{"data":{"id":"us-va/18vac85-50-115","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"18VAC85-50-115","heading":"Responsibilities of the physician assistant","body":"A. The physician assistant shall not render independent health care and shall:\n\n1. Perform only those medical care services that are within the scope of the practice and proficiency of the patient care team physicians or podiatrists as prescribed in the physician assistant's practice agreement. When a physician assistant is working outside the scope of specialty of the patient care team physicians or podiatrists, the physician assistant's functions shall be limited to those areas not requiring specialized clinical judgment, unless a separate practice agreement has been executed for an alternate patient care team physician or podiatrist.\n\n2. Prescribe only those drugs and devices as allowed in Part V (18VAC85-50-130 et seq.) of this chapter.\n\n3. Wear during the course of performing physician assistant duties identification showing clearly status as a physician assistant.\n\nB. If, due to illness, vacation, or unexpected absence, a patient care team physician or podiatrist or alternate physician or podiatrist is unable to collaborate or consult with the physician assistant, such patient care team physician or podiatrist may temporarily delegate the responsibility to another doctor of medicine, osteopathic medicine, or podiatry.\n\nTemporary coverage may not exceed four weeks unless special permission is granted by the board.\n\nC. With respect to physician assistants employed by institutions, the following additional provisions shall apply:\n\n1. No physician assistant may render care to a patient unless the physician or podiatrist responsible for that patient is available for collaboration and consultation with that physician assistant.\n\n2. Any such practice agreement as described in subdivision A 1 of this section shall delineate the duties that the patient care team physician or podiatrist authorizes the physician assistant to perform.\n\nD. Practice by a physician assistant in a hospital, including an emergency department, shall be in accordance with § 54.1-2952 of the Code of Virginia.","path":["Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing","Agency 85. Board of Medicine","Chapter 50. Regulations Governing the Practice of Physician Assistants","Part IV. Practice Requirements"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency85/chapter50/section115/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:52:46Z","sha256":"6344e8a05af6a95643e7f88dd2cb40e85bd51d5ad4f4543137381ab7c3a39e60","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/18vac85-50-110","next":"us-va/18vac85-50-117"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}