Texas Jurisprudence Exam Physician Assistant Practice Exam

What must a physician do if they will be unavailable for supervision of a physician assistant?

1. Notify the physician assistant to stop prescribing

2. Assign an alternate physician for temporary supervision

3. Publish the notice in a local newspaper

4. Allow the physician assistant to operate independently

The correct answer is: Assign an alternate physician for temporary supervision

When a physician will be unavailable for the supervision of a physician assistant, the appropriate action is to assign an alternate physician for temporary supervision. This ensures that the physician assistant continues to work under proper oversight and adheres to the legal and professional guidelines set forth for physician assistants in Texas. Assigning an alternate physician helps maintain continuity of care and guarantees that the physician assistant has access to supervision and guidance during their practice, reinforcing patient safety and the quality of healthcare services. This is particularly important in a collaborative practice model, where supervision is a crucial aspect of the working relationship between physician assistants and their supervising physicians. The other options do not align with the regulatory requirements. For example, stopping the physician assistant from prescribing may be overly restrictive and does not address the need for supervision through an alternate. Publishing a notice in a local newspaper does not provide practical supervision and might not achieve the intended purpose. Meanwhile, allowing the physician assistant to operate independently would contravene the legal framework that necessitates physician oversight and support for physician assistants.