1. (1) When the supervising physician is not readily available to respond to patients’ medical needs, the bridge year graduate physician is not authorized to perform any act or render any treatments unless another qualified physician in the same medical practice, practice group, or multidisciplinary medical team, or of the same or similar specialty as the supervising physician is immediately available on site to supervise the bridge year graduate physician. The covering physician providing supervision must have previously attested in writing to the Board that he or she assumes all responsibility for the actions of the bridge year graduate physician during the temporary absence of the primary supervising physician.
2. (2) The covering physician providing the supervision shall also affirm in writing that he or she is familiar with the current rules regarding bridge year graduate physicians and the job description filed by the supervising physician and the bridge year graduate physician, that he or she is accountable for adequately supervising the medical care rendered pursuant to the job description, and that he or she approves the drug type, dosage, quantity and number of refills of legend drugs which the bridge year graduate physician is authorized to prescribe in the job description. The covering physician must meet the same qualifications as the supervising physician as established in Rule 540-X-27-.03 above.
3. (3) The supervising physician shall inform the Board of Medical Examiners of the termination of a covering physician within ten (10) days of the termination.

Author: Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-24-75.2 and Act No. 23-233.

History: New Rule: Published May 31, 2024; effective July 15, 2024.