PRINTER'S NO. 556
No. 501 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 October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), entitled
2 "An act requiring the licensing of practitioners of
3 osteopathic medicine and surgery; regulating their practice;
4 providing for certain funds and penalties for violations and
5 repeals," providing for perfusionist licensing,
6 qualifications, supervision and scope of practice,
7 regulations and exemptions.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of October 5, 1978
11 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice
12 Act, is amended by adding definitions to read:
13 Section 2. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15 have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
16 meanings given to them in this section:
17 * * *
18 "Extracorporeal circulation." The diversion of a patient's
19 blood through a heart-lung machine or similar device that
1 assumes the functions of the patient's heart, lung, kidney,
2 liver or other organs.
3 * * *
4 "Perfusion." The functions necessary for the support,
5 treatment, measurement or supplementation of the cardiovascular
6 systems or other organs, or a combination of those functions,
7 and for ensuring the safe management of physiologic functions by
8 monitoring and analyzing the parameters of the systems under the
9 supervision of a physician licensed under this act or the act of
10 December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the "Medical
11 Practice Act of 1985."
12 "Perfusionist." An individual who is licensed to practice
13 perfusion by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine or the
14 State Board of Medicine.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. Section 2.1(a) of the act, amended December 10,
17 2001 (P.L.863, No.93), is amended to read:
18 Section 2.1. State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
19 (a) The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall consist of
20 the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs or his
21 designee; the Secretary of Health or his designee; two members
22 appointed by the Governor who shall be persons representing the
23 public at large; one member appointed by the Governor who shall
24 be a respiratory care practitioner, a perfusionist, a physician
25 assistant or a certified athletic trainer; and six members
26 appointed by the Governor who shall be graduates of a legally
27 incorporated and reputable college of osteopathy and shall have
28 been licensed to practice osteopathic medicine under the laws of
29 this Commonwealth and shall have been engaged in the practice of
30 osteopathy in this Commonwealth for a period of at least five
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1 years. All professional and public members of the board shall be
2 appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a
3 majority of the members elected to the Senate. The Governor
4 shall assure that respiratory care practitioners, physician
5 assistants and certified athletic trainers are appointed to
6 four-year terms on a rotating basis.
7 * * *
8 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
9 Section 13.3. Perfusionist.
10 (a) License required.--Eighteen months after the effective
11 date of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to
12 hold himself out to the public as a perfusionist or to practice
13 or offer to practice perfusion unless the person holds a valid,
14 current license issued by the board or the State Board of
15 Osteopathic Medicine.
16 (b) Use of title.--A perfusionist who holds a valid, current
17 license issued by either board may use the title perfusionist or
18 licensed perfusionist, or an appropriate abbreviation of the
19 title, such as "LP."
20 (c) Regulations.--The board is authorized to promulgate
21 regulations to implement this section.
22 (d) Supervision and scope of practice.--A perfusionist may
23 perform perfusion to an individual being treated by a physician
24 licensed under this act or the act of act of December 20, 1985
25 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the "Medical Practice Act of 1985,"
26 under medical supervision and approval consistent with standing
27 orders or protocols of a hospital. These services shall include:
28 (1) The use of extracorporeal circulation, long-term
29 cardiopulmonary support techniques, including extracorporeal
30 carbon dioxide removal, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
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1 and associated therapeutic and diagnostic techniques.
2 (2) Counterpulsion, ventricular assistance,
3 autotransfusion, blood and blood component conservation
4 techniques, myocardial and organ preservation, extracorporeal
5 life support and isolated limb perfusion.
6 (3) Blood and blood component management techniques,
7 advanced life support and other related functions.
8 (4) In the performance of the acts described in
9 paragraphs (1) through (3):
10 (i) The administration of:
11 (A) Pharmacological and therapeutic agents.
12 (B) Blood products or anesthetic agents through
13 the extracorporeal circuit or through an intravenous
14 line in conjunction with extracorporeal support,
15 under the supervision of the treating physician.
16 (ii) The performance and use of:
17 (A) Anticoagulation monitoring and analysis.
18 (B) Physiologic monitoring and analysis.
19 (C) Blood gas and chemistry monitoring and
20 analysis.
21 (D) Hematologic monitoring and analysis.
22 (E) Hypothermia.
23 (F) Hyperthermia.
24 (G) Normothermia.
25 (H) Hemoconcentration and hemodilution.
26 (I) Hemodialysis in conjunction with perfusion
27 service.
28 (iii) The observation of signs and symptoms related
29 to perfusion services, the determination of whether the
30 signs and symptoms exhibit abnormal characteristics and
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1 the implementation of appropriate reporting, perfusion
2 protocols or changes in or the initiation of emergency
3 procedures.
4 (e) Exemptions.--The following persons may perform
5 perfusion, as indicated:
6 (1) A person licensed under any other section of this
7 act or any other law of this Commonwealth, while engaging in
8 the practice for which the person is licensed.
9 (2) A student enrolled in an accredited perfusion
10 education program if perfusion performed by the student:
11 (i) is an integral part of the student's course of
12 study; and
13 (ii) is performed under the direct supervision of a
14 perfusionist who is assigned to supervise the student and
15 who is on duty and immediately available in the assigned
16 patient care area.
17 (3) A graduate of an accredited perfusion education
18 program, if perfusion services:
19 (i) are necessary to fulfill the eligibility
20 requirements for a certification examination; and
21 (ii) are performed under the supervision and
22 responsibility of a perfusionist who is on duty and
23 assigned to supervise the graduate.
24 (4) A legally qualified person employed by the Federal
25 Government to practice perfusion while in the discharge of
26 the person's official duties.
27 (f) Qualifications.--An applicant shall be licensed to
28 practice perfusion under this act if the applicant meets all of
29 the following qualifications and has otherwise complied with the
30 provisions of this act:
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1 (1) The person is at least 18 years of age.
2 (2) The person is of good moral character.
3 (3) The person has completed an application form
4 provided by the board.
5 (4) The person has successfully completed a perfusion
6 education program approved by the board.
7 (5) The person is certified as a certified clinical
8 perfusionist by a certifying agency approved by the board.
9 The certification shall include an examination approved by
10 the board.
11 (g) Certain certified persons not graduates of accredited
12 programs.--Within two years of the effective date of this
13 section, an applicant who was not a graduate of an accredited
14 program prior to 1981, but met the then-current eligibility
15 requirements for certification as a certified clinical
16 perfusionist and subsequently was certified, shall be licensed
17 as a perfusionist if the applicant otherwise complies with the
18 provisions of this act.
19 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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