Washington Revised Code Title 18. Businesses and Professions § 18.71A.010. Definitions (Effective January 1, 2025)

(1) “Collaboration” means how physician assistants shall interact with, consult with, or refer to a physician or other appropriate member or members of the health care team as indicated by the patient's condition, the education, experience, and competencies of the physician assistant, and the standard of care. The degree of collaboration must be determined by the practice, which may include decisions made by the physician assistant's employer, group, hospital service, and credentialing and privileging systems of licensed facilities.

(2) “Collaboration agreement” means a written agreement that describes the manner in which the physician assistant is supervised by or collaborates with at least one physician and that is signed by the physician assistant and one or more physicians or the physician assistant's employer.

(3) “Commission” means the Washington medical commission.

(4) “Department” means the department of health.

(5) “Employer” means the scope appropriate clinician, such as a medical director, who is authorized to enter into the collaboration agreement with a physician assistant on behalf of the facility, group, clinic, or other organization that employs the physician assistant.

(6) “Participating physician” means a physician that supervises or collaborates with a physician assistant pursuant to a collaboration agreement.

(7) “Physician” means a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.

(8) “Physician assistant” means a person who is licensed by the commission to practice medicine according to a collaboration agreement with one or more participating physicians and who is academically and clinically prepared to provide health care services and perform diagnostic, therapeutic, preventative, and health maintenance services.

(9) “Practice medicine” has the meaning defined in RCW 18.71.011 and also includes the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery as defined in RCW 18.57.001.

(10) “Secretary” means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.