Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1130 - Board of Physician Assistants
Chapter 1130-02 - General Rules Governing the Practice of an Orthopedic Physician Assistant (Transferred from 0880-10)
Section 1130-02-.10 - RANGE OF SERVICES/SUPERVISION

(1) Supervision is defined as the active and continuous overview of the orthopedic physician assistant's services to ensure that the supervising orthopedic physician's directions and orders are being implemented properly. The constant physical presence of the orthopedic physician is not required so long as the supervising orthopedic physician and the orthopedic physician assistant are, or can be, immediately in contact with each other by radio, telephone, or telecommunications while the services are being provided. An appropriate degree of supervision includes personal and regular (at least weekly) review of all patient records by the supervising orthopedic physician, as indicated by the physician's signature/initials.

(2) A supervising orthopedic physician may supervise a maximum of two (2) orthopedic physician assistants.

(3) An orthopedic physician assistant may provide only those services which are commensurate with the orthopedic physician assistant's education, training, and experience.

(4) An orthopedic physician assistant may not make any definitive diagnosis or prescribe any treatment program except as set forth in the written protocol and procedures which have been established by the supervising orthopedic physician in consultation with the orthopedic physician assistant.

(5) An orthopedic physician assistant may not write prescriptions for any drugs and may not use prescriptions which have been pre-signed by the supervising orthopedic physician or anyone else.

(6) An orthopedic physician assistant may dispense only those medications which have been contemporaneously approved for a patient by the supervising orthopedic physician.