Section 115. Responsibilities of the physician assistant

A. The physician assistant shall not render independent health care and shall:

1. Perform only those medical care services that are within the scope of the practice and proficiency of the supervising physician as prescribed in the physician assistant's practice agreement. When a physician assistant is to be supervised by an alternate supervising physician outside the scope of specialty of the supervising physician, then the physician assistant's functions shall be limited to those areas not requiring specialized clinical judgment, unless a separate practice agreement for that alternate supervising physician is approved and on file with the board.

2. Prescribe only those drugs and devices as allowed in Part V (18VAC85-50-130 et seq.) of this chapter.

3. Wear during the course of performing his duties identification showing clearly that he is a physician assistant.

B. If, due to illness, vacation, or unexpected absence, the supervising physician or alternate supervising physician is unable to supervise the activities of his assistant, such supervising physician may temporarily delegate the responsibility to another doctor of medicine, osteopathic medicine, or podiatry.

Temporary coverage may not exceed four weeks unless special permission is granted by the board.

C. With respect to assistants employed by institutions, the following additional regulations shall apply:

1. No assistant may render care to a patient unless the physician responsible for that patient has signed the practice agreement to act as supervising physician for that assistant. The board shall make available appropriate forms for physicians to join the practice agreement for an assistant employed by an institution.

2. Any such practice agreement as described in subdivision 1 of this subsection shall delineate the duties which said physician authorizes the assistant to perform.

3. The assistant shall, as soon as circumstances may dictate, report an acute or significant finding or change in clinical status to the supervising physician concerning the examination of the patient. The assistant shall also record his findings in appropriate institutional records.

D. Practice by a physician assistant in a hospital, including an emergency department, shall be in accordance with § 54.1-2952 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 13, Issue 21, eff. August 6, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1998; Volume 16, Issue 21, eff. August 2, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 21, eff. July 31, 2002; Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. June 18, 2003; Volume 29, Issue 20, eff. July 3, 2013; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013; Volume 33, Issue 01, eff. October 5, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.