Texas Jurisprudence Exam Physician Assistant Practice Exam

How long may an alternate physician supervise a physician assistant?

1. Up to 30 days

2. Up to 60 days

3. Up to 14 days

4. Indefinitely

The correct answer is: Up to 14 days

The correct duration for an alternate physician to supervise a physician assistant is 14 days. This limit is established by Texas medical regulations, which allow for temporary supervision changes under specific circumstances. The 14-day limitation is designed to ensure that the physician assistant receives appropriate oversight without compromising patient safety and care standards. It recognizes that there may be situations where the primary supervising physician is unavailable, but it still requires a structured time frame to encourage effective collaboration and continuity of care. Importantly, once the 14-day period is reached, the physician assistant must either return to supervision by their primary physician or establish a new supervisory relationship that adheres to the regulatory standards set by the Texas Medical Board. This helps maintain the necessary oversight for physician assistants while allowing for flexibility in care delivery.