For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) “Collaborating physician” means physicians licensed by the Board who practices with a physician assistant using a Collaborative Agreement.

(2) “Collaboration” or “collaborating” means a process in which the physician who oversees patient services and the physician assistant jointly contribute to the healthcare and medical evaluation and treatment or management of patients with each performing actions he or she is individually licensed for and has the education, training, and experience to perform. The collaborating physician must be available for consultation with the physician assistant during the time of the patient encounter with the physician assistant, if necessary to provide advice on the ongoing care of the patient. The constant physical presence of thecollaborating physician is not required on-site in the practice setting, provided that the collaborating physician is readily accessible by some form of electronic communication.

(3) “Collaborative agreement” means a written document expressing an arrangement of collaboration between a licensed physician and a physician assistant.

(4) “Physician assistant” or “PA” means an individual who meets all of the following:

a. Has graduated from a physician assistant or surgeon assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or, before 2001, by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) of the American Medical Association (AMA), or a successor agency acceptable to and approved by the Board, or has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants before 1986.

b. Has a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent education to a baccalaureate degree, as determined by the Council and the Board.

c. Has passed a national certifying examination acceptable to the Regulatory Council for Physician Assistants and approved by the Board.

d. Is licensed under this chapter to practice medicine as a physician assistant.

e. Has completed any continuing education credits required by rules and regulations developed under this chapter.

f. Completes a collaborative agreement with the collaborating physician.

68 Del. Laws, c. 147, § ?2; 68 Del. Laws, c. 345, § ?1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 355, §§ ?3-5; 71 Del. Laws, c. 102, § ?26; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, § ?30A; 75 Del. Laws, c. 141, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 387, § ?2; 83 Del. Laws, c. 16, § 2; 83 Del. Laws, c. 283, § 39;