Sec 32-2531. Physician assistant scope of practice; health care tasks; supervising physician duties; civil penalty

A. A supervising physician may delegate health care tasks to a physician assistant.

B. A physician assistant shall not perform surgical abortions as defined in section 36-2151.

C. The physician assistant may perform those duties and responsibilities, including the ordering, prescribing, dispensing and administration of drugs and medical devices, that are delegated by the supervising physician.

D. The physician assistant may provide any medical service that is delegated by the supervising physician if the service is within the physician assistant's skills, is within the physician's scope of practice and is supervised by the physician.

E. The physician assistant may pronounce death and, if delegated, may authenticate by the physician assistant's signature any form that may be authenticated by a physician's signature.

F. The physician assistant is the agent of the physician assistant's supervising physician in the performance of all practice related activities, including the ordering of diagnostic, therapeutic and other medical services.

G. The physician assistant may perform health care tasks in any setting authorized by the supervising physician, including physician offices, clinics, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, patient homes, nursing homes and other health care institutions. These tasks may include:

1. Obtaining patient histories.

2. Performing physical examinations.

3. Ordering and performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

4. Formulating a diagnostic impression.

5. Developing and implementing a treatment plan.

6. Monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

7. Assisting in surgery.

8. Offering counseling and education to meet patient needs.

9. Making appropriate referrals.

10. Prescribing schedule IV or V controlled substances as defined in the federal controlled substances act of 1970 (P.L. 91-513; 84 Stat. 1242; 21 United States Code section 802) and prescription-only medications.

11. Prescribing schedule II and III controlled substances as defined in the federal controlled substances act of 1970.

12. Performing minor surgery as defined in section 32-2501.

13. Performing other nonsurgical health care tasks that are normally taught in courses of training approved by the board, that are consistent with the training and experience of the physician assistant and that have been properly delegated by the supervising physician.

H. The supervising physician shall:

1. Meet the requirements established by the board for supervising a physician assistant.

2. Accept responsibility for all tasks and duties the physician delegates to a physician assistant.

3. Notify the board and the physician assistant in writing if the physician assistant exceeds the scope of the delegated health care tasks.

4. Maintain a written agreement with the physician assistant. The agreement must state that the physician will exercise supervision over the physician assistant and retains professional and legal responsibility for the care rendered by the physician assistant. The agreement must be signed by the supervising physician and the physician assistant and updated annually. The agreement must be kept on file at the practice site and made available to the board on request. Each year the board shall randomly audit at least five per cent of these agreements for compliance.

I. A physician's ability to supervise a physician assistant is not affected by restrictions imposed by the board on a physician assistant pursuant to disciplinary action taken by the board.

J. Supervision must be continuous but does not require the personal presence of the physician at the place where health care tasks are performed if the physician assistant is in contact with the supervising physician by telecommunication. If the physician assistant practices in a location where a supervising physician is not routinely present, the physician assistant must meet in person or by telecommunication with a supervising physician at least once each week to ensure ongoing direction and oversight of the physician assistant's work. The board by order may require the personal presence of a supervising physician when designated health care tasks are performed.

K. At all times while a physician assistant is on duty, the physician assistant shall wear a name tag with the designation "physician assistant" on it.

L. The board by rule may prescribe a civil penalty for a violation of this article. The penalty shall not exceed fifty dollars for each violation. The board shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, all monies it receives from this penalty in the state general fund. A physician assistant and the supervising physician may contest the imposition of this penalty pursuant to board rule. The imposition of a civil penalty is public information, and the board may use this information in any future disciplinary actions.