TO AUTHORIZE A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT TO DELEGATE CERTAIN TASKS.

Physician assistants can delegate some medical tasks

Arkansas physician assistants can delegate certain medical tasks to qualified, trained employees under Arkansas State Medical Board rules. These employees must not already be licensed or otherwise authorized by state law to perform the task. They cannot be presented to patients as licensed healthcare providers. The delegating physician or physician assistant remains responsible for the employee’s work and must supervise it. Delegated drug administration is limited to drugs the Board determines do not require substantial specialized judgment and skill. It must happen inside the delegating clinician’s office, with Board rules addressing the patient’s condition, employee training, and competence. Board rules cannot allow physicians to transfer supervision to anyone except a physician or physician assistant. They also cannot permit delegated anesthesia administration or conflict with other state laws authorizing medical practices. Employees can pass delegated work to another person only when Board rules authorize it; the law does not itself grant that permission.