Policy for Visiting or Observing Physicians at UIHC

Duration:

  • Maximum of one month per fiscal year
  • Requests for clinical observation periods that exceed one monthrequire awritten explanation

Eligible Observers:

  • MD equivalents from non-US are eligible but who do not have UI CCOM appointments
  • Visiting professors who come to lecture and/or spend a day or two in the departments which are purely academic are not eligible
  • Medical students are not eligible under this policy (refer to OSACpolicies)
  • Departments found to violate this policy will be precluded from applying for visiting observers for one year following the violation

Requirements:

  • Completed Form (Application for Visiting or Observing Physician at UIHC)
  • All badges must be obtained from UIHC Human Resources and must clearly identify the observer as a VISITOR
  • Signed confidentiality agreement
  • Patients must be informed of observer and have the right to refuse
  • Supervising physician shall accompany the observer and solicit consent from each patient after informing the patient of the observer’s background
  • The supervising physician shall ensure that the observer remains within the scope of an observer
  • No CCOM appointment required
  • No Iowalicense required
  • No credential checks or background checks are required

Definitions

  • Observation means observation only as defined by the Iowa Board of Medicine

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Iowa Board of Medicine Adopted and Filed

“Observer”means a person who is not enrolled in an Iowa medical school or osteopathic medical school, who observes care to patients in Iowa for a defined period of time and for a noncredit experience, and who is supervised and accompanied by an Iowa-licensed physician as defined in 9.2(3). An observer shall not provide or direct hands-on patient care, regardless of the observer’s level of training or supervision. The supervising physician may authorize an observer to read a chart, observe a patient interview or examination, or witness procedures, including surgery. An observer shall not chart; touch a patient as part of an examination; conduct an interview; order, prescribe or administer medications; make decisions that affect patient care; direct others in providing patient care; or conduct procedures, including surgery. Any of these activities requires licensure to practice in Iowa. An unlicensed physician observer or a medical student observer may touch a patient to verify a physical finding in the immediate presence of a physician but shall not conduct a more inclusive physical examination.

An unlicensed physician observer may:

  1. Participate in discussions regarding the care of individual patients, including offering suggestions about diagnosis or treatment, as long as the unlicensed physician observer does not direct the care; and
  2. Elicit information from a patient as long as the unlicensed physician does not actually perform a physical examination or otherwise touch the patient.

Supervision of an observer. An Iowa-licensed physician who supervises an observer shall accompany the observer and solicit consent from each patient, where feasible, for the observation. The physician shall inform the patient of the observer’s background, e.g., high school student considering a medical career, a medical graduate who is working on licensure. The supervising physician shall ensure that the observer remains within the scope of an observer as defined in rule 9.1(147,148).

Application Form for Visiting or Observing Physicians at UIHC

Name of Visitor:
Observer’s Name and Home Address/Institution:
Specialty/Area of Interest:
CCOM Faculty Sponsor’s Name:
Sponsoring Department:
Visitation start date: / Visitation end date:
Prior visit dates at UIHC? If so, give start and end dates: / From: To:
If current visit is proposed for longer than one month, explain why this is necessary:
Description of activities during this observation period:
Percent effort of the visitor in the following areas: / Education:
Research:
Clinical observation:

Funding Source:

Corp / Fund / Org / Dept / Sub
Dept / ID / Grant Program / Inst
Acct / Org / Dept
Acct / Fund / Cost

Visitor badge will be obtained fromUIHCHuman Resources

Confidentiality agreement signed/dated and on file: Yes No

I agree to abide by the observer rules set forth by the Carver College of Medicine and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, pursuant to the administrative rules adopted by the Iowa Board of Medicine:
Signature of Observing Physician / Date
I agree to accompany the observer and solicit consent from each patient, where feasible, for the observation and to inform the patient of the observer’s background. I agree to ensure that the observer remains within the scope of an observer.
Signature of Sponsoring Physician / Date
Signature of Clinical Service Head / Date
Approved:
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, CCOM / Date
Associate Director/Legal Counsel, UIHC / Date

Submit this form via e-mail to andThe completed form must be received no later than 30 daysprior to the observer’s proposed start date at UIHC

VPMA approval 2-5-09