CHAPTER 6. SUPERVISION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
IC 25-27.5-6
Chapter 6. Supervision of Physician Assistants
IC 25-27.5-6-1
Continuous supervision; review of patient encounters
Sec. 1. (a) Supervision by the supervising physician or the
physician designee must be continuous but does not require the
physical presence of the supervising physician at the time and the
place that the services are rendered.
(b) A supervising physician or physician designee shall review all
patient encounters not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the
physician assistant has seen the patient.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11.
IC 25-27.5-6-2
Limit of physician assistants supervised
Sec. 2. A physician may supervise not more than two (2)
physician assistants.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11.
IC 25-27.5-6-3
Obligations of physicians and physician assistants
Sec. 3. It is the obligation of each team of physician and physician
assistant to ensure the following:
(1) That the physician assistant's scope of practice is identified.
(2) That delegation of medical tasks is appropriate to the
physician assistant's level of competence and within the
supervising physician's scope of practice.
(3) That the relationship of and access to the supervising
physician is defined.
(4) That a process for evaluation of the physician assistant's
performance is established and maintained.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11.
IC 25-27.5-6-4
Requirements of supervising physicians
Sec. 4. (a) A physician supervising a physician assistant must do
the following:
(1) Be licensed under IC 25-22.5.
(2) Register with the board the physician's intent to supervise a
physician assistant.
(3) Submit a statement to the board that the physician will
exercise supervision over the physician assistant in accordance
with rules adopted by the board and retain professional and
legal responsibility for the care rendered by the physician
assistant.
(4) Not have a disciplinary action restriction that limits the
physician's ability to supervise a physician assistant.
(b) Except as provided in this section, this chapter may not be
construed to limit the employment arrangement with a supervising
physician under this chapter.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.177-2009,
SEC.56.
IC 25-27.5-6-5
Information required
Sec. 5. (a) Before initiating practice the supervising physician and
the physician assistant must submit, on forms approved by the board,
the following information:
(1) The name, the business address, and the telephone number
of the supervising physician.
(2) The name, the business address, and the telephone number
of the physician assistant.
(3) A brief description of the setting in which the physician
assistant will practice.
(4) Any other information required by the board.
(b) A physician assistant must notify the committee of any
changes or additions in practice sites or supervising physicians not
more than thirty (30) days after the change or addition.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.288-2001,
SEC.11.
IC 25-27.5-6-6
Delegation of authority to provide volunteer work
Sec. 6. The supervising physician may delegate authority for the
physician assistant to provide volunteer work, including charitable
work and migrant health care.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11.
IC 25-27.5-6-7
Legal responsibility for physician assistants
Sec. 7. If a physician assistant is employed by a physician, a group
of physicians, or another legal entity, the physician assistant must be
supervised by and be the legal responsibility of the supervising
physician. The legal responsibility for the physician assistant's
patient care activities are that of the supervising physician, including
when the physician assistant provides care and treatment for patients
in health care facilities. If a physician assistant is employed by a
health care facility or other entity, the legal responsibility for the
physician assistant's actions is that of the supervising physician. A
physician assistant employed by a health care facility or entity must
be supervised by a licensed physician.
As added by P.L.227-1993, SEC.11.
IC 25-27.5-6-8
Physician assistants provide care in emergency
Sec. 8. (a) This section applies to a physician assistant:
(1) licensed in Indiana or licensed or authorized to practice in
any other state or territory of the United States; or
(2) credentialed as a physician assistant by a federal employer.
(b) As used in this section, "emergency" means an event or a
condition that is an emergency, a disaster, or a public health
emergency under IC 10-14.
(c) A physician assistant who responds to a need for medical care
created by an emergency may render care that the physician assistant
is able to provide without the supervision required under this chapter,
but with such supervision as is available.
(d) A physician who supervises a physician assistant providing
medical care in response to an emergency is not required to meet the
requirements under this chapter for a supervising physician.
As added by P.L.105-2008, SEC.54.