Subd. 1. Investigation.

1. (a) The board shall maintain and keep current a file containing the reports and complaints filed against physician assistants in the state. Each complaint filed with the board pursuant to section 214.10, subdivision 1, shall be investigated according to section 214.10, subdivision 2.
2. (b) Whenever the files maintained by the board show that a medical malpractice settlement or award to the plaintiff has been made against a physician assistant as reported by insurers pursuant to this chapter, the executive director of the board shall notify the board and the board may authorize a review of the physician assistant's practice.

Subd. 2. Attorney general investigation.

When the board initiates a review of a physician assistant's practice, it shall notify the attorney general who shall investigate the matter in the same manner as provided in section 214.10. If an investigation is to be made, the attorney general shall notify the physician assistant, and, if the incident being investigated occurred there, the administrator and chief of staff at the medical care facilities in which the physician assistant serves.

Subd. 3. Access to hospital records.

The board shall have access to hospital and medical records of a patient treated by the physician assistant under review if the patient signs a written consent form permitting such access. If no consent form has been signed, the hospital or physician assistant shall first delete data in the record which identifies the patient before providing it to the board.