RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports the following guidelines for supervising physicians and non-physician practitioners who perform medical acts, tasks, and functions:

1. Each professional is responsible for meeting practice standards of her/his professional group and regulatory board.
2. Each professional is responsible for maintaining a working environment in which there is mutual trust and respect, and open, active communication, promoting the optimum contribution of skills and knowledge to the services offered to patients.
3. A clear understanding of the circumstances requiring consultation with the supervising physician as documented.
4. Geographic separation is not a barrier when consultation can be accomplished in a reasonable time frame by telephone or other means of communication.
5. Professional credentials of each are communicated by signage, name tags, etc.
6. Practice arrangements include a negotiated method for addressing ongoing quality assurance.
7. Each professional is aware of limitations of knowledge or skills, and willing to refer for appropriate consultation and care as necessary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports the requirement of physician supervision of health care providers who perform medical acts, tasks, and functions.