(A) PAs may perform:

(1) medical acts, tasks, or functions within written scope of practice guidelines under physician supervision;

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-47-935

  • alternate supervising physician: means a South Carolina licensed physician currently possessing an active, unrestricted permanent license to practice medicine in South Carolina who accepts the responsibility to supervise a PA's activities in the absence of the supervising physician and this physician is approved by the physician supervisor in writing in the scope of practice guidelines. See South Carolina Code 40-47-910
  • Approved written scope of practice guidelines: means specific statements developed by a physician or the medical staff and a physician assistant that establish physician delegation for medical aspects of care, including the prescription of medications. See South Carolina Code 40-47-20
  • Board: means the Board of Medical Examiners of South Carolina. See South Carolina Code 40-47-910
  • Entity: means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability corporation, association, joint venture, cooperative, company, corporation, or other public or private legal entity authorized by law. See South Carolina Code 40-47-20
  • License: means a current document authorizing a person to practice. See South Carolina Code 40-47-20
  • Physician: means a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. See South Carolina Code 40-47-20
  • Supervising: means overseeing the activities of, and accepting responsibility for, the medical services rendered by a PA as part of a physician-led team in a manner approved by the board. See South Carolina Code 40-47-910
  • supervising physician: means a South Carolina licensed physician currently possessing an active, unrestricted permanent license to practice medicine in South Carolina who is approved to serve as a supervising physician. See South Carolina Code 40-47-910
  • Supervision: means the process of critically observing, directing, and evaluating another person's performance, unless otherwise provided by law. See South Carolina Code 40-47-20
  • Telemedicine: means the practice of medicine using electronic communications, information technology, or other means between a licensee in one location and a patient in another location with or without an intervening practitioner. See South Carolina Code 40-47-20

(2) those duties and responsibilities, including the prescribing and dispensing of drugs and medical devices, that are lawfully delegated by their supervising physicians; provided, however, only PAs holding a permanent license may prescribe drug therapy as provided in this article; and

(3) telemedicine in accordance with the requirements of § 40-47-37 including, but not limited to, § 40-47-37(C)(6) requiring board authorization prior to prescribing Schedule II and Schedule III prescriptions; § 40-47-113, approved written scope of practice guidelines, and pursuant to all physician supervisory requirements imposed by this chapter.

(B) Notwithstanding any provisions of state law other than this chapter, and to the extent permitted by federal law, a PA may perform the following medical acts unless otherwise provided in the scope of practice guidelines:

(1) provide noncontrolled prescription drugs at an entity that provides free medical care for indigent patients;

(2) certify that a student is unable to attend school but may benefit from receiving instruction given in his home or hospital;

(3) refer a patient to physical therapy for treatment;

(4) pronounce death, certify the manner and cause of death, and sign death certificates pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 63 of Title 44 and Chapter 8 of Title 32;

(5) issue an order for a patient to receive appropriate services from a licensed hospice as defined in Chapter 71 of Title 44;

(6) certify that an individual is handicapped and declare that the handicap is temporary or permanent for the purposes of the individual’s application for a placard;

(7) execute a do not resuscitate order pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 78 of Title 44; and

(8) issue an order for home health services pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 69 of Title 44.

(C) Deleted;

(D) A PA is an agent of his supervising physician in the performance of all practice-related activities, including, but not limited to, the ordering of diagnostic, therapeutic, and other medical services.

(E) A PA may sign specified documents on behalf of the supervising physician or alternate supervising physician if authorized in the scope of practice guidelines.

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