(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "animal care provider" means any veterinary practice or veterinary hospital, including the veterinary teaching hospital at Colorado state university, that provides veterinary care or treatment to animals. (2) Animal care providers shall make available the veterinary records in their custody as follows: (a) The owner of an animal or the owner's designated representative shall have reasonable access to the animal's records for inspection; (b) The owner or the owner's designated representative may obtain a summary of the animal's records upon request, following termination of care or treatment; and (c) Copies of veterinary records, including digital records, digital images, diagnostic quality X rays, CT scans, MRIs, or other films, shall be furnished to: (I) The owner or the owner's designated representative upon payment of reasonable costs; and (II) Local law enforcement authorities and the bureau of animal protection in the department of agriculture in connection with an investigation of animal cruelty pursuant to section 18-9-202 or animal fighting pursuant to section 18-9-204. (3) (a) Records concerning an animal's care are available to the public unless a veterinary-patient-client privilege exists with respect to the animal, as provided in section 24-72- 204 (3)(a)(XIV). (b) (I) All practicing veterinarians in this state shall maintain accurate records for every new or existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship. In the animal patient records, the licensed veterinarian shall justify and describe the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment administered or prescribed and all medications and dosages prescribed in a legible, written, printed, or electronically prepared document that is unalterable. The licensed veterinarian shall prepare the records in a manner that allows any subsequent evaluation of the same animal patient record to yield comprehensive medical, patient, and veterinarian identifying information. Licensed veterinarians shall maintain animal patient records for a minimum of three years after the animal patient's last medical examination. (II) As part of the requirement in subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section for all practicing veterinarians in this state to maintain accurate records, each veterinarian shall create a written plan for the storage, security, and disposal of patient records to ensure that patient records are securely stored and disposed of when necessary. (c) The board shall promulgate rules including, but not limited to, rules setting forth criteria by which animal patient records may be adapted in the case of herds, flocks, litters, large volume, or specialty veterinary practices and that identify exceptions to subsection (3)(a) of this section, if necessary, for veterinarians rendering emergency care or treatment.
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