Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-327.1 - Duties
The medical services to be provided by the physician assistant are those for which the physician assistant has been prepared by education, training, or experience and is competent to perform. The ultimate role of the physician assistant cannot be rigidly defined because of the variations in practice requirements due to geographic, economic, and sociologic factors. The high degree of responsibility a physician assistant may assume requires that, at the conclusion of the formal education, the physician assistant possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide those services appropriate to the practice setting. The physician assistant's services may be utilized in any clinical settings including but not limited to offices, ambulatory clinics, hospitals, patient's homes, extended care facilities, and nursing homes.
(1) A
physician assistant's duties relating to prescribing, dispensing, ordering,
administering, and procuring drugs and medical devices include all of the
following:
a. Administering any
drug.
b. Prescribing, dispensing,
ordering, administering, and procuring drugs and medical devices. A physician
assistant may plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen that includes ordering
and prescribing nonpharmacological interventions, including but not limited to
durable medical equipment, nutrition, blood and blood products, and diagnostic
support services, including but not limited to home health care, hospice, and
physical and occupational therapy. The prescribing and dispensing of drugs may
include Schedule II through V substances, as described in Iowa Code chapter
124, and all legend drugs.
c. A
physician assistant may prescribe drugs and medical devices subject to all of
the following conditions:
(1) The physician
assistant will have passed the national certifying examination conducted by the
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or its successor
examination approved by the board.
(2) The physician assistant must comply with
appropriate federal and state regulations.
(3) If a physician assistant prescribes or
dispenses controlled substances, the physician assistant must register with the
federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
(4) The physician assistant may prescribe or
order Schedule II controlled substances that are listed as depressants in Iowa
Code chapter 124.
(5) The physician
assistant may prescribe, supply, and administer drugs and medical devices in
all settings, including but not limited to hospitals, health care facilities,
health care institutions, hospice, clinics, offices, health maintenance
organizations, and outpatient and emergency care settings.
(6) A physician assistant may request,
receive, and supply sample drugs and medical devices.
d. Supplying properly packaged and labeled
prescription drugs, controlled substances, or medical devices when pharmacist
services are not reasonably available or when it is in the best interest of the
patient.
(1) If the physician assistant is the
prescriber of the medications supplied pursuant to this paragraph, the
medications supplied will be for the purpose of accommodating the patient and
will not be sold for more than the cost of the drug and reasonable overhead
costs as they relate to supplying prescription drugs to the patient and not at
a profit to the physician assistant.
(2) A nurse or staff assistant may assist the
physician assistant in supplying medications.
(2) The medical services to be provided by
the physician assistant also include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Initial approach to a patient of any age
group in any setting to elicit a medical history and perform a physical
examination.
b. Assessment,
diagnosis and treatment of medical or surgical problems and recording the
findings.
c. Order, interpret, or
perform laboratory tests, X-rays or other medical procedures or
studies.
d. Performance of
therapeutic procedures such as injections, immunizations, suturing and care of
wounds, removal of foreign bodies, ear and eye irrigation and other clinical
procedures.
e. Performance of
office surgical procedures including, but not limited to, skin biopsy, mole or
wart removal, toenail removal, removal of a foreign body, arthrocentesis,
incision and drainage of abscesses.
f. Assisting in surgery.
g. Prenatal and postnatal care and assisting
a physician in obstetrical care.
h.
Care of orthopedic problems.
i.
Performing and screening the results of special medical examinations including,
but not limited to, electrocardiogram or Holter monitoring, radiography,
audiometric and vision screening, tonometry, and pulmonary function screening
tests.
j. Instruction and
counseling of patients regarding physical and mental health on matters such as
diets, disease, therapy, and normal growth and development.
k. Function in the hospital setting by
performing medical histories and physical examinations, making patient rounds,
recording patient progress notes and other appropriate medical records,
assisting in surgery, performing or assisting with medical procedures,
providing emergency medical services and issuing, transmitting and executing
patient care orders.
l. Providing
services to patients requiring continuing care (i.e., home, nursing home,
extended care facilities).
m.
Referring patients to specialty or subspecialty physicians, medical facilities
or social agencies as indicated by the patients' problems.
n. Immediate evaluation, treatment and
institution of procedures essential to providing an appropriate response to
emergency medical problems.
o.
Order drugs and supplies in the office, and assist in keeping records and in
the upkeep of equipment.
p. Admit
patients to a hospital or health care facility as defined in Iowa Code section
135C.1.
q. Order diets, physical
therapy, inhalation therapy, or other rehabilitative services as indicated by
the patient's problems.
r. At the
request of the peace officer, withdraw a specimen of blood from a patient for
the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration or the presence of
drugs.
s. Direct medical personnel,
health professionals, and others involved in caring for patients and the
execution of patient care.
t.
Authenticate a medical form by signing the form.
u. Perform other duties appropriate to a
physician assistant's practice.
v.
Health care providers will consider the instructions of a physician assistant
to be authoritative.
(3)
Emergency medicine duties.
a. A physician
assistant may be a member of the staff of an ambulance or rescue squad pursuant
to Iowa Code chapter 147A.
b. A
physician assistant will document skills, training and education equivalent to
that required of a certified advanced emergency medical technician or a
paramedic.
c. A physician assistant
must apply for approval of advanced care training equivalency on forms supplied
by the board of physician assistants.
d. Exceptions to this subrule include:
(1) A physician assistant who accompanies and
is responsible for a transfer patient;
(2) A physician assistant who serves on a
basic ambulance or rescue squad service; and
(3) A physician assistant who renders aid
within the physician assistant's skills during an emergency.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.