8119 - Prehospital physician extenders.

     § 8119.  Prehospital physician extenders.        (a)  Scope of practice.--A PHPE is a higher-level EMS     provider than an advanced EMT. A PHPE performs for an EMS agency     basic and advanced EMS skills and, as authorized by regulation     of the department, additional physician assistant skills within     the scope of practice of a physician assistant under the act of     December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical     Practice Act of 1985, or the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109,     No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, or a     successor act, as follows, but supervision of a PHPE shall be     conducted as set forth in this chapter:            (1)  As a member of the crew of an ambulance.            (2)  As a member of a QRS to stabilize and improve a        patient's condition in an out-of-hospital emergency until an        ambulance arrives at the scene and then may assist the        ambulance crew.            (3)  As a first aid or safety officer, or in a similar        capacity, for an EMS agency as prescribed by regulation of        the department.            (4)  In another capacity as authorized by regulation of        the department.        (b)  Certification.--The department shall certify as a PHPE a     physician assistant who meets all of the following:            (1)  Has a currently registered license as a physician        assistant with the State Board of Medicine or the State Board        of Osteopathic Medicine.            (2)  Is at least 18 years of age.            (3)  Has a current certificate evidencing successful        completion of a CPR course acceptable to the department.            (4)  Has passed a PHPE skills practical examination        approved by the department.            (5)  Has passed a written PHPE certification examination        approved by the department.        (c)  Biennial registration.--A PHPE's certification is deemed     registered when the certification is issued. The initial     registration shall expire as set forth in section 8113(n)     (relating to emergency medical services providers). Except for     the initial registration period, a PHPE must register the PHPE     certification at two-year intervals by completing an application     for biennial registration on a form or through an electronic     process as prescribed by regulation of the department. The     following shall apply:            (1)  The department shall issue a biennial registration        of a PHPE certification to a PHPE who:                (i)  Has a current registration and applies for a new            registration no later than:                    (A)  30 days before the current registration is                to expire; or                    (B)  a lesser time as established by regulation                of the department.                (ii)  Has current registration of a physician            assistant license.                (iii)  Successfully secures continuing education            credits for PHPE biennial registration as required by the            department in continuing education programs approved by            the department.            (2)  A PHPE whose registration of a PHPE certification        has expired must qualify for a biennial registration of the        certification as prescribed by regulation of the department.        Effective Date.  Section 9(1) of Act 37 of 2009 provided that     section 8119 shall take effect 180 days after the publication of     the notice in section 7.