2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 37:1360.21 — Legislative intent

PART V.  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

§1360.21.  Legislative intent

A.  Shortages of all skilled health personnel, particularly in rural areas and in the field of primary care medicine, new scientific and technological developments, and new methods of organizing health services have made the question of new uses for allied health personnel the critical issue to be resolved if our supply of health manpower is to be used effectively and productively.  In its concern with the growing shortage and geographic maldistribution of health care services in Louisiana, the rising cost of health care services in the state and nationally, and the need for primary health care by thousands of Louisiana citizens, the legislature intends to establish in this Part a framework for legal recognition and development of new categories of health manpower to be known as physician assistants.

B.  Physician assistants are skilled members of the health care profession who work under the supervision of licensed physicians.  They are qualified to take patient histories, perform physical examinations, and order and interpret certain diagnostic tests.  A physician assistant may implement treatment plans as delegated by the supervising physician and explain them to patients.

C.  It is the intent of this Part to permit the more effective utilization of the skills of physicians, particularly in the primary care setting, by enabling them to delegate certain health care tasks to qualified physician assistants when such delegation is consistent with the patient's health and welfare.

D.  It is the intent of this Part to encourage and permit the utilization of physician assistants by physicians and assist in the development of the physician assistant profession and allow for innovative developments of programs for the education of physician assistants.  It is also the purpose of this Part to provide for a system of licensing physician assistants and regulating their relationship with supervising physicians so that a high quality of service is assured.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 753, §1.  Acts 1993, No. 662, §1, eff. June 16, 1993; Acts 1997, No. 316, §1.