Section 25.142. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Certification—The approval of a program by the Board for the training and education of physician assistants.

Direct supervision—The physical presence of the supervising physician on the premises so that the supervising physician is immediately available to the physician assistant when needed. Where emergency rooms are concerned, direct supervision requires the presence of the supervising physician in the emergency room suite.

NCCPA—The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, the organization recognized by the Board to certify and recertify physician assistants by requiring continuing education and examination.

Protocol—Written treatment instructions prepared by the supervising osteopathic physician for use by the physician assistant, containing a detailed description of the manner in which the physician assistant will assist the physician in his practice, a list of functions to be delegated to the physician assistant including the procedures enumerated in § 25.171(a) (relating to generally) and other specified delegated tasks, detailed instructions for the use of the physician assistant in the performance of delegated tasks, the method and frequency of supervision and the geographic location where the physician assistant will serve.

Registration—The approval by the Board of an osteopathic physician, licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery without restriction, to supervise and utilize a specified physician assistant.

Satellite operations—An office or clinic separate and apart from the office of the supervising physician established by the physician and manned exclusively by a physician assistant.

Supervising physician—A physician licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery in this Commonwealth who registers with the Board and who accepts the responsibility for the supervision of services rendered by physician assistants.

Supervision—The opportunity or ability of the physician, or in his absence a substitute supervising physician, to provide or exercise control and direction over the services of physician assistants. Constant physical presence of the supervising physician on the premises is not required so long as the supervising physician and the physician assistant are or can easily be in contact with each other by radio, telephone or telecommunication. Supervision requires the availability of the supervising physician to the physician assistant. An appropriate degree of supervision includes:

(i) Active and continuing overview of the physician assistant’s activities to determine that the physician’s directions are being implemented.

(ii) Immediate availability of the supervising physician to the physician assistant for necessary consultations.

(iii) Personal and regular—at least weekly—review by the supervising physician of the patient records upon which entries are made by the physician assistant.

(iv) Periodic—at least monthly—education and review sessions held by the supervising physician for the physician assistant under his supervision for discussion of specific conditions, protocols, procedures and specific patients.

Written agreement—The agreement between the physician assistant and supervising physician, which satisfies the requirements of § 25.162(a)(4) (relating to criteria for registration as supervising physician).

The provisions of this § 25.142 adopted April 23, 1982, effective April 24, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1332; amended January 10, 1992, effective January 11, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 209; amended August 7, 2009, effective August 8, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 4754; amended January 31, 2014, effective February 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 589. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (344829) to (344830).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 25.142 issued under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and sections 10(h) and (p) and 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. § § 271.10(h) and (p) and 271.16); amended under sections 10(f) and (h), 10.1(c), 10.2(f) and 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. § § 271.10(f) and (h), 271.10a(c), 271.10b(f) and 271.16); and section 902(b) of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P. S. § 1301.902(b)).