Maryland Health Occupations Section 15-101

      (a)      In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Alternate supervising physician" means one or more physicians designated by the supervising physician to provide supervision of a physician assistant during the absence of the supervising physician and in accordance with the delegation agreement on file with the Board.

      (c)      "Board" means the State Board of Physicians, established under § 14-201 of this article.

      (d)      "Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Board to a physician assistant under this title.

      (e)      "Committee" means the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee.

      (f)      "Controlled dangerous substances" has the meaning stated in Art. 27, § 277 of the Code.

      (g)      "Correctional facility" includes a State or local correctional facility.

      (h)      "Delegated medical acts" means activities that constitute the practice of medicine delegated by a physician under Title 14 of this article.

      (i)      "Delegation agreement" means a document that is executed by a supervising physician and a physician assistant containing the requirements of § 15-302 of this title.

      (j)      "Designated pharmacy" means a pharmacy that has an agreement to supply medications for a hospital, public health facility, correctional facility, or detention center if:

            (1)      The hospital, public health facility, correctional facility, or detention center does not have an on-site pharmacy; or

            (2)      The on-site pharmacy at the hospital, public health facility, correctional facility, or detention center is closed or does not have a particular medication in stock.

      (k)      "Hospital" means:

            (1)      A hospital as defined under § 19-301(g) of the Health - General Article;

            (2)      A comprehensive care facility that:

                  (i)      Meets the requirements of a hospital-based skilled nursing facility under federal law;

                  (ii)      Offers acute care in the same building; and

                  (iii)      Has the same protocols and degree of supervision of physician assistants as it does in its acute care area; and

            (3)      An emergency room that is physically connected to a hospital.

      (l)      "National certifying examination" means an examination offered by a national organization, which certifies physician assistants as having achieved a certain level of training.

      (m)      "Physician assistant" means an individual who is certified under this title to perform delegated medical acts under the supervision of a physician.

      (n)      "Practice as a physician assistant" means the performance of medical acts that are:

            (1)      Delegated by a supervising physician to a physician assistant;

            (2)      Within the supervising physician's scope of practice; and

            (3)      Appropriate to the physician assistant's education, training, and experience.

      (o)      "Prescriptive authority" means the authority delegated by a supervising physician to a physician assistant to prescribe and administer controlled dangerous substances, prescription drugs, medical devices, and the oral, written, or electronic ordering of medications.

      (p)      "Protocols" means written policies, bylaws, rules, or regulations established by a hospital, public health facility, correctional facility, or detention center that:

            (1)      Are established in consultation with and with the approval of its medical staff;

            (2)      Describe the delegated medical acts a physician assistant may execute; and

            (3)      Specify the minimum requirements for supervision by a physician.

      (q)      "Public health facility" means a fixed site where clinical public health services are rendered under the auspices of the Department, a local health department in a county, or the Baltimore City Health Department.

      (r)      "Supervising physician" means a physician who has been approved by the Board to supervise one or more physician assistants.

      (s)      (1)      "Supervision" means the responsibility of a physician to exercise on-site supervision or immediately available direction for physician assistants performing delegated medical acts.

            (2)      "Supervision" includes physician oversight of and acceptance of direct responsibility for the patient services and care rendered by a physician assistant, including continuous availability to the physician assistant in person, through written instructions, or by electronic means and by designation of one or more alternate supervising physicians.