Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Division 06 - Medical Services
Rule 016.06.15-013 - RURLHLTH 4-15: Rural Health Clinic Update

A. The RHC must have a health care staff that includes one or more physicians and one or more physician assistants or nurse practitioners. The physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners may be the owners of the RHC and/or under agreement with the RHC to carry out the responsibilities required.

B. The staff may include ancillary personnel who are supervised by the professional staff.

C. A physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner must be available to furnish patient care services at times the RHC operates. These staff must be available to furnish patient care services at least 50% of the time the RHC operates.

D. The physician must provide medical direction for the RHC activities and consultation for the medical supervision of the health care staff. The physician also must participate in developing, executing and periodically reviewing policies, services, patient records and must provide medical orders and medical care services to patients of the RHC.

E. The physician assistant and nurse practitioner, as members of the RHC staff, must participate in the development, execution and periodic review of the written policies governing the services the RHC furnishes and participate with the physician in a periodic review of patients' health records.

F. The physician assistant or nurse practitioner must perform the following functions, to the extent they are not being performed by a physician: