18 Va. Admin. Code § 85-50-115

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 2, September 9, 2024

Section 18VAC85-50-115 - 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 patient care team physicians or podiatrists as prescribed in the physician assistant's practice agreement. When a physician assistant is working outside the scope of specialty of the patient care team physicians or podiatrists, then the physician assistant's functions shall be limited to those areas not requiring specialized clinical judgment, unless a separate practice agreement has been executed for an alternate patient care team physician or podiatrist.

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, a patient care team physician or podiatrist or alternate physician or podiatrist is unable to supervise the activities of his physician assistant, such patient care team physician or podiatrist 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 physician assistants employed by institutions, the following additional regulations shall apply:

1. No physician assistant may render care to a patient unless the physician or podiatrist responsible for that patient is available for collaboration and consultation with that physician assistant.

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

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.

18 Va. Admin. Code § 85-50-115

Derived from Virginia Register 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; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 01, eff. 10/5/2016; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 25, eff. 9/20/2018; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 23, eff. 8/22/2019; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 13, eff. 3/16/2021; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 26, eff. 9/15/2021.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.