Section 246-918-005. Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Commission" means the Washington state medical quality assurance commission.

(2) "Commission approved program" means a physician assistant program accredited by the committee on allied health education and accreditation (CAHEA); the commission on accreditation of allied health education programs (CAAHEP); the accreditation review committee on education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA); or other substantially equivalent organization(s) approved by the commission.

(3) "Delegation agreement" means a mutually agreed upon plan, as detailed in WAC 246-918-055, between a sponsoring physician and physician assistant, which describes the manner and extent to which the physician assistant will practice and be supervised.

(4) "NCCPA" means National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

(5) "Osteopathic physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW.

(6) "Physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW.

(7) "Physician assistant" means a person who is licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW by the commission to practice medicine to a limited extent only under the supervision of a physician as defined in chapter 18.71 RCW.

(a) "Certified physician assistant" means an individual who has successfully completed an accredited and commission approved physician assistant program and has passed the initial national boards examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

(b) "Noncertified physician assistant" means an individual who:

(i) Successfully completed an accredited and commission approved physician assistant program, is eligible for the NCCPA examination, and was licensed in Washington state prior to July 1, 1999;

(ii) Is qualified based on work experience and education and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989;

(iii) Graduated from an international medical school and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989; or

(iv) Holds an interim permit issued pursuant to RCW 18.71A.020(1).

(c) "Physician assistant-surgical assistant" means an individual who was licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW as a physician assistant between September 30, 1989, and December 31, 1989, to function in a limited extent as authorized in WAC 246-918-250 and 246-918-260.

(8) "Remote site" means a setting physically separate from the sponsoring or supervising physician's primary place for meeting patients or a setting where the physician is present less than twenty-five percent of the practice time of the licensee.

(9) "Supervising physician" means a sponsoring or alternate physician providing clinical oversight for a physician assistant.

(a) "Sponsoring physician" means any physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW and identified in a delegation agreement as providing primary clinical and administrative oversight for a physician assistant.

(b) "Alternate physician" means any physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW who provides clinical oversight of a physician assistant in place of or in addition to the sponsoring physician.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2013 c 203. WSR 15-04-122, § 246-918-005, filed 2/3/15, effective 3/6/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71.050 and chapter 18.71 RCW. WSR 01-18-085, § 246-918-005, filed 9/5/01, effective 10/6/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. WSR 96-03-073, § 246-918-005, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020 and 18.71.060. WSR 93-21-016, § 246-918-005, filed 10/11/93, effective 11/11/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. WSR 92-12-089 (Order 278B), § 246-918-005, filed 6/3/92, effective 7/4/92.]

RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2013 c 203. WSR 15-04-122, § 246-918-005, filed 2/3/15, effective 3/6/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71.050 and chapter 18.71 RCW. WSR 01-18-085, § 246-918-005, filed 9/5/01, effective 10/6/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. WSR 96-03-073, § 246-918-005, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020 and 18.71.060. WSR 93-21-016, § 246-918-005, filed 10/11/93, effective 11/11/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. WSR 92-12-089 (Order 278B), § 246-918-005, filed 6/3/92, effective 7/4/92.

Rules

246-918-055,246-918-250,246-918-260,