California Code of Regulations › Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations › Division 13.8 - Physician Assistant Board › Article 4 - Practice of Physician Assistants › Section 1399.541 - Medical Services Performable

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Because physician assistant practice is directed by a
				  supervising physician, and a physician assistant acts as an agent for that
				  physician, the orders given and tasks performed by a physician assistant shall
				  be considered the same as if they had been given and performed by the
				  supervising physician. Unless otherwise specified in these regulations or in
				  the delegation or protocols, these orders may be initiated without the prior
				  patient specific order of the supervising physician.
In any setting, including for example, any licensed health
				  facility, out-patient settings, patients' residences, residential facilities,
				  and hospices, as applicable, a physician assistant may, pursuant to a
				  delegation and protocols where present:
(a) Take a patient history; perform a
				physical examination and make an assessment and diagnosis therefrom; initiate,
				review and revise treatment and therapy plans including plans for those
				services described in Section
				1399.541(b)
				through Section
				1399.541(i)
				inclusive; and record and present pertinent data in a manner meaningful to the
				physician.
(b) Order or transmit an
				order for x-ray, other studies, therapeutic diets, physical therapy,
				occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and nursing services.
(c) Order, transmit an order for, perform, or
				assist in the performance of laboratory procedures, screening procedures and
				therapeutic procedures.
(d)
				Recognize and evaluate situations which call for immediate attention of a
				physician and institute, when necessary, treatment procedures essential for the
				life of the patient.
(e) Instruct
				and counsel patients regarding matters pertaining to their physical and mental
				health. Counseling may include topics such as medications, diets, social
				habits, family planning, normal growth and development, aging, and
				understanding of and long-term management of their diseases.
(f) Initiate arrangements for admissions,
				complete forms and charts pertinent to the patient's medical record, and
				provide services to patients requiring continuing care, including patients at
				home.
(g) Initiate and facilitate
				the referral of patients to the appropriate health facilities, agencies, and
				resources of the community.
(h)
				Administer or provide medication to a patient, or issue or transmit drug orders
				orally or in writing in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (a)-(f),
				inclusive, of Section
				3502.1 of the Code.
(i)
(1)
				Perform surgical procedures without the personal presence of the supervising
				physician which are customarily performed under local anesthesia. Prior to
				delegating any such surgical procedures, the supervising physician shall review
				documentation which indicates that the physician assistant is trained to
				perform the surgical procedures. All other surgical procedures requiring other
				forms of anesthesia may be performed by a physician assistant only in the
				personal presence of a supervising physician.
(2) A physician assistant may also act as
				first or second assistant in surgery under the supervision of a supervising
				physician. The physician assistant may so act without the personal presence of
				the supervising physician if the supervising physician is immediately available
				to the physician assistant. "Immediately available" means the physician is
				physically accessible and able to return to the patient, without any delay,
				upon the request of the physician assistant to address any situation requiring
				the supervising physician's services.