As used in this chapter:
(1)
(A) “Physician assistant” means a person who has:
(i) Graduated from a physician assistant or surgeon assistant program accredited by the American Medical Association's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; and
(ii) Passed the certifying examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
(B) The physician assistant is a dependent medical practitioner who:
(i) Provides healthcare services under the supervision of a physician; and
(ii) Works under a physician-drafted protocol approved by the Arkansas State Medical Board, which describes how the physician assistant and the physician will work together and any practice guidelines required by the supervising physician;
(2) “Supervising physician” means a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed by the board who supervises physician assistants; and
(3) “Supervision” means overseeing the activities of and accepting responsibility for the medical services rendered by a physician assistant. The constant physical presence of the supervising physician is not required so long as the supervising physician and physician assistant are or can be easily in contact with one another by radio, telephone, electronic, or other telecommunication device. Supervision of each physician assistant by a physician or physicians shall be continuous.