WSR 18-14-089
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Podiatric Medical Board)
[Filed July 2, 2018, 12:30 p.m., effective August 2, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-922-001 Scope of practice and 246-922-055 Reciprocity requirements, the podiatric medical board adopted amendments to make technical corrections to two rule sections for podiatric physicians. WAC 246-922-001 incorrectly cited RCW 18.22.010 and the adopted amendment now correctly cites RCW 18.22.035. The adopted amendment also corrects WAC 246-922-055 to match the statutory language in RCW 18.22.082.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-922-001 and 246-922-055.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.22.015 and 18.130.050.
Other Authority: RCW 18.22.005.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 18-05-085 on February 20, 2018.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 25, 2018.
Randy Anderson, DPM
Board Chair
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-13-071, filed 6/18/07, effective 7/19/07)
WAC 246-922-001Scope of practice.
(1) An "ailment of the human foot" as set forth in RCW ((18.22.010)) 18.22.035 is defined as any condition, symptom, disease, complaint, or disability involving the functional foot. The functional foot includes the anatomical foot and any muscle, tendon, ligament, or other soft tissue structure directly attached to the anatomical foot and which impacts upon or affects the foot or foot function and osseous structure up to and including the articulating surfaces of the ankle joint.
(2) In diagnosing or treating the ailments of the functional foot, a podiatric physician and surgeon is entitled to utilize medical, surgical, mechanical, manipulative, radiological, and electrical treatment methods and the diagnostic procedure or treatment method may be utilized upon an anatomical location other than the functional foot. The diagnosis and treatment of the foot includes diagnosis and treatment necessary for preventive care of the well foot.
(3) A podiatric physician and surgeon may examine, diagnose, and commence treatment of ailments for which differential diagnoses include an ailment of the human foot. Upon determination that the condition presented is not an ailment of the human foot, the podiatric physician and surgeon shall obtain an appropriate consultation or make an appropriate referral to a licensed health care practitioner authorized by law to treat systemic conditions. The podiatric physician and surgeon may take emergency actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the patient's health until the intervention of a licensed health care practitioner authorized by law to treat systemic conditions.
(4) A podiatric physician and surgeon may diagnose or treat an ailment of the human foot caused by a systemic condition provided an appropriate consultation or referral for the systemic condition is made to a licensed health care practitioner authorized by law to treat systemic conditions.
(5) A podiatric physician and surgeon shall not administer a general or spinal anesthetic, however, a podiatric physician and surgeon may treat ailments of the human foot when the treatment requires use of a general or spinal anesthetic provided that the administration of the general or spinal anesthetic is by a physician authorized under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW; or a certified registered nurse anesthetist authorized under chapter 18.79 RCW.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 91-10-041, filed 4/25/91, effective 5/26/91)
WAC 246-922-055Reciprocity requirements.
An applicant licensed in another state must file with the secretary verification of the license certified by the proper authorities of the issuing state to include the issue date, license number, current expiration date, and whether any action has been taken to revoke, suspend, restrict, or otherwise sanction the licensee for unprofessional conduct or that the licensee may not be able to practice his or her profession with reasonable skill and safety to consumers as a result of a physical or mental condition. The applicant must document that the educational standards, eligibility requirements, and examinations of that state are ((at least equal in all respects)) substantially equivalent to those of this state.