324 /Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
J. Andrew Sumner, M.D., Chairperson

The Emergency Medical Services Advisory
Committee was created in 1990. The Committee
advises the State Board of Physician Quality Assur-
ance on matters regarding the certification of and
regulations governing cardiac rescue technicians
and emergency medical technician-paramedics. The
Committee also advises the Board on matters re-
lated to the provision of prehospital advanced life
support, including quality assurance, standards of
practice, and treatment protocols.

MEDICAL RADIATION & NUCLEAR MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mary M. Newman, M.D., Chairperson

The Medical Radiation and Nuclear Medical
Technology Advisory Committee was organized in
1990. The Committee reviews and makes recom-
mendations to the State Board of Physician Quality
Assurance on all applications for certification of
nuclear medical technologists and medical radiation
technologists. The Committee recommends to the
Board the approval, modification, or disapproval of
an application for certification. The Committee also
makes recommendations to the Board regarding
regulations governing nuclear medical technolo-
gists and medical radiation technologists and on
matters related to the practice of medical radiation
technology and nuclear medical technology.

MEDICAL SPECIALTY COMMITTEE
John T. Lynn, M.D., Chairperson

The Medical Specialty Committee was estab-
lished in 1989. The Committee formulates new
regulations concerning criteria for specialty desig-
nation of physicians.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Ira N. Brecher, M.D., Chairperson

The Physician Assistant Advisory Committee
was created within the State Board of Medical Ex-
aminers in 1986 (Chapter 759, Acts of 1986). The
Committee became part of the State Board of Phy-
sician Quality Assurance in 1988 (Chapter 109,
Acts of 1988). The Committee recommends to the
Board regulations for the certification of physician
assistants. The Committee also recommends to the
Board the approval, modification, or disapproval of
an application for certification. The Committee may

Maryland Manual 1994-1995

report to the Board any alleged unauthorized prac-
tice of a physician assistant, or any conduct of a
supervising physician or a physician assistant that
may be cause for disciplinary action.
To perform delegated medical acts, a physician
assistant must obtain an approved job description
from the State Board of Physician Quality Assur-
ance. The Committee evaluates the qualifications of
the physician assistant for delegated medical acts to
be performed under that job description and rec-
ommends that the Board approve, modify, or reject
the application for a job description. The Board, on
review of the Committee's recommendation, may
approve, modify, or deny a request for certification.
The Committee's seven members are appointed
to three-year terms by the State Board of Physician
Quality Assurance. Of these, three are licensed phy-
sicians, three are certified physician assistants, and
one is a consumer. The licensed physician members
must include at least one specialist in general sur-
gery or a surgical subspeciality, and at least one
specialist in internal medicine, family practice, or a
similar primary care specialty (Code Health Occu-
pations Article, secs. 15-101 through 15-502).

PSYCHIATRIST ASSISTANT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sheila K. Riggs, Chairperson

The Psychiatrist Assistant Advisory Committee
was established in 1981 within the State Board of
Medical Examiners. The Committee advises the
State Board of Physician Quality Assurance con-
cerning the profession of psychiatrist assistant in
matters such as examination and certification, regu-
lations, and standards of professional conduct.

RESPIRATORY CARE PROFESSIONAL
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Gary M. Evans, R.R.T., Chairperson

Authorized in 1988, the Respiratory Care Pro-
fessional Standards Committee was formed in 1990
(Chapter 127, Acts of 1988). The Committee ad-
vises the State Board of Physician Quality Assur-
ance on regulations governing the practice of
respiratory care, and the approval, modification, or
disapproval of an application for certification. The
Committee refers to the Board any allegation of
unauthorized practice by a respiratory care practi-
tioner or of any conduct by a supervising physician
or respiratory care practitioner that may be cause
for disciplinary action.