Page 28 - APP Collaboration - Assessing the Risk (Part One)

SVMIC Advanced Practice Provider Collaboration: Assessing the Risk

• Verify the licensure and graduation from an accredited
program.

• Document all actions taken in the hiring process.

The good news is that physicians who do not employ APPs but
supervise or collaborate with APPs are clearly not guarantors

of, or liable for, every adverse outcome provided the physician
fulfills his or her duty of reasonable care and complies with

board and state law requirements. APPs should be diligent
to practice within the scope of their training, experience, and

technical competence. Supervising or collaborating physicians
are responsible for ensuring that the nurse practitioner or

physician assistant limits their practice to the scope described
in the applications submitted to the Board and as permitted

under state law.

It is important to be aware that physician liability is typically

addressed in state board regulations for PAs, but generally it is

not specifically addressed for NPs. Medical boards will make
statements of direct responsibility such as:

• “The PA is “conclusively presumed” to be an agent of the
physician; no other person, firm, corporation, or other

organization shall be held liable or responsible.”
18
• “The supervising physician is required to submit a letter to

board stating that he or she understands that he or she is
taking responsibility for the actions of the PA while the PA

is under their supervision.”
19

18 Alabama Medical Board
19 Arkansas Medical Board

Page 28