§ 59-3207. Supervisory protocol - Authorized assistant duties.

A.  Every anesthesiologist or group of anesthesiologists, upon entering into a supervisory relationship with an anesthesiologist assistant must file with the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision a written protocol, to include, at a minimum, the following:

1.  Name, address, and license number of the anesthesiologist assistant;

2.  Name, address, license number and federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number of each anesthesiologist who will supervise the anesthesiologist assistant;

3.  Address of the anesthesiologist assistant’s primary practice location and any other locations where the assistant may practice;

4.  The date the protocol was developed and the dates of all revisions;

5.  The designation and signature of the primary supervising anesthesiologist;

6.  Signatures of the anesthesiologist assistant and all supervising anesthesiologists;

7.  The duties and functions of the anesthesiologist assistant;

8.  Conditions or procedures that require the personal provision of care by an anesthesiologist; and

9.  The procedures to be followed in the event of an anesthetic emergency.

B.  The protocol must be on file with the Board prior to the time the anesthesiologist assistant begins practice with the anesthesiologist or the anesthesiology group.

C.  The protocol must be updated biennially.

D.  Anesthesiologist assistants may perform the following duties under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist:

1.  Obtaining a comprehensive patient history and presenting the history to the supervising anesthesiologist;

2.  Pretesting and calibration of anesthesia delivery systems and monitoring, obtaining and interpreting information from the systems and monitors;

3.  Assisting the anesthesiologist with implementation of monitoring techniques;

4.  Establishing basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubations of the trachea and performing ventilatory support;

5.  Administering intermittent vasoactive drugs and starting and adjusting vasoactive infusions;

6.  Administering anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs, and accessory drugs;

7.  Assisting the anesthesiologist with the performance of epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures;

8.  Administering blood, blood products, and supportive fluids;

9.  Supporting life functions during anesthesia health care, including induction and intubation procedures, the use of appropriate mechanical supportive devices, and the management of fluid, electrolyte, and blood component balances;

10.  Recognizing and taking appropriate corrective action for abnormal patient responses to anesthesia, adjunctive medication or other forms of therapy;

11.  Participating in management of the patient while in the post-anesthesia recovery area, including the administration of supporting fluids; and

12.  Placing special peripheral and central venous and arterial lines for blood sampling and monitoring as appropriate.

E.  The supervising anesthesiologist shall delegate only tasks and procedures to the anesthesiologist assistant which are within the supervising physician's scope of practice.  The anesthesiologist assistant may work in any setting that is within the scope of practice of the supervising anesthesiologist’s practice.

F.  Continuity of supervision in practice settings requires the anesthesiologist assistant to document in the anesthesia record any change in supervisor.

G.  All tasks and procedures performed by the anesthesiologist assistant must be documented in the appropriate medical record.

Added by Laws 2008, c. 161, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.