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

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 1399.541

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 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.

1. Repealer of former section 1399.541 and renumbering and amendment of former section 1399.523 to section 1399.541 filed 9-20-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 39). For prior history, see Registers 82, No. 10; 80, No. 6; and 79, No. 34.
2. Amendment of subsection (h) filed 7-12-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 28).
3. Amendment of subsection (f) filed 8-24-89; operative 9-23-89 (Register 89, No. 36).
4. Amendment filed 1-28-92; operative 2-27-92 (Register 92, No. 12).
5. Editorial correction of printing error in first paragraph (Register 92, No. 27).
6. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (h) and NOTE filed 8-3-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 31).
7. Amendment of subsections (i)(1)-(2) filed 12-17-2014; operative 4-1-2015 (Register 2014, No. 51).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 2018, 3502 and 3510, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2058, 3502 and 3502.1, Business and Professions Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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