PRINTER'S NO. 1573
No. 1106 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY WONDERLING, PILEGGI, KITCHEN, FONTANA, LEMMOND,
O'PAKE, WAUGH, M. WHITE AND RHOADES, MARCH 16, 2006
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 16, 2006
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
20 assumes the functions of the patient's heart, lung, kidney,
1 liver or other organs.
2 * * *
3 "Perfusion." The functions necessary for the support,
4 treatment, measurement or supplementation of the cardiovascular
5 systems or other organs, or a combination of those functions,
6 and for ensuring the safe management of physiologic functions by
7 monitoring and analyzing the parameters of the systems under the
8 supervision of a physician licensed under this act or the act of
9 December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the "Medical
10 Practice Act of 1985."
11 "Perfusionist." An individual who is licensed to practice
12 perfusion by the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners or the
13 State Board of Medicine.
14 * * *
15 Section 2. Section 2.1(a) of the act, amended December 10,
16 2001 (P.L.863, No.93), is amended to read:
17 Section 2.1. State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
18 (a) The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall consist of
19 the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs or his
20 designee; the Secretary of Health or his designee; two members
21 appointed by the Governor who shall be persons representing the
22 public at large; one member appointed by the Governor who shall
23 be a respiratory care practitioner, a perfusionist, a physician
24 assistant or a certified athletic trainer; and six members
25 appointed by the Governor who shall be graduates of a legally
26 incorporated and reputable college of osteopathy and shall have
27 been licensed to practice osteopathic medicine under the laws of
28 this Commonwealth and shall have been engaged in the practice of
29 osteopathy in this Commonwealth for a period of at least five
30 years. All professional and public members of the board shall be
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1 appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a
2 majority of the members elected to the Senate. The Governor
3 shall assure that respiratory care practitioners, physician
4 assistants and certified athletic trainers are appointed to
5 four-year terms on a rotating basis.
6 * * *
7 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
8 Section 13.3. Perfusionist.
9 (a) License required.--Eighteen months after the effective
10 date of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to
11 hold himself out to the public as a perfusionist or to practice
12 or offer to practice perfusion unless the person holds a valid,
13 current license issued by the board or the State Board of
14 Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
15 (b) Use of title.--A perfusionist who holds a valid, current
16 license issued by either board may use the title perfusionist or
17 licensed perfusionist, or an appropriate abbreviation of the
18 title, such as "LP."
19 (c) Regulations.--The board is authorized to promulgate
20 regulations to implement this section.
21 (d) Supervision and scope of practice.--A perfusionist may
22 perform perfusion to an individual being treated by a physician
23 licensed under this act or the act of December 20, 1985
24 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the "Medical Practice Act of 1985,"
25 under medical supervision and approval consistent with standing
26 orders or protocols of a hospital. These services shall include:
27 (1) The use of extracorporeal circulation, long-term
28 cardiopulmonary support techniques, including extracorporeal
29 carbon dioxide removal, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
30 and associated therapeutic and diagnostic techniques.
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1 (2) Counterpulsion, ventricular assistance,
2 autotransfusion, blood and blood component conservation
3 techniques, myocardial and organ preservation, extracorporeal
4 life support and isolated limb perfusion.
5 (3) Blood and blood component management techniques,
6 advanced life support and other related functions.
7 (4) In the performance of the acts described in
8 paragraphs (1) through (3):
9 (i) The administration of:
10 (A) Pharmacological and therapeutic agents.
11 (B) Blood products or anesthetic agents through
12 the extracorporeal circuit or through an intravenous
13 line in conjunction with extracorporeal support,
14 under the supervision of the treating physician.
15 (ii) The performance and use of:
16 (A) Anticoagulation monitoring and analysis.
17 (B) Physiologic monitoring and analysis.
18 (C) Blood gas and chemistry monitoring and
19 analysis.
20 (D) Hematologic monitoring and analysis.
21 (E) Hypothermia.
22 (F) Hyperthermia.
23 (G) Normothermia.
24 (H) Hemoconcentration and hemodilution.
25 (I) Hemodialysis in conjunction with perfusion
26 service.
27 (iii) The observation of signs and symptoms related
28 to perfusion services, the determination of whether the
29 signs and symptoms exhibit abnormal characteristics and
30 the implementation of appropriate reporting, perfusion
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1 protocols or changes in or the initiation of emergency
2 procedures.
3 (e) Exemptions.--The following persons may perform
4 perfusion, as indicated:
5 (1) A person licensed under any other section of this
6 act or any other law of this Commonwealth, while engaging in
7 the practice for which the person is licensed.
8 (2) A student enrolled in an accredited perfusion
9 education program if perfusion performed by the student:
10 (i) is an integral part of the student's course of
11 study; and
12 (ii) is performed under the direct supervision of a
13 perfusionist who is assigned to supervise the student and
14 who is on duty and immediately available in the assigned
15 patient care area.
16 (3) A graduate of an accredited perfusion education
17 program, if perfusion services:
18 (i) are necessary to fulfill the eligibility
19 requirements for a certification examination; and
20 (ii) are performed under the supervision and
21 responsibility of a perfusionist who is on duty and
22 assigned to supervise the graduate.
23 (4) A legally qualified person employed by the Federal
24 Government to practice perfusion while in the discharge of
25 the person's official duties.
26 (f) Qualifications.--An applicant shall be licensed to
27 practice perfusion under this act if the applicant meets all of
28 the following qualifications and has otherwise complied with the
29 provisions of this act:
30 (1) The person is at least 18 years of age.
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1 (2) The person is of good moral character.
2 (3) The person has completed an application form
3 provided by the board.
4 (4) The person has successfully completed a perfusion
5 education program approved by the board.
6 (5) The person is certified as a certified clinical
7 perfusionist by a certifying agency approved by the board.
8 The certification shall include an examination approved by
9 the board.
10 (g) Certain certified persons not graduates of accredited
11 programs.--Within two years of the effective date of this
12 section, an applicant who was not a graduate of an accredited
13 program prior to 1981, but met the then-current eligibility
14 requirements for certification as a certified clinical
15 perfusionist and subsequently was certified, shall be licensed
16 as a perfusionist if the applicant otherwise complies with the
17 provisions of this act.
18 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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