45:9-27.16 Allowable procedures.

7. a. A physician assistant may perform the following procedures:

(1) Approaching a patient to elicit a detailed and accurate history, perform an appropriate physical examination, identify problems, record information, and interpret and present information to the supervising physician;

(2) Suturing and caring for wounds including removing sutures and clips and changing dressings, except for facial wounds, traumatic wounds requiring suturing in layers, and infected wounds;

(3) Providing patient counseling services and patient education consistent with directions of the supervising physician;

(4) Assisting a physician in an inpatient setting by conducting patient rounds, recording patient progress notes, determining and implementing therapeutic plans jointly with the supervising physician, and compiling and recording pertinent narrative case summaries;

(5) Assisting a physician in the delivery of services to patients requiring continuing care in a private home, nursing home, extended care facility, or other setting, including the review and monitoring of treatment and therapy plans; and

(6) Referring patients to, and promoting their awareness of, health care facilities and other appropriate agencies and resources in the community.

(7) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2015, c.224)

b. A physician assistant may perform the following procedures only when directed, ordered, or prescribed by the supervising physician, or when performance of the procedure is delegated to the physician assistant by the supervising physician as authorized under subsection d. of this section:

(1) Performing non-invasive laboratory procedures and related studies or assisting duly licensed personnel in the performance of invasive laboratory procedures and related studies;

(2) Giving injections, administering medications, and requesting diagnostic studies;

(3) Suturing and caring for facial wounds, traumatic wounds requiring suturing in layers, and infected wounds;

(4) Writing prescriptions or ordering medications in an inpatient or outpatient setting in accordance with section 10 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.19);

(5) Prescribing the use of patient restraints; and

(6) Authorizing qualifying patients for the medical use of cannabis and issuing written instructions for medical cannabis to registered qualifying patients pursuant to P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.).

c. A physician assistant may assist a supervising surgeon in the operating room when a qualified assistant physician is not required by the board and a second assistant is deemed necessary by the supervising surgeon.

d. A physician assistant may perform medical services beyond those explicitly authorized in this section, when such services are delegated by a supervising physician with whom the physician assistant has signed a delegation agreement pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.17). The procedures delegated to a physician assistant shall be limited to those customary to the supervising physician's specialty and within the supervising physician's and the physician assistant's competence and training.

e. Notwithstanding subsection d. of this section, a physician assistant shall not be authorized to measure the powers or range of human vision, determine the accommodation and refractive states of the human eye, or fit, prescribe, or adapt lenses, prisms, or frames for the aid thereof. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a physician assistant from performing a routine visual screening.

L.1991, c.378, s.7; amended 1992, c.102, s.5; 1998, c.125, s.1; 2015, c.224, s.7; 2019, c.153, s.45.