Credit: Carlos Arce
In Florida, physicians (MD’s and DO’s) who supervise advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) or physician assistants (PAs) must adhere to strict supervision regulations, especially when the supervision occurs outside of the physician’s primary practice location. According to Section 458.348(3)(c), Florida Statutes, specific rules apply when such supervision takes place at an additional medical office where the APRN or PA operates without the onsite presence of the supervising physician.
Key Provision Overview
This statutory provision allows a supervising physician to oversee an APRN or PA at one additional office separate from their primary practice, provided that the primary services offered at this additional location are dermatologic or skin care treatments. However, this supervisory arrangement comes with detailed regulatory conditions:
Mandatory Compliance Requirements
1. Board Notification
The physician must submit the addresses of all non-primary practice locations where they supervise APRNs or PAs to the Florida Board of Medicine. This ensures transparency and enables regulatory oversight. In addition, documentation of such supervision should be documented through a supervising physician agreement, often called a collaborating physician agreement.
2. Specialized Certification
The physician must be either: Board certified or Board eligible in dermatology or plastic surgery, as recognized under Section 458.3312, Florida Statutes. This ensures that the supervising physician has specialized training relevant to the dermatologic services being provided.
3. Geographic Limitations
The additional office must be: Within 25 miles of the physician’s primary practice location, or Located in a contiguous county (i.e., sharing a border with the county of the primary practice). Furthermore, the maximum distance between any of the offices may not exceed 75 miles, ensuring reasonable proximity for effective oversight.
Conclusion
Florida law sets clear boundaries for physicians supervising APRNs and PAs in satellite offices, particularly those focused on dermatologic services. By complying with the location, certification, and reporting requirements of Section 458.348(3)(c), Florida Statutes, physicians can ensure lawful and effective supervision while maintaining high standards of patient care. Physicians considering such supervisory arrangements should consult a health care attorney or the Florida Board of Medicine to ensure full compliance.
