Title of Regulation: 18VAC85-50. Regulations Governing the Practice of Physician Assistants (adding 18VAC85-50-117).

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Dates: November 12, 2013, through May 11, 2015.

Agency Contact: William L. Harp, M.D., Executive Director, Board of Medicine, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4558, FAX (804) 527-4429, or email william.harp@dhp.virginia.gov.

Preamble:

Chapter 81 of the 2012 Acts of Assembly requires the Board of Medicine to promulgate regulations to implement provisions of the act with 280 days of its enactment. Therefore, the board is authorized to adopt emergency regulations establishing the criteria for use of fluoroscopy by physician assistants.

Fluoroscopy is a radiological procedure that emits high levels of ionizing radiation and is used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Performed improperly, it can harm a patient or cause a misdiagnosis that can harm a patient. Since fluoroscopy typically is outside the scope of practice for a physician assistant and not covered in prelicensure educational programs and examinations, additional qualifications must be established to assure minimal competency to perform the procedure with safety and effectiveness.

The emergency regulation establishes the qualifications of a physician assistant who may use fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy specializing in the field of radiology. The additional education, training, and testing is consistent with the qualifications recommended by the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

18VAC85-50-117. Authorization to use fluoroscopy.

A physician assistant working under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy specializing in the field of radiology is authorized to use fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures provided such activity is specified in his protocol and he has met the following qualifications:

1. Completion of at least 40 hours of structured didactic educational instruction and at least 40 hours of supervised clinical experience as set forth in the Fluoroscopy Educational Framework for the Physician Assistant created by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT); and

2. Successful passage of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Fluoroscopy Examination.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (18VAC85-50)

Fluoroscopy Educational Framework for the Physician Assistant, December 2009, American Academy of Physician Assistants, 950 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, 15000 Central Avenue, SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123