The following is an update for supervising physicians on how to work more effectively with physician assistants. This is a free, bimonthly resource from the Network for Supervising Physicians brought to you by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. May 2001 Restraint Rules Clarified for Physician-PA Team Recent patient deaths resulting from inappropriate restraint techniques have focused public attention on the use of restraints in institutional care.
Some advocacy groups recommend that seclusion and restraint be completely eliminated.
Health care providers, particularly those in emergency departments and mental health settings, argue that in some situations seclusion and restraint are necessary components of treatment for individuals who are threatening immediate harm to themselves or others. Although this language appears to prohibit physicians from delegating these tasks to physician assistants, both organizations state that is not their intent. Indeed, both organizations state that physicians may delegate this to the extent allowed by state law and institutional policy. AAPA staff and Joint Commission staff agree that the standard does not preclude a supervising physician from delegating this authority to a physician assistant. The physician-PA team model of care assumes that all aspects of a PA's practice are based on delegated authority from a physician.