PRINTER'S NO. 555
No. 500 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY SANTONI, BARRAR, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CURRY,
FABRIZIO, GERGELY, HENNESSEY, KILLION, KOTIK, MARKOSEK,
PALLONE, REICHLEY, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 26, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
FEBRUARY 26, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),
2 entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine
3 and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;
4 reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and
5 Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for
6 its composition, powers and duties; providing for the
7 issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and
8 revocation of licenses and certificates; providing penalties;
9 and making repeals," providing for perfusionist licensing,
10 qualifications, supervision and scope of practice,
11 regulations and exemptions.
12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13 hereby enacts as follows:
14 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 20, 1985
15 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is
16 amended by adding definitions to read:
17 Section 2. Definitions.
18 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
19 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
20 context clearly indicates otherwise:
21 * * *
1 "Extracorporeal circulation." The diversion of a patient's
2 blood through a heart-lung machine or similar device that
3 assumes the functions of the patient's heart, lung, kidney,
4 liver or other organs.
5 * * *
6 "Perfusion." The functions necessary for the support,
7 treatment, measurement or supplementation of the cardiovascular
8 systems or other organs, or a combination of those functions,
9 and for ensuring the safe management of physiologic functions by
10 monitoring and analyzing the parameters of the systems under the
11 supervision of a licensed physician.
12 "Perfusionist." An individual who is licensed to practice
13 perfusion by the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of
14 Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. Section 3(a) of the act, amended December 10,
17 2001 (P.L.859, No.92), is amended to read:
18 Section 3. State Board of Medicine.
19 (a) Establishment.--The State Board of Medicine shall
20 consist of the commissioner or his designee, the Secretary of
21 Health or his designee, two members appointed by the Governor
22 who shall be persons representing the public at large and seven
23 members appointed by the Governor, six of whom shall be medical
24 doctors with unrestricted licenses to practice medicine and
25 surgery in this Commonwealth for five years immediately
26 preceding their appointment and one who shall be a nurse
27 midwife, physician assistant, certified registered nurse
28 practitioner, respiratory care practitioner [or], certified
29 athletic trainer or perfusionist licensed or certified under the
30 laws of this Commonwealth. All professional and public members
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1 of the board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice
2 and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate.
3 * * *
4 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
5 Section 13.3. Perfusionist.
6 (a) License required.--Eighteen months after the effective
7 date of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to
8 hold himself out to the public as a perfusionist or to practice
9 or offer to practice perfusion unless the person holds a valid,
10 current license issued by the board or the State Board of
11 Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
12 (b) Use of title.--A perfusionist who holds a valid, current
13 license issued by either board may use the title perfusionist or
14 licensed perfusionist, or an appropriate abbreviation of the
15 title, such as "LP."
16 (c) Regulations.--The board is authorized to promulgate
17 regulations to implement this section.
18 (d) Supervision and scope of practice.--A perfusionist may
19 perform perfusion to an individual being treated by a licensed
20 physician under medical supervision and approval consistent with
21 standing orders or protocols of a hospital. These services shall
22 include:
23 (1) The use of extracorporeal circulation, long-term
24 cardiopulmonary support techniques, including extracorporeal
25 carbon dioxide removal, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
26 and associated therapeutic and diagnostic techniques.
27 (2) Counterpulsion, ventricular assistance,
28 autotransfusion, blood and blood component conservation
29 techniques, myocardial and organ preservation, extracorporeal
30 life support and isolated limb perfusion.
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1 (3) Blood and blood component management techniques,
2 advanced life support and other related functions.
3 (4) In the performance of the acts described in
4 paragraphs (1), (2) and (3):
5 (i) The administration of:
6 (A) Pharmacological and therapeutic agents.
7 (B) Blood products or anesthetic agents through
8 the extracorporeal circuit or through an intravenous
9 line in conjunction with extracorporeal support,
10 under the supervision of the treating physician.
11 (ii) The performance and use of:
12 (A) Anticoagulation monitoring and analysis.
13 (B) Physiologic monitoring and analysis.
14 (C) Blood gas and chemistry monitoring and
15 analysis.
16 (D) Hematologic monitoring and analysis.
17 (E) Hypothermia.
18 (F) Hyperthermia.
19 (G) Normothermia.
20 (H) Hemoconcentration and hemodilution.
21 (I) Hemodialysis in conjunction with perfusion
22 service.
23 (iii) The observation of signs and symptoms related
24 to perfusion services, the determination of whether the
25 signs and symptoms exhibit abnormal characteristics and
26 the implementation of appropriate reporting, perfusion
27 protocols or changes in or the initiation of emergency
28 procedures.
29 (e) Exemptions.--The following persons may perform
30 perfusion, as indicated:
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1 (1) A person licensed under any other section of this
2 act or any other law of this Commonwealth, while engaging in
3 the practice for which the person is licensed.
4 (2) A student enrolled in an accredited perfusion
5 education program if perfusion performed by the student:
6 (i) is an integral part of the student's course of
7 study; and
8 (ii) is performed under the direct supervision of a
9 perfusionist who is assigned to supervise the student and
10 who is on duty and immediately available in the assigned
11 patient care area.
12 (3) A graduate of an accredited perfusion education
13 program, if perfusion services:
14 (i) are necessary to fulfill the eligibility
15 requirements for a certification examination; and
16 (ii) are performed under the supervision and
17 responsibility of a perfusionist who is on duty and
18 assigned to supervise the graduate.
19 (4) A legally qualified person employed by the Federal
20 Government to practice perfusion while in the discharge of
21 the person's official duties.
22 (f) Qualifications.--An applicant shall be licensed to
23 practice perfusion under this act if the applicant meets all of
24 the following qualifications and has otherwise complied with the
25 provisions of this act:
26 (1) The person is at least 18 years of age.
27 (2) The person is of good moral character.
28 (3) The person has completed an application form
29 provided by the board.
30 (4) The person has successfully completed a perfusion
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1 education program approved by the board.
2 (5) The person is certified as a certified clinical
3 perfusionist by a certifying agency approved by the board.
4 The certification shall include an examination approved by
5 the board.
6 (g) Certain certified persons not graduates of accredited
7 programs.--Within two years of the effective date of this
8 section, an applicant who was not a graduate of an accredited
9 program prior to 1981, but met the then-current eligibility
10 requirements for certification as a certified clinical
11 perfusionist and subsequently was certified, shall be licensed
12 as a perfusionist if the applicant otherwise complies with the
13 provisions of this act.
14 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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