South Carolina bill would allow certain physician assistants to practice without supervision of a doctor

PPP President, Dr. Rebekah Bernard, went on Fox Carolina to discuss a bill in the South Carolina legislature that would allow certain physician assistants to practice without physician supervision.

Dr. Bernard discusses her opposition to Senate Bill 553, which would allow physician assistants with at least 6,000 hours to practice without the supervision of a doctor, saying: “It doesn’t really make sense to say a doctor has to complete this minimum or they are not safe to practice medicine, but now we are going to allow a different professional to do that same amount, the same type of care, but in half as much hours or potentially even less.” Dr. Bernard goes on to share that there are alternative solutions to solving the nationwide doctor shortage. “The number one way to fix the physician shortage is to create more physicians. We can create more physicians if we fund and create those residency spots.”