon submits an assessment report together with the activity logs and the clinical task list to the Board at the end of each month of the extended training, highlighting progress in the identified area(s) of deficiencies.

vi.	At the end of the extended training, the supervising veterinary surgeon submits the final assessment report and confirms whether the trainee has satisfactorily remedied the identified deficiencies.

v.	The trainee applies to the Board for registration.

vi.	The Registration Committee reviews all information available and makes recommendation to the Board.

vii.	The Board may hold an inquiry to consider the application as stipulated in the Registration of Veterinary Surgeons Rules.

Assessment methods

	(a)	Initial interview before commencement of clinical training to clearly identify training needs;

	(b)	Assessment reports at the end of the first month, half way and towards the end of the training to allow early identification of problems and sufficient time to rectify them;

	(c)	Providing a clear list of the clinical skills required for the supervising veterinary surgeon to appraise trainees;

	(d)	Requiring trainees to compile activity logs to reflect the depth and breath of the clinical cases they see; and

	(e)	Requiring regular presentation and discussion sessions.