South Dakota § 36-4A-26.1 - Scope of practice--Collaboration.

§ 36-4A-26.1. Scope of practice--Collaboration.

A physician assistant may provide the following medical and surgical services, for which the physician assistant has been prepared by education, training, and experience, and for which the physician assistant is competent to perform:

(1)    Evaluate, diagnose, manage, and provide medical treatment;

(2)    Obtain and perform comprehensive health histories and physical examinations;

(3)    Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic procedures;

(4)    Order and perform therapeutic procedures;

(5)    Plan and initiate therapeutic regimens that involve ordering and prescribing non-pharmacological interventions;

(6)    Order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medical devices, legend drugs, and prescription drugs not listed in § 34-20B-12;

(7)    Respond to emergencies and institute emergency treatment measures;

(8)    Write a chemical or physical restraint order if the patient may do personal harm or harm others;

(9)    Complete and sign birth and death certificates and other official documents required by law;

(10)    Take x-rays and perform radiologic procedures;

(11)    Perform physical examinations for participation in athletics and certify that the patient is healthy and able to participate in athletics;

(12)    Certify the health or disability of a patient, as required by any local, state, or federal program;

(13)    Educate patients on health promotion and disease prevention;

(14)    Write medical orders;

(15)    Obtain informed consent;

(16)    Assist in surgery;

(17)    Perform routine clinical office surgical procedures;

(18)    Supervise, delegate, and assign therapeutic and diagnostic measures to assistive personnel; and

(19)    Provide consultation upon request.

Whenever a physician assistant orders, prescribes, dispenses, or administers drugs and medical devices, as permitted by subdivision (6), the physician assistant shall ensure that medications or sample drugs provided to a patient are accompanied by written administration instructions, and the physician assistant shall enter appropriate documentation in the patient's record. A physician assistant may request, receive, and sign for professional samples of drugs provided by the manufacturer.

A physician assistant shall collaborate with other health care providers and refer or transfer patients, as necessary and appropriate. Collaboration does not require the physical presence of the appropriate health care provider at the time or place the physician assistant provides services.

The degree of collaboration between a physician assistant and the appropriate health care provider is determined by the policies of the facility at which or practice setting in which the physician assistant is employed.

Source: SL 2007, ch 207, § 10; SL 2025, ch 149, § 11.