Pennsylvania Code
Title 49 - PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL STANDARDS
Part I - DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Subpart A - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS
Chapter 25 - STATE BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Subchapter C - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROVISIONS
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UTILIZATION
Section 25.174 - Supervision of the physician assistant in the absence of the supervising physician

(a) If the registered supervising physician absents himself in such a manner or to such an extent that he is unavailable to aid the physician assistant when required, the registered supervising physician may not delegate patient care to his physician assistant unless he has made appropriate arrangements for substitute supervision. Supervision and review of the physician assistant's practice by a substitute supervising physician may be no less encompassing and provide for no less personal contact than the supervision and review provided by the registered supervising physician.

(b) As set forth in § 25.162(a)(4) (relating to criteria for registration as supervising physician), the supervising physician shall provide the Board with the names of at least two physicians who are willing to assume the supervising responsibilities in his absence. The supervising physician will be notified by the Board upon issuance of his registration whether any of his delegated substitutes are unacceptable to the Board. Substitute supervision may be provided by another registered supervising physician without the need to notify the Board so long as such substitution is documented by the registered supervising physician. It is the responsibility of the designated supervising physician to insure that supervision is maintained in his absence. Failure to do so may provide grounds for revocation of his registration as a supervising physician.

(c) Service as a substitute supervising physician, at a given time, for the physician assistants registered to assist one other supervising physician, may not be considered with respect to the prohibition against a physician supervising more than two physician assistants at a time. The duration of substitute supervision may not be so excessive as to circumvent this prohibition.

(d) An allopathic physician may serve as a substitute supervising physician, but while serving in such capacity, he shall be subject to the standards imposed upon substitute supervising physicians as set forth in this chapter.