Section 1350.80  Supervision of Performance

a)         The supervising physician/alternate supervising physician shall maintain the final responsibility for the care of the patient and the performance of the physician assistant.

b)         Delegated procedures and tasks performed by the physician assistant shall be within the current scope of practice of the supervising physician or designated alternate supervising physician with whom the physician assistant is working at the time.

c)         The supervising physician may supervise no more than two physician assistants.  However, a physician assistant shall be able to hold more than one professional position.

d)         Any time the supervising physician is unable to provide the appropriate supervision to the physician assistant, he/she shall designate an alternate supervising physician to provide such supervision.  The name(s) of the alternate supervising physician(s) shall be identified in the guidelines established by the supervising physician.  If the supervising physician will be unable to supervise the physician assistant for more than 30 days, he/she shall notify the Department, on forms prescribed by the Department.  Failure of the supervising physician to notify the Department shall be grounds for discipline of the physician's license.

e)         When under supervision of an alternate supervising physician, the physician assistant may carry out those duties that are contained within the established guidelines of the physician/physician assistant team.  An alternate supervising physician shall be subject to the same supervision responsibilities as the supervising physician.

f)          It is the responsibility of the supervising physician to direct and review the work, records and practice of the physician assistant on a timely basis to ensure that appropriate directions are given and understood and that appropriate treatment is being rendered.

g)         In the event that the supervising physician is not present in the same facility as the physician assistant, the supervising physician should be within reasonable travel distance from the facility so that the supervising physician can personally assure the proper care of his/her patients.

h)         The supervising physician shall have full authority and responsibility to direct, supervise and limit the role of a physician assistant.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to alter the fact that a physician assistant shall continue to bear responsibility for his/her actions to the extent that the physician assistant fails to comply with physician directives or is not carrying out those directives in a professional and appropriate manner in conformance with his/her training.

i)          The physician assistant shall only work under the direction of the current supervising physician or alternate supervising physician and may undertake patient care responsibilities only for the patients of the supervising physician or alternate supervising physician.

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 3999, effective March 19, 1999)