IDENTIFICATION AND NOTICE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. (a) A physician assistant may not render medical services to a patient until the patient or the patient’s legal guardian has been informed that:

   1. (1) The physician assistant is not a physician.
   2. (2) {Reserved}.
   3. (3) The patient has the right to be treated by the physician if the patient desires.
2. (b) It is the supervising physician’s responsibility to be alert to patient complaints concerning the type or quality of services provided by the physician assistant.
3. (c) In the supervising physician’s office, a notice plainly visible to patients shall be posted in a prominent place explaining that a ‘‘physician assistant’’ is authorized to assist a physician in the provision of medical care and services. The supervising physician shall display the registration to supervise in the office. The physician assistant’s license shall be prominently displayed at any location at which the physician assistant provides services. Duplicate licenses may be obtained from the Board if required.
4. (d) The physician assistant shall wear an identification tag which uses the term ‘‘Physician Assistant’’ in easily readable type. The tag shall be conspicuously worn.

Authority

The provisions of this § 18.171 amended under sections 8, 13 and 36 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P.S. § § 422.8, 422.13 and 422.36); and sections 502 and 503 of the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 (35 P.S. § § 450.502 and 450.503).

Source

The provisions of this § 18.171 amended August 13, 1993, effective August 14, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 3780; amended November 17, 2006, effective November 18, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7009; amended July 3, 2025, effective July 5, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 4534. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (363465) to (363466).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.156 (relating to monitoring and review of physician assistant utilization).