1. (1) An anesthesiologist assistant may assist in the practice of anesthesia only under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist assistant may perform only those duties and responsibilities delegated to the anesthesiologist assistant by the supervising anesthesiologist.
2. (2) The practice of the anesthesiologist assistant must not exceed the anesthesiologist assistant’s education and training, and the scope of practice of the supervising anesthesiologist. A medical care task assigned by the supervising anesthesiologist to the anesthesiologist assistant must not be delegated by the anesthesiologist assistant to another person.
3. (3) No anesthesiologist assistant shall practice without a supervising anesthesiologist or in any location where a supervising anesthesiologist is not immediately available for consultation, assistance and intervention within the same facility. Under no circumstances should a CRNA be authorized to train or supervise licensed anesthesiologist assistants or persons enrolled in an anesthesiologist assistant education program approved by the Board.

4. (4) The scope of practice for an anesthesiologist assistant shall be determined by the credentialing procedures and bylaws of the facility in which the anesthesiologist assistant practices and be consistent with the supervising agreement with the supervising anesthesiologist, T.C.A. § 63- 21-101 et. seq., these rules, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rules. Duties of an anesthesiologist assistant may include, but are not limited to the following:

   1. (a) Obtain a comprehensive patient history and present that history to the anesthesiologist who must conduct a pre-anesthesia interview and evaluation sufficient to confirm the anesthesiologist assistant’s evaluation. The supervising anesthesiologist must cosign any evaluation or progress notes written by the anesthesiologist assistant within twenty- four (24) hours;
   2. (b) Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitor, obtain, and interpret information from the systems and monitors in consultation with the supervising anesthesiologist;
   3. (c) Assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the implementation of medically accepted monitoring techniques;
   4. (d) Establish basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and performing ventilatory support;
   5. (e) Administer intermittent vasoactive drugs and start and adjust vasoactive infusions;
   6. (f) Administer anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs, and accessory drugs;
   7. (g) Perform epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures as long as the supervising anesthesiologist is immediately available to assist, intervene or take over the procedure if needed;
   8. (h) Administer blood, blood products, and supportive fluids;
   9. (i) Support life functions during anesthesia health care, including induction and intubation procedures, the use of appropriate mechanical supportive devices, and the management of fluid, electrolyte, and blood component balances;
   10. (j) Recognize and take appropriate corrective action for abnormal patient responses to anesthesia, adjunctive medication, or other forms of therapy; ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS
   11. (k) Participate in management of the patient while in the post anesthesia recovery area, including the administration of any supporting fluids or drugs; and
   12. (l) Place special peripheral and central venous and arterial lines for blood sampling and monitoring as appropriate.
5. (5) An anesthesiologist assistant may not prescribe, order, or compound any controlled substance, legend drug, or medical device. An anesthesiologist assistant may not dispense sample drugs to patients. Nothing prohibits an anesthesiologist assistant from administering legend drugs or controlled substances; intravenous drugs, fluids, or blood products; or inhalation or other anesthetic agents to patients which are ordered by the supervising anesthesiologist and administered while under the direct supervision of the supervising anesthesiologist.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-21-104 and 63-21-107. Administrative History: Emergency rules filed May 20, 2026; effective through November 16, 2026.