Alabama Administrative Code
Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Chapter 540-X-7 - ASSISTANTS TO PHYSICIANS
Section 540-X-7-.25 - Functions And Activities Of A Physician Assistant (P.A.)

(1) There shall be at all times a direct continuing and close supervisory relationship between the physician assistant and the physician to whom that assistant is registered. The supervising physician shall at all times be responsible for the activities of the physician assistant.

(2) The physician assistant shall provide medical services within the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant that are delegated by the supervising physician. These services include, but are not limited to:

(3) The job description in the form specified in Appendix B to Chapter 7 is approved by the Board as a model job description which shall be acceptable to the Board if submitted by a qualified applicant for registration in compliance with these Rules.

(4) Requests for changes in the job description of the assistant, including addition of specialized duties and tasks, shall be submitted, in writing, by the supervising physician to the Board for prior approval.

(5) Should the supervising physician contemplate a request for additional duties for the assistant for addition to the assistant's Job Description, a written request shall be submitted to and approved by the Board prior to any additional duty or procedure being performed by the assistant.

(6) When any addition of a duty or procedure to the assistant's Job Description is contemplated, a written request for training of the assistant in the duty or procedure shall be submitted to and approved by the Board prior to the assistant actually receiving any training in the duty or procedure.

(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, a physician assistant may provide emergency medical treatment without immediate physician supervision or direction to patients within the affected areas of the state, provided that the treatment is within the scope of the assistant's education, training and approved job description. The physician 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.

(8) A physician assistant may write admission orders for inpatients and nursing home patients as directed by the supervising physician and subsequent orders in accordance with established guidelines and institutional policies.