Section 10. Definitions

Part I. General Provisions

A. The following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in § 54.1-2900 of the Code of Virginia:

"Board."

"Physician assistant."

B. The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Group practice" means the practice of a group of two or more doctors of medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry licensed by the board who practice as a partnership or professional corporation.

"Institution" means a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility, community health center, public health center, industrial medicine or corporation clinic, a medical service facility, student health center, or other setting approved by the board.

"NCCPA" means the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

"Practice agreement" means a written agreement developed by the supervising physician and the physician assistant that defines the supervisory relationship between the physician assistant and the physician, the prescriptive authority of the physician assistant, and the circumstances under which the physician will see and evaluate the patient.

"Supervision" means:

1. "Alternate supervising physician" means a member of the same group or professional corporation or partnership of any licensee, any hospital or any commercial enterprise with the supervising physician. Such alternating supervising physician shall be a physician licensed in the Commonwealth who has registered with the board and who has accepted responsibility for the supervision of the service that a physician assistant renders.

2. "Direct supervision" means the physician is in the room in which a procedure is being performed.

3. "General supervision" means the supervising physician is easily available and can be physically present or accessible for consultation with the physician assistant within one hour.

4. "Personal supervision" means the supervising physician is within the facility in which the physician's assistant is functioning.

5. "Supervising physician" means the doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry licensed in the Commonwealth who has accepted responsibility for the supervision of the service that a physician assistant renders.

6. "Continuous supervision" means the supervising physician has on-going, regular communication with the physician assistant on the care and treatment of patients.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR465-05-1 § 1.1, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Volume 06, Issue 20, eff. August 1, 1990; Volume 08, Issue 12, eff. April 8, 1992; Volume 08, Issue 25, eff. October 8, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 09, eff. February 23, 1994; Volume 13, Issue 21, eff. August 6, 1997; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1998; Volume 17, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2001; Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. June 18, 2003; Volume 29, Issue 20, eff. July 3, 2013; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.