Wisconsin
Academy of Physician Assistants
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Physician
assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice
medicine with physician supervision. PAs employed by the
federal government are credentialed to practice. As part
of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical
exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret
tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery,
and in most states can write prescriptions.
-AAPA
WAPA
Mission Statement
The purposes of this Academy are to render loyal and honest
service to the medical profession and to the public, to
develop and to provide continuing educational programs
for the physician assistant and the Academy membership,
to promote the physician assistant concept through education
of professional and lay people, and to promote similar
interests in the student societies.
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Chapter Med 8 Rule Change Notification
Dear Fellow Wisconsin Physician Assistants,
I am pleased to announce the recent final approval by the Medical Examining Board of changes to Chapter Med 8 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
First and foremost, the rule requiring physician co-signature of physician assistant prescription orders has been repealed. In addition, the new rule re-conceptualizes the written guidelines for prescribing to include the categories of drugs for which prescriptive authority has been delegated. Lastly, the new rules contain a requirement for periodic review of PA prescription orders by the physician, but allow for more flexibility between the physician and the PA with respect to the method and frequency of review. The text of the new rules for prescribing are included at the end of this message.
These changes are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2009. Please continue your current practice of co-signature until September 1st and until you have the new prescribing practice guideline document in place.
Documentation will be required to demonstrate compliance with the new rules. A sample “written guidelines” document is being developed and should be available in the next few weeks. You and your employer may find this useful as you develop new written guidelines for your practice setting. When it does become available, notification will be delivered by mail, e-mail and in the Spectator. It will also be available on the WAPA website. Due to the importance of this notification, if you or a PA you know are not members of WAPA, please submit your contact information to the WAPA office so you can be included in the mailing. Or, better yet, join WAPA! Contact information can be sent to:
WAPA
702 Eisenhower Dr, Ste A
Kimberly, WI 54136
920-560-5630
wapa@wapa.org
Achieving this rule change is the end of a journey that has taken ten years and numerous individuals to complete. I would like to recognize Lou Falligant and Dick Faust who began the effort to eliminate the co-signature in 1999. They saw the project through to completion when the final vote for approval was granted unanimously by the Medical Examining Board on June 17, 2009.
Thanks to all who made this rule change possible!
Sincerely,
Clark Collins, PA-C, MPAS
Legislative and Government Affairs Committee Chairperson
WAPA Political Action Committee Chairperson
President-Elect
TEXT OF RULE
SECTION 1. Med 8.08 (1) and (2) (a) are amended to read:
Med 8.08 Prescribing limitations. (1) A physician assistant may not prescribe or dispense any drug independently. A physician assistant may only prescribe or dispense a drug pursuant to written guidelines for a supervised prescriptive practice. The guidelines shall be kept on file at the practice site and made available to the board upon request.
(2) (a) The physician assistant issues the prescription order only in patient situations specified and described in established written guidelines, including the categories of drugs for which prescribing authority has been authorized. The guidelines shall be reviewed at least annually by the physician assistant and his or her supervising physician.
SECTION 2. Med 8.08 (2) (e), 1., 2. and 3. are repealed.
SECTION 3. Med 8.08 (3) is created to read:
Med 8.08 (3) (a) A physician who supervises the prescribing practice of a physician assistant shall conduct a periodic review of the prescription orders prepared by the physician assistant to ensure quality of care. The periodic review of the prescriptive practice of a physician assistant shall require the supervising physician to either:
1. Review a selection of the prescription orders prepared by the physician assistant, or
2. Review a selection of the patient records prepared by the physician assistant practicing in the office of the supervising physician or at a facility or a hospital in which the supervising physician has staff privileges, or
3. Review by telecommunications or other electronic means the patient record or prescription orders prepared by the physician assistant who practices in an office facility other than the supervising physician’s main office of a facility or hospital in which the supervising physician has staff privileges.
(b) The supervising physician shall determine the method and frequency of the periodic review based upon the nature of the prescriptive practice, the experience of the physician assistant, and the welfare of the patients. The process and schedule for review shall indicate the minimum frequency of review and identify the representative sample of prescriptive orders or patient records to be reviewed.
SECTION 4. Med 8.10 (3) is amended to read:
Med 8.10 (3) The supervising physician or substitute supervising physician shall be available to the physician assistant at all times for consultation either in person or within 15 minutes of contact by telecommunications or other electronic means.
Physician Assistants Golf Outing
September 17, 2009
Wild Rock Golf Club, Wisconsin Dells
The tradition of an annual Physician Assistants Golf Outing continues this year.
Category 2 CME will be offered, followed by registration, contests and lunch. Golf will follow with a shotgun start at noon, and the day will end with an awards reception.
Mark your calendars now and click here for a registration brochure.
President's
Welcome
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 James Ginter, MPAS, PA-C
Welcome to the Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants
website. This website has been designed to serve the practicing
Physician Assistant in Wisconsin, as well as prospective
PAs and students. Here you will find valuable information
that promotes and strengthens PA practice in Wisconsin.
WAPA offers its members numerous benefits that include;
a monthly newsletter, Spring and Fall CME conferences,
legislative news and representation, employment resources,
and our extensive membership survey.
We are pleased you have taken the time to view our website
and appreciate comments or suggestions for improvement.
Please feel free to visit our site often as information
changes frequently.
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