As a physician assistant, working with a supervising physician is a crucial aspect of your job. In order to ensure a successful working relationship, many physician assistant and supervising physician pairs enter into a collaborative agreement. This agreement outlines the responsibilities and duties of both parties and serves as a roadmap for how the team will work together.
A collaborative agreement is a legal document that outlines the scope of the physician assistant’s practice and the physician’s supervisory role. The agreement is required in many states, and it is important to understand the regulations in your state regarding collaborative agreements.
The main purpose of a collaborative agreement is to ensure that the physician assistant is practicing within their scope of practice and under the supervision of a licensed physician. The agreement should outline the tasks and duties that the physician assistant is authorized to perform, as well as those that require direct supervision from the physician.
It is important for the physician assistant and the supervising physician to work together to create a collaborative agreement that is specific to their practice and reflects the needs of their patients. The agreement should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that it remains accurate and relevant.
In addition to outlining the scope of practice, a collaborative agreement should also address the following:
– Communication: The agreement should clearly outline how the physician assistant and the supervising physician will communicate with each other, including the frequency of communication and the preferred method of communication.
– Record-keeping: The agreement should detail how patient records will be maintained and who will be responsible for documenting patient care.
– Emergency situations: The agreement should include a plan for how emergency situations will be handled, including who will be responsible for making decisions and providing care.
– Professional liability insurance: It is important for both the physician assistant and the supervising physician to carry professional liability insurance. The agreement should outline who will be responsible for paying for this insurance.
Collaborative agreements are an important aspect of the physician assistant and supervising physician relationship. They help to establish clear guidelines for how the team will work together and ensure that the physician assistant is practicing within their scope of practice and under the supervision of a licensed physician. By taking the time to create a thorough and comprehensive collaborative agreement, you can help to set your practice up for success.