Chapter 1 The Physician Assistant Profession
History of the Profession
Definition of Physician Assistant
Services Provided by PAs
PA Education
Applicants to PA Programs
Initials
Regulatory Terms
Areas of Practice
PA Organizations
Demographics
Income
Outlook
Work Settings
National PA Week
PAs Compared to Physicians
PAs Compared to Nurse Practitioners
The American College of Clinicians (ACC)
Registered Nurses
Medical Assistants (MAs)
Appendix 1-A: State-by-State Definition of Physician
Assistant
Chapter 2 Scope of Practice
PA Education and Experience
State Laws and Regulations
Institutional Policy
Delegatory Decisions Made by the Supervising Physician
Physician Assistants in the Emergency Room
Natural Disasters
Letters of Agreement/Written Agreements
Relationships with Pharmaceutical Companies
Additional Resources
Appendix 2-A: Scope of Practice State-by-State
Appendix 2-B: Supervision Requirements State-by-State
Appendix 2-C: Sample Written Agreements
Chapter 3 Maintaining Certification and Licensure
Maintaining NCCPA Certification
Continuing Medical Education
Recertification Examination
Regaining Certification
Unprofessional Conduct
Discipline and Sanctions
Appendix 3-A: State-by-State License Requirements
Appendix 3-B: State-by-State Temporary License
Requirements
Appendix 3-C: State-by-State Continuing Education
Requirements
Chapter 4 Prescriptive Authority
Preparation for Prescribing
Controlled Substances
DEA Registration
Medication Errors
Prescription Writing
Practices to Avoid When Writing Prescriptions
Practices That Reduce Medication Errors
Dispensing
Samples
Licensure Violations
Appendix 4: Prescriptive Privileges State-by-State
Chapter 5 Employment Issues
Employment Outlook
Preparing a Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Interviewing
Interview Questions
Questions a PA Should Ask a Potential Employer
PA–Physician Team
Licensure
Should I Get a Written Contract?
Malpractice Insurance
Independent Contractor Status
Federal Regulation That May Affect PAs’ Ownership
in Medical Entities
Hospital Practice
Required Identification
Credentialing Service
Appendix 5-A: Sample Cover Letters, Curricula Vitae and
Resumes, and Thank-You Letters
Appendix 5-B: Contract Checklist
Appendix 5-C: Sample Practice Privilege Checklist and
Guidelines
Appendix 5-D: Credentialing Information
Chapter 6 Negligence and Medical Malpractice
Malpractice Overview
Standard of Care
Civil and Criminal Proceedings
Burden of Proof
Legal Theories
Breach of Confidentiality
Negligence Per Se
Vicarious Liability/Respondent Superior/
Captain of the Ship
Statute of Limitations
Adverse Events
Choosing a Malpractice Case
Being Deposed
National Practitioner’s Data Bank (NPDB)
Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB)
Chapter 7 Risk Management
Documentation
Purposes of the Clinical Record
The Medical Record as a Legal Document
What Attorneys Look For
Alterations of the Medical Record
What to Include in the Medical Record
Documentation Guidelines
Things to Avoid When Documenting
Defenses to Malpractice
Avoiding Malpractice
Systems for Tracking Follow-Up
Patient Responsibility
Chapter 8 The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996
Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information
Uses and Disclosures
Consent
Consent vs. Authorization
Business Associate Agreements
Individual Rights
“Minimum Necessary” Provision
Privacy Program
Oral Communications
PHI Communicated over the Telephone
Communications by Fax
Parents and Minors
Department of Health and Human Services Office of
Civil Rights
Responsibilities of the HIPAA Privacy Officer upon
Receipt of a Patient Complaint
Violation of Privacy Policies or Procedures
Duty to Report
The Privacy Policy
Mandatory Reporting
Specially Protected PHI
Disclosures to Prevent Harm
Disclosures to Nonmedical Persons Involved in a
Patient’s Care
Uses and Disclosures of Genetic Information
Disclosure of HIV/AIDS Information
Accounting of Disclosures of a Patient’s Protected Health
Information
Appendix 8-A: Sample Listing of Mandatory Reporting
Requirements
Appendix 8-B: Sample Privacy Policy
Chapter 9 Evaluation and Management Coding
Documentation Requirements
Key Components
Final Determination of CPT Code
Chapter 10 Reimbursement for PA Services
Methods of Reimbursement
Government-Sponsored Insurance
Private Insurance
Compliance
Chapter 11 Political and Legislative Action
“I Have No Interest in Politics”
A Few Definitions and Concepts
Liberty of Practice
The Need for an Agenda
Political Action Education
A Broader View
A Familiar Face
Model State Legislation
Chapter 12 Ethics: Principles and Guidelines in Practice
Ethical Principles
Professional Code of Ethics
Ethical Decision Making
Mistakes in Medicine: What the Provider Should Know
The Provider’s Obligation to Disclose Information
Regarding Medical Mistakes
The Effects of Veracity on Medical Errors
Scenarios for Analysis
Conclusion
Back to top