(225 ILCS 115/4.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 4.5. Telemedicine. Telemedicine occurs when either the animal who is receiving the care is located in the State when receiving telemedicine treatment or the veterinarian providing the care to the animal is located in the State when providing telemedicine treatment, pursuant to the provisions of Section 5. Telemedicine may only be used when a veterinarian has an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Telemedicine may be used in the following circumstance:

(1) when a physical examination of the patient has been conducted within one year; and

(2) if it is possible to make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan without a recent physical examination based on professional standards of care.

A veterinarian shall not substitute telehealth, teleadvice, telemedicine, or teletriage when a physical examination is warranted or necessary for an accurate diagnosis of any medical condition or creation of an appropriate treatment plan. All minimum standards of practice and provisions under this Act and rules shall be maintained.

A veterinarian shall ensure that any technology used in the provision of telemedicine is sufficient and of appropriate quality to provide accurate remote assessment and diagnosis. A veterinarian shall meet all recordkeeping requirements pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 25.17.

A supervising veterinarian may delegate telemedicine services to a certified veterinary technician who is acting under direct or indirect supervision and in accordance with the Act and rules. A valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship established by a physical examination conducted by the supervising veterinarian must exist for the certified veterinary technician to provide delegated telemedicine services.

A veterinarian and a certified veterinary technician providing telemedicine services shall, at the time of service, provide the veterinarian or certified veterinary technician's contact information, including the veterinarian or certified veterinary technician's full name, to the client or practice using the service. All telemedicine records shall be provided to the client upon request.

(Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24; 103-505, eff. 1-1-24.)