CLEAR

South Carolina expands physician assistant scope of practice

A new law effective August 11 in South Carolina will expand scope of practice to allow physician assistants to refer patients to hospice, pronounce and certify the cause of death, execute do-not-resuscitate orders, prescribe Schedule 2 narcotics, and sign some documents on behalf of physicians. The new law also reduces the amount of time of temporary licensure prior to obtaining a permanent license.

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P.E.I. elected party supports greater scope of practice

The Progressive Conservative party just elected on Prince Edward Island made expanded scope of practice for health professionals one of its campaign promises. The new PC Leader emphasized greater access to health care if nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, physiotherapists and midwives are allowed to practice to the full extend of their education and training.

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Florida governor opposes APRN independent practice

A measure passed in the Florida House to allow advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to work independently of physicians does not have the support of Florida's governor. The bill has not yet passed in the Senate.

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Alabama considers optometrist scope of practice

The Alabama Senate Health Committee is considering a bill that would expand optometrist scope of practice to include in-office minor surgical procedures. Many areas of the state do not have easy access to ophthalmologists, and bill sponsors hope an expanded optometrist scope of practice would increase access to care. None of the procedures included in the bill require anesthesia.

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Arkansas considers change to pharmacist scope of practice

A bill under consideration in Arkansas to allow pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives to patients 18 or older without a doctor's prescription has passed in the House and moves on to the Senate. Pharmacists wanting such prescription authority would be required to complete a training program with the State Board of Pharmacy. If patients have not seen a primary care provider or gynecologist in the last six months, the pharmacist would have to refer them to a doctor and offer only a six-month supply of contraceptives.

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Iowa optometrist scope of practice

A bill passed in the Iowa House to expand scope of practice for optometrists to include additional infection privileges to treat two eye conditions and for draining eyelids. The bill now passes to the Senate, where similar bills have failed in the past.

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Florida dry needling scope of practice case

In a court case challenging the validity of a proposed administrative rule regarding scope of practice of physical therapists, the Court ruled that the rule is an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority. The proposed rule related to physical therapists performing dry needling, and the case concluded that the proposed rule would have constituted the practice of acupuncture by physical therapists, which is not within the physical therapy scope of practice.

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Research on pharmacist scope of practice

New research from the University of Waterloo studied non-urgent ER visits in Ontario and found that nearly one-third of such visits could have been managed by pharmacists with expanded scope of practice. The report notes that expanded scope for pharmacists in community practice or based in the Emergency Department could reduce crowdedness in EDs and allow for more ED resources to be devoted to care for more acute patients.

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Florida considers expanded scope of practice for psychologists

A bill under consideration in Florida would expand psychologist scope of practice to allow them to prescribe drugs, including controlled substances. Those wishing to be authorized to prescribe would have to pass an exam, complete coursework on prescribing, and have hands-on clinical training.

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Optometry Australia's vision for expanded scope of practice

Optometry Australia has released a report setting a 20-year vision for the profession. The report highlights seven trends for the future, including scope of practie expansion to include oral therapeutics, minor surgery, prescription of injectables and diabetic education. This scope of practice could be coupled with two tiers of practice - one that includes traditional care and one that encompasses broader ocular health practice. The report emphasized the value of working with the regulator and opthalmologists to determine how an expanded scope of practice could best serve patients and make maximum use of optometrists' skills and training.

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