Alabama Administrative Code › Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS › Chapter 540-X-7 - ASSISTANTS TO PHYSICIANS › Section 540-X-7-.56 - Requirements for Supervised Practice - Anesthesiologist Assistants (A.A.)

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1)
			 Anesthesiologist supervision requires, at all times, a direct, continuing and
			 close supervisory relationship between an anesthesiologist assistant and the
			 supervising anesthesiologist to whom the assistant is registered or an
			 anesthesiologist who is acting in a Board-approved supervisory role to the
			 anesthesiologist assistant.
(2)
			 Supervision does not, necessarily, require the constant physical presence of
			 the supervising anesthesiologist or an anesthesiologist who is acting in a
			 Board-approved supervisory role to the anesthesiologist assistant; however, the
			 anesthesiologist must remain readily available in the facility.
(3) Except in life-threatening situations,
			 the supervising anesthesiologist shall be readily available for personal
			 supervision and shall be responsible for pre-operative, intra-operative and
			 post-operative care.
(4) The
			 supervising anesthesiologist shall insure that, with respect to each patient,
			 all activities, functions, services and treatment measures are immediately and
			 properly documented in written form by the anesthesiologist assistant. All
			 written entries shall be reviewed, countersigned, and dated by the supervising
			 anesthesiologist. The supervising anesthesiologist's signature on the
			 anesthetic record will fulfill this requirement for all written entries on the
			 anesthetic record.
(5) All of the
			 above is to emphasize that there shall be no independent, unsupervised practice
			 by anesthesiologist assistants.
(6)
			 In the event of an unanticipated, permanent absence of a supervising
			 anesthesiologist, a previously approved covering anesthesiologist may be
			 designated as a temporary supervising anesthesiologist for a period of up to
			 sixty (60) days. During the sixty (60) day time period, a new registration
			 agreement designating a new supervising anesthesiologist should be submitted
			 for approval.
(7) In the event of a
			 national emergency duly declared by Federal officials or in the event of a
			 natural disaster or state emergency duly declared by the Governor, an
			 anesthesiologist assistant may provide emergency medical without immediate
			 physician supervision or direction to patients within the affected areas of the
			 state, provided that the treatment is within the scope of assistant's
			 education, training and approved job description. In the administration of
			 anesthetic agents during the course of surgery, the assistant shall be directed
			 by a licensed physician. The anesthesiologist assistant in such circumstance
			 shall make reasonable efforts to inform his supervising physician of the
			 location and type of emergency medical services being provided and shall act in
			 conformance with the direction of local medical supervisors. The authority
			 granted under this paragraph shall extend only for the duration of the declared
			 national emergency or state emergency or natural disaster.
Previous Rule
				  540-X-7-.53 was renumbered to .56
				  as per certification filed September 11, 2008; effective October 16,
				  2008.
Author:
Alabama Board of Medical
				  Examiners
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
				  1975
, §§
										34-24-290,
et
.
seq
.