Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 360 - RULES OF GEORGIA COMPOSITE MEDICAL BOARD › Chapter 360-3 - INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCIPLINE › Rule 360-3-.07 - Practice Through Electronic or Other Such Means

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(a) Under O.C.G.A. §§
								43-34-8 and 
			  43-1-19, the Board is authorized to take disciplinary action against licensees for
			 unprofessional conduct, and in connection therewith, to establish standards of
			 practice. Except as otherwise provided, in order for a physician to practice
			 within the minimum standards of practice while providing treatment and/or
			 consultation recommendations by electronic or other such means, all the
			 following conditions must be met:
(1) All
			 treatment and/or consultations must be done by Georgia licensed
			 practitioners;
(2) A history of the
			 patient shall be available to the Georgia licensed physician, physician
			 assistant or advanced practice registered nurse who is providing treatment or
			 consultation via electronic or other such means;
(3) A Georgia licensed physician, physician
			 assistant or advanced practice registered nurse either:
3.a. Has personally seen and examined the
			 patient and provides ongoing or intermittent care by electronic or other such
			 means; or
3.b. Is providing medical
			 care by electronic or other such means at the request of a physician, physician
			 assistant or advanced practice registered nurse licensed in Georgia who has
			 personally seen and examined the patient; or
3.c. Is providing medical care by electronic
			 or other such means at the request of a Public Health Nurse, a Public School
			 Nurse, the Department of Family and Children's Services, law enforcement,
			 community mental health center or through an established child advocacy center
			 for the protection for a minor, and the physician, physician assistant or
			 advanced practice registered nurse is able to examine the patient using
			 technology and peripherals that are equal or superior to an examination done
			 personally by a provider within that provider's standard of care; or
3.d. Is able to examine the patient using
			 technology or peripherals that are equal or superior to an examination done
			 personally by a provider within that provider's standard of care.
(4) The Georgia licensed
			 physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse providing
			 treatment or consultations by electronic or other means must maintain patient
			 records on the patient and must document the evaluation and treatment along
			 with the identity of the practitioners providing the service by electronic or
			 other means, and if there is a referring practitioner, a copy of this record
			 must also be provided to the referring physician, physician assistant or
			 advanced practice registered nurse;
(5) To delegate to a nurse practitioner or to
			 supervise a physician assistant doing telemedicine, the physician must document
			 to the board that that the provision of care by telemedicine is in his or her
			 scope of practice and that the NP or PA has demonstrated competence in the
			 provision of care by telemedicine.
(6) Patients treated by electronic or other
			 such means or patient's agent must be given the name, credentials and emergency
			 contact information for the Georgia licensed physician, physician assistant
			 and/or advanced practice registered nurse providing the treatment or
			 consultation. Emergency contact information does not need to be provided to
			 those treated within the prison system while incarcerated but should be
			 provided to the referring provider. For the purposes of this rule,
			 "credentials" is defined as the area of practice and training for physicians,
			 and for physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses,
			 "credentials" shall mean the area of licensure and must include the name of the
			 delegating physician or supervising physician;
(7) The patient being treated via electronic
			 or other means or the patient's agent must be provided with clear, appropriate,
			 accurate instructions on follow-up in the event of needed emergent care related
			 to the treatment. In the case of prison patients, prison staff will be provided
			 this information if the consult is provided to an inmate; and
(8) The physician, physician assistant or
			 nurse practitioner who provides care or treatment for a patient by electronic
			 or other such means must make diligent efforts to have the patient seen and
			 examined in person by a Georgia licensed physician, physician assistant or
			 nurse practitioner at least annually.